The word "pakurong" is a byword in the vote-rich province of Pangasinan days before an election.
‘Pakurong,’ a discreet act of vote-buying in Pangasinan
Published May 10, 2025 18:24 pm
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Updated May 10, 2025 18:40 pm
Pakurong is a Pangasinan word that means slowly crawling and
discreet acts of vote-buying.
THE Central Business District in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. (WIkipedia)
Many are staying late at night in their houses waiting for pakurong where an envelope is slid under a door at night asking for support.
"May mga nakadungaw sa pintuan at bintana. Kapag may tumigil na sasakyan titignan agad baka ito na ang may dala ng pakurong," a resident of Dagupan City said.
(Some people look at their doors and windows. Once a vehicle stops, it may be there to deliver pakurong)
Some residents who benefited from pakurong from local candidates in past elctions got P3,000 or even P5,000.
Pakurong has evolved into an open and accepted system and it is even visible on social media.
And because of this,, some residents are absent from work days before the elections to receive the money.
Recipients use it to repair their houses, buy new mobile phones, or household items.