How do we know that the national elections in the Philippines are already near? Well, we don’t need to witness politicians formally filing their candidacy. We don’t need to see influential people and institutions endorsing their favorite candidates. The breeze of elections in the country is palpable even a year before it’s held.

Here are 7 signs that elections in the Philippines are already near:

1. Lots of roads are getting reconstructed or repaired
I’m not sure if this is true all over the country. But here in our province, it has already been a trend that road repairs and reblocking are happening when the elections are already approaching. I’m not certain why is it happening. Perhaps our roads are just made to last for 3 years or 6 years? Who knows? I heard the news that lots of road reblocking are also happening right now in Metro Manila. So I guess it’s happening across the country. What do you think?

2. Politicians are becoming a favorite guest on TV shows
Politicians, especially those who have massive followers, are hot commodities when elections are nearing. They become celebrities who can make any TV station’s rating soar. Thus, they become a favorite guest on talk shows and even on sitcoms. So have you already spotted one?

3. Politicians are getting closer to the masses
When the elections are already near, we see politicians frequently visiting the masses, attending fiestas, commencement ceremonies, school anniversaries, et cetera. We even see them having lunch with the poor and do the “kamayan” (using one’s bear hands in eating). And when asked if they are doing it as part of their political campaign, their answer is not affirmative.

4. Political ads are already visible online and off
The official and legitimate start of the campaign period in the Philippines for the national candidates (i.e., president, vice president, senators and party-lists) usually start 90 days before the elections. However, we can already watch political ads on televisions as early as 9 months before the elections. And in social media, where it is difficult to regulate political ads, expect to see sponsored political ads on Facebook as early as a year before the election day.

5. Printing businesses are already getting busier
The demand on tarpaulins and other materials used for campaign is rising when elections are near. If you own a printing business, you can surely feel it. It’s like all the money in the country are just spent on every politician’s will to win the election. I hope it’s not the taxpayers’ money.

6. There are surveys here and there
The hype is getting stronger with surveys of the top candidates for president, vice-president and senators. These political surveys are getting picked up by media and disseminated to the public. But the question is… can we trust these surveys? Well, it’s up to you.

7. The political battle begins.
Black propagandas are unleashed, political enemies are persecuted or even jailed, laglagan na (confessing to prove that someone is guilty), the battles in the political arena begin. But remember that the battles are only part of the country’s unending political war.

The signs I mentioned above are only based on my personal observations. My goal is to present them to the public and learn if the Filipino people also have the same thoughts as I do. So which among the signs above have you already seen or felt?

What other signs can you add to the list? Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments below.