At 7:57 a.m. today, May 12, 2025, the voting process at Oriental Mindoro National High School (OMNHS) was calm and orderly, with a growing number of senior citizens arriving to cast their ballots in the country’s midterm elections.

The elections, a critical midpoint in President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s six-year term, involve approximately 68.4 million registered voters nationwide selecting 12 senators, 317 House representatives, and over 18,000 local officials, including governors, mayors, and town/city councilors.

In Oriental Mindoro, OMNHS served as a major polling site, equipped with waiting areas and health stations to accommodate voters, particularly senior citizens, who were granted early voting hours from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., alongside persons with disabilities and pregnant voters.

Nine OMNHS teachers and eight police officers were stationed at the school to assist voters and ensure a secure and efficient process, reflecting heightened security measures amid a nationwide full alert by the Philippine National Police starting May 3.

The elections, declared a special non-working holiday by President Marcos, are expected to have a high voter turnout while introducing inclusive measures like mall voting and, for the first time, internet voting for Overseas Filipino Workers.

Photos: courtesy of PIA Oriental Mindoro