Ballot blues: A playlist to the five stages of electoral grief

I. DENIAL

Huwag Mo Nang Itanong by Eraserheads

As you couldn't make sense of the distressing but anticipated situation, you ought to sing, "Ewan ko hindi ko alam / Puwede bang huwag na lang / Natin pag-usapan?"

And when a loved one asks for your reaction or insight, "Huwag mo nang itanong sa akin / Di ko rin naman sasabihin / Huwag mo nang itanong sa akin / At di ko na iisipin."

Jesus, I Have My Doubts by Jon Foreman

Many had doubts about the polls, especially when surveys widely differ from the results. They raised a lot of questions, even toward the Lord: "I'm sure You've got Your reasons / But I have my doubts / Jesus, I have my doubts."

Foreman's husky voice and laidback guitar strumming—complemented by a somber violin—make the moment worthy of a depressing closing scene in a Netflix series episode: "Are You there? / Can You hear me? / Do You care? Are You near me?"

II. ANGER

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

The song kicks off with seemingly casual questions ("Is this the real life? / Is this just fantasy?"), accompanied by a classical piano.

But it soon develops a swifter tempo and introduces roaring guitar riffs, assertive solos, and unabating drums. Beyond the generally poetic and enigmatic lyrics, such an arrangement ought to symbolize one's pent-up emotions bursting at the seams.

"We will not let you go," Freddie Mercury sings during the operatic section. That could pretty much be the Filipinos' call to the undeserving winners. "Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me."

Highway to Hell by AC/DC

The opening riff is gritty, thunderous, even hostile. Then enter the drums and the gritty vocals, likely stirring listeners who have already bottled things up more or less.

Things become more explicit during the chorus: "I'm on the highway to hell / On the highway to hell / Highway to hell / I'm on the highway to hell." It's not just a sign of the times but also what dissatisfied Filipinos wanted to scream.

III. BARGAINING

Honesty by Billy Joel

Whether it was the politicians' cheating or voters' misinformed decisions, the listener—who likely cast the "right" ballot—can only be left wondering why. To wrap their head around the results, they ought to rationalize the idea behind clean elections: "But if you look for truthfulness / You might just as well be blind / It always seems to be so hard to give."

Even if they voted for what they deemed clean candidates, they consider this stone-cold claim: "Honesty is such a lonely word / Everyone is so untrue / Honesty is hardly ever heard / And mostly what I need from you."

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now by The Smiths

The song, defined by the contrast between its upbeat rhythm guitar and melancholic vocals, illustrates how Filipinos probably come to terms with the turmoil within: "I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour / But heaven knows I'm miserable now."

The frontman Morrissey then contemplates his misery: "In my life, why do I give valuable time / To people who don't care if I live or die?" In the context of the elections, Filipinos—budol victims, informed voters, and whatnot—are bound to drink the misery away.

Pakiusap Lang Lasingin Niyo Ako by Parokya ni Edgar

The call for getting drunk becomes more pronounced with frontman Chito Miranda's plea from the heavens: "Ngayon lang ako, nasaktan nang ganito / Kaya pakiusap lang, lasingin niyo ako."

While it may not actually be the first time the listener experienced such a kind of pain, it's a fresh feeling of hurt and betrayal all over again. He pleads his barkada, "Tara na, samahan 'nyo 'kong magsaya / Sige na, ayoko munang mag-isa."

What's a better bargain than joining fellow friends who are sawi no thanks to the elections?

IV. DEPRESSION

Balang Araw by I Belong to the Zoo

While still in low spirits, the singer takes note of his helpless state in the chorus: "Parang tangang kausap ang tala at buwan / Naghihintay nang mayro'n sa gitna ng kawalan / Natutong lumipad kahit pagod at sugatan / Pag-ahon ko sa lupa'y iiwanan lang naman." No matter how voters wax poetic about the situation, they are, for lack of a better word, f***ed up.

The first verse encapsulates the collective, if not manifold, depression following the polls: "Walang nag-iba / Talo na naman tayo / Gano'n talaga / Nadala na lang sa puro pangako."

Olats by Rivermaya

Though it's supposedly upbeat and encouraging, the song shoves into the listener's face the hard-hitting truth of defeat: "'Wag ka nang magulat / 'Wag ka nang magulat / Kantahan muna tayo." The upstanding candidates are especially given a dose of this: "Ganyan talaga / Talo na naman tayo / Kahit na binuhos ang lahat / Talo na naman tayo."

Before the coda, the singer underscores that defeat is inevitable, "Kahit nagdasal kang magdamag." It couldn't be any more depressing.

The End of the World by Skeeter Davis

This song could be a personification of Inang Bayan, who laments things going awry after the treatment she supposedly received ("'Cause you don't love me anymore," "It ended when I lost your love") from the addressee. That could pretty much be the Filipino voter, whose lack of love manifests in his choice of candidates. The traditional politician winning may also be a means of unloving her.

What's notable is the song evoking the distant past (as it's from the '60s). But isn't that quite the point, since politicians of old got elected yet again and there's no escaping from the past? And alas, it's the end of the world.

V. ACCEPTANCE

Trouble Is a Friend by Lenka

After all that's been said and done, several quarters will promise to do better in the next elections. But there are still others who tend to embody the quote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." And so they're at risk of following in Lenka's footsteps: "I won't let him win, but I'm a sucker for his charm."

Is it acceptable? Is it the way things must go? If so, then Filipinos voting in the next polls and beyond ought to sing, "Trouble is a friend, yeah, trouble is a friend of mine." God bless the Republic of the Philippines.