Last-Day Line at the Barangay Hall

Maaga akong pumila sa barangay hall para magparehistro bilang botante, pero mahaba na agad ang pila na paikot hanggang kanto.

I lined up early at the barangay hall to register as a voter, but the line was already long, wrapping around the corner.

May numerong papel na iniabot si Kuya guard, at umupo kami sa mga monobloc habang umiikot na maingay ang bentilador.

The guard handed me a numbered slip, and we sat on monobloc chairs while a noisy fan spun.

Akala ko sandali lang, pero pagdating ng alas-diyes, hindi pa umuusad ang pila.

I thought it would be quick, but by ten o’clock the line still hadn’t moved.

Nagkuwentuhan kami ng katabi kong si Ate Liza, at sabi niya huling araw na kaya lahat sumugod.

I chatted with my seatmate, Ate Liza, and she said it was the last day so everyone rushed.

Dumaan ang magtataho, at kahit tipid ako, bumili ako dahil kumakalam na ang sikmura ko.

The taho vendor passed by, and even though I was saving money, I bought some because my stomach was growling.

Habang naghihintay, may batang umiiyak at may lolo na nakaupo sa ilalim ng payong, kaya nagkusang magbigay ng puwesto ang iba.

While we waited, a child cried and an elderly man sat under an umbrella, so others willingly offered their spots.

Gusto ko nang sumuko, ngunit naalala ko ang bilin ni Lola na "bumoto ka, huwag puro reklamo," kaya nagtiis ako.

I wanted to give up, but I remembered Grandma's advice, "vote, don't just complain," so I endured.

Bandang hapon, umambon nang saglit at nagsiksikan kami sa lilim, pero hindi nagkagulo ang pila.

In the afternoon, it drizzled briefly and we squeezed into the shade, but the line stayed orderly.

Sa wakas, tinawag ang numero ko at mabilis kong pinunan ang form kahit nanginginig na ang kamay sa pagod.

At last they called my number and I filled out the form quickly, my hands shaking from fatigue.

Tiningnan ako ng staff at ngumiti, saka sabi niya, "Ayos, valid na lahat ng ID mo."

The staff looked at me and smiled, then said, "All good, all your IDs are valid."

Inabot niya ang maliit na claim stub at paalala na bumalik sa takdang araw, at pakiramdam ko parang nanalo ako sa maliit na laban.

She handed me a small claim stub and a reminder to return on the set date, and I felt like I had won a small battle.

Pag-uwi, tumingin ako sa mahabang pilang naiwan at naisip kong minsan, ang pagbabagong gusto natin ay nagsisimula sa pagtayo at paghintay.

On my way home, I looked at the long line I left and thought that sometimes the change we want begins with standing and waiting.