I would like to thank those who have already exercised their democratic right to choose the leaders of our country by registering and voting as overseas absentee voters.

I urge all Filipino registered overseas absentee voters who have not yet done so, to cast their votes.

I would also like to express our deep appreciation to the many members of the Filipino Community who have been active advocates in helping to encourage Filipino registered overseas absentee voters to cast their vote.

Upon the urging of the Filipino Community, and committed to ensuring that the electoral voice of Filipinos in the United States is heard, COMELEC authorized voting by mail so that voters need not personally go to the polling places to cast their vote.

Please complete your ballot, and mail or drop it off at the Foreign Service post where you are registered. If you are registered and recently changed your address and have not yet received your ballot, please contact the Philippine Foreign Service post where you registered.

The Philippine Embassy and Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States will remain open until 3:00 PM, 14 May 2007, Manila time. We will close the polls at the exact same time that the polls will close in the Philippines. For the Philippine Embassy in Washington, this will mean that we will end the voting at 3:00 AM 14 May 2007.