Despite the various glitches of the first automated elections in the country, lots of Kapamilya celebrities endured the long hours of the voting process in their respective precincts for the sake of the much-needed change that everyone is hoping for.

In an interview with TV Patrol, Kris Aquino expressed her wish that the Filipino people will be able to accept whatever the results of the election. “Yun lang naman talaga ang dinasal ko. Kung ano man ang kagustuhan ng mamayang Pilipino, kung sino man ang pipiliin nila, galangin lamang yun. At siguro yun na talaga ang true essence ng ating demokrasya. Magtitiwala ako na kung gaano kaayos ang pagboto na na-experience ko sa buong Pilipinas magiging ganon (din sa iba), at kung anong maturity ng voters gagalangin natin.”

First time voters like Kim Chiu and Lea Salonga were also happy to exercise their voting rights, believing that even a single vote counts in the bigger scheme of things. “Yeah, sobrang first time ko itong bumoto, kaya kahit gaano katagal ang paghihintay ko— actually mga two hours na akong nandidito—pero ok lang kasi worth the wait naman kasi para din naman ito sa bayan natin. Magulo pero sana tiniis nila kasi sayang din isang boto nila,” Kim exclaimed. “Marami ang nagdadasal para sa malinis at matapat na eleksyon. I hope that God looks down upon us and that no one tries any funny business this year,” said Lea, who felt like she won an award when the PCOS machine accepted her printed ballot after more than two hours of waiting in her precinct as well.

Aside from being registered voters, other Kapamilya stars also volunteered to become celebrity patrollers who manned the specified hotlines for the people’s complaints in their respective municipalities. Among those who joined such efforts included Diether Ocampo, Melai Cantiveros, Jason Francisco, Enchong Dee, Valerie Concepcion, Robi Domingo and many more. A lot of concerns were raised not only in terms of the PCOS machine malfunctions, but also those related to vote buying, flying voters, and missing names of candidates in the printed ballots. “May isang tumawag na dun daw sa Bohol, yung mayor mismo may nakalaang pera para bigyan sila ng boto. Yung isa naman sabi ng teacher nagamit ng isang real voter yung isang pangalan. So ang nangyari, sabi ng teacher gamitin na lang ibang pangalan nung boboto, so medyo malabo. Nangyari ito sa Pateros, Elementary School,” Enchong reported.

Keep logging on to www.ABS-CBN.com for more updates about showbiz-related events in the May 2010 elections.