2022 Philippine elections: Last voters cast ballots in Dubai

UAE resident Lou Olvido Parroco is the last Filipino to vote in Dubai for the 2022 Philippine Elections. EXPAT MEDIA

DUBAI – Long-time Dubai resident Lou Olvido Parroco was the last person to cast her ballot before polls closed at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai on Monday (May 9) for the 2022 Philippine Elections. Parroco told Expatmedia.net that she is a regular overseas voter. The HR professional and life coach from Bacolod City in the Philippines said she deems it her “national responsibility” to vote.

@expatmedia Last Filipinos to vote in Dubai on May 9 cast their ballots at Philippine Consulate for the 2022 Philippine Elections #halalan2022🇵🇭 #philippines #dubai #overseasvote #expatmedia ♬ original sound - Expat Media

“I came here to vote even if my candidate isn’t one of the most popular out there. I hope for a better Philippines and I hope my vote will help make that change,” Parroco told Expatmedia.net. WATCH THE LIVE COVERAGE: Another last-minute voter, James Bondoc, told Expatmedia.net that he feels optimistic that today’s votes are going to help propel the right leader for the Philippines. Is there anything he hopes will change for Filipinos in the next six years? “I want to see a more progressive Philippines, and, of course, I hope Overseas Filipino Workers will get more benefits,” Bondoc said. Expat Media CEO Ma. Felicidad De los Santos was also among the last batch of ten voters who cast their ballots in the final minutes of the vote on Monday. “Despite my hectic schedule, I still believe I should give time to do my civic duty. I am hopeful that my small gesture of going to the Philippine Consulate will contribute to a beautiful future for us Filipinos,” De los Santos told Expatmedia.net. Meanwhile, Philippine Consul General Renato Dueñas Jr. told Expatmedia.net that the polling process has been smooth from day one. “We’ve seen a good turnout. Democracy is really alive and overseas Filipinos in Dubai really care deeply about their country and their own voice heard,” Dueñas said. In the last week of the overseas vote, the Philippine Consulate saw an “overwhelming number” of Filipino voters, forcing the mission to impose an early cut-off time to accommodate all voters within the consulate premises. On Monday, the last set of voters who arrived at the consulate on or before 3pm were admitted for voting. The overseas vote in the UAE ran from April 10 until 3pm on May 9. Filipinos are voting for national positions: president, vice president, senators, and a party-list group. ICA/PIA/Expat Media