The Philippine Embassy in Australia is working double time to encourage more Filipinos to register in the overseas absentee voting (OAV) and to actually cast their votes in the coming 2010 national elections.

Reports said that less than one percent of the 160,000 Filipinos based in Australia are registered voters.

Consul General Eva Betita said voters’ registration is top priority. “They come here to renew their passports. I told my staff to explain to them that we have these ongoing overseas absentee voting. While their documents are being examined they can already register,” said Betita.

As of May 11, 2009, the Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat (OAVS) reported that there are only 132 total registrants or 1.46 percent of the estimated number of Filipinos in Australia. (percentage of registrants to date vs estimated number of Filipinos).

While many have yet to register for the OAV, there are still some who would be willing to sign up and make a difference.

Filipino designer Leonardo Salinas has been living in Australia for 20 years. Salinas still thinks about his kababayans back in the Philippines even if life has been good to him in Australia.

“I still think of them in so many ways that okay, I wish I could do something else for all of these unfortunate people. Twenty million or 30 million in the Philippines are suffering from poverty, corruption and a lot of things, unemployment and things like that,” Salinas said.

Salinas is an Australian citizen but he is now working on acquiring dual citizenship which will make him eligible to register and vote in the 2010 elections.

“If my vote can make a change or can actually help someone I will do that,” he said.

However, not all Filipinos share the same sentiments as Salinas.

Jewels Marquez arrived at the Philippine Consulate hoping to secure a clearance. As she waited for papers to be processed she was invited to register as an absentee voter.

Although Marquez was happy to oblige, she said she does not plan to cast her ballot in next year's election.

"I don't think that just one person can make a difference. For me, my opinion is like why do I have to vote? It’s a waste of time,” Marquez said. With ANC’s Dateline Philippines