18 April 2016 - Manning overseas voting desks in Ottawa and a field voting outlet for the Maritime Provinces in Canada, the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa saw eager Filipinos casting their ballots in bigger numbers during the first 10 days of overseas voting for the 2016 national elections.
A total of 223 ballots have been cast by mail or in person from 9 April 2016 to 18 April 2016 or 78% more than ballots cast during the first 10 days of overseas voting for the 2013 national elections.
In Halifax, Nova Scotia where the Embassy conducted field voting on 15-16 April 2016, some Filipino voters even took a long drive from the neighboring provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick to deliver or cast their votes in person. "Gusto kong iexercise ang right of suffrage ko. Baka may magbago," said Regor Gamarcha, a permanent resident of Halifax. (I want to exercise my right of suffrage. Something might change.)
With 20 more calendar days of continuous overseas voting to go, the Philippine Embassy expects a further surge in votes cast, especially during the week before 9 May 2016 when the voting period ends at 5:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) or 5:00 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (PST).
Aside from continuous voting from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily in Ottawa until 5:00 a.m. of 9 May 2016, the Philippine Embassy has also scheduled field voting days at the St. Kevin Parish Hall in Montreal on 22-23 April 2016, 29-30 April 2016 and 6-7 May 2016.
"There is a palpable sense of excitement accompanying Filipino overseas voters who have cast their ballots in our consular jurisdiction. Voter apathy does not appear to be at play this time around. I am hopeful that the majority of the 7,331 registered voters under our jurisdiction will heed the Embassy's call to exercise their right to choose their new leaders," Philippine Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia observed.
The Philippine Embassy has consular jurisdiction over Ottawa and areas in Ontario east of Kingston as well as the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Islands, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Nunavut.
Updates concerning Overseas Voting are announced on www.philembassy.ca. Voters who have not received their election packets by mail are advised to call the Philippine Embassy at 613.233.1121 or send an email as soon as possible to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. END