EDITORIAL - A humbling experience

As had been its tradition every American presidential election, the United States Embassy conducted an election watch in certain key cities in the Philippines to give Filipinos a glimpse of how such an election, which is drastically different from ours, works.

This year, the election watch was held in Manila and in Cebu. In Manila, it was no less than US Ambassador Kristie Kenney who oversaw the activity. In Cebu, it was US Deputy Chief of Mission Paul Jones who did.

Always a highlight in such an activity is allowing the locals to participate in a mock election. This year, more than 300 Cebuanos actually voted, with the outcome reflecting the actual US results. In Cebu Barrack Obama got more than 200 while John McCain got less than 100.

But it was not the results that proved interesting, as the outcome had long been preordained. Rather, it was the enthusiasm of the Cebuanos in participating, even if only in mock elections, that was quite surprising.

Cebuanos are normally shy and laid-back, the bane of concert artists unprepared for emotions held in check naturally as a matter of character. But the enthusiasm shown during the activity last Wednesday ought to be a treat for the Americans.

Of course it helped that the activity was held at the Northwing atrium of SM City Cebu. Having it at the very core of one of the greatest contemporary preoccupations of Filipinos -- malling -- made sure it attracted attention. And boy did it.

The affair was by invitation only, and only those with invitation cards could get into the cordoned area. But the general public was free to watch and monitor the proceedings, including the live feeds from the US of the results as they came in.

More would have been able to participate in the mock election had it been open to the general public. Nevertheless, the point was made. There was a genuine public interest, not in the election outcome itself, but in the process that made the American system so great.

Those who participated saw for themselves how and why it was possible to know the results just hours after the election, unlike ours which takes weeks. And when McCain conceded before the end of the day, what a blow it was to our own politicos who never own defeat.