Election Day is a day off in the Philippines

[Pototan]

Monday is election day in the Philippines. The election is for local offices in each Barangay (sub-divisions in each town or city) throughout the country. The whole country has a paid day off, and those who must work (at time and a half) get 2 hours off during the workday in order to vote.

My wife's family hosted a candidates' forum at our home last week. We had refreshments and air conditioning. They really seem to take their Democracy seriously and it's fun to watch. They all spoke in their native tongue, Ilonggo, so I understood next to nothing. I can't vote, as a non-citizen, but it is interesting to observe.