I voted in the 2010 Philippine National Elections.

I just voted at the North Fairview Elementary School in Quezon City in precinct number 2106A clustered under precinct #493. It took me an hour to line up, check my name on the list, sign adjacent my name, put my right thumb mark, shade the oval beside my candidates, and cast it in the PCOS machine.

As of 2 p.m., there were 453 ballots cast out of 1,000 voters in the precinct.

Upon entering the school, you will be greeted by people, supporters of different candidates I would guess, who keep on shoving in your face sample ballots for their candidates. It’s similar to what I encountered during my first ever elections in 2007. In the end, there was so much clutter on the floor inside and outside the school. There’s so much paper wasted and trashed.


Right after voting, I interviewed the head of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Board of Elections Inspectors (BEIs) of our clustered precinct, Leah Lopez, about the conduct of elections in the precinct, and she said, “magulo” (unorderly). I asked why it was like that; she said it was because the PCOS machine wasn’t working earlier.

At 7:35 a.m., they found out that the PCOS machine was defective, and it wouldn’t read the ballots. At 8:22 a.m., they tested a blank ballot and it was accepted, while other filled-out ballots weren’t being taken in. The voting continued, as per COMELEC regulation. At 9:23 a.m., the PCOS machine was able to accept and count the ballots.

The BEIs had to cut off more or less a quarter of a millimeter from both sides of the ballots, both filled out by the voters when the PCOS wasn’t working earlier, and the unfilled ballots, to make it work.

Jomar Orchiana, coordinator for the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) of the Divine Savior Parish, said that the process was slow, and the lines weren’t managed well. People were cutting and there were disorderly lines. They had to help put the lines in order so that the voting could go smoothly.

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Poll officials improvise to make PCOS work is my article for Blogwatch

I am voting this May 10, 2010. You should too!

May 10, 2010, the day everyone's waiting for or dreading about - take your pick. It's Election day again for the Philippines, and the next administration and the next set of leaders would spell our future in this fast paced and flattening world caused by globalization and the changing needs of the times.

What's in it for me? What's in it for the Filipino people and the Philippines? That's the first and foremost question/s my mind is thinking right now; and this question/s resounded even through the process I did choosing the candidates who deserve my vote.

At first, I really wanted to blog about my President and Vice-President, together with my Senatorial Candidates, but I later thought, what difference will my post make, when most probably they're all decided already anyway? My close friends know whom I will vote for, and let's keep it at that.

We were supposed to run for the Presidency, but in the end, it didn't happen. It's not time, they said. Funny, this elections shouldn't be about who is running or who will eventually win. At least for me, that's not the most important consideration we should look at or dwell on. It's about moving forward and moving on together; after all we're not the Liberal Country or the Nationalista Country, neither are we the PMP, Bagumbayan, or Lakas-Kampi-CMD Country, we're the Philippines - a country with so much richness of different resources.

This election has left dents and bruises among people. It might be true that it's the dirtiest elections. At least in my lifetime as of yet, I think I have to agree with that. I have friends from different camps, and I would not like to add more to what is between and among them.

So, I would rather abstain telling you, dear readers, who to vote for as President or Vice-President. I know that you've followed the candidates, the election fever, closely. I am sure you've seen and decided in you whom you'll vote. I respect that. We may not have the same candidates, but heck, whoever wins, we must help each other move to where we want our country and our people to go.

As for the Senators. Fine, I think there's no harm in publishing whom I'll give my vote to, since there are 12 slots anyway. And so, here goes..as of 1:00am of May 10, I am voting for NERIC ACOSTA #1, RUFFY BIAZON #7, PIA CAYETANO #10, MIRIAM DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO #13, TG GUINGONA #19, RISA HONTIVEROS-BARAQUEL #20, YASMIN LAO #26, DANNY LIM #28, TOOTS OPLE #38, SERGE OSMENA #40, GILBERT REMULLA #49 and I voting for KAAKBAY #151 for Partylist.


With Senator Pia Cayetano in our Blogwatch interview during the campaign season. I think she deserves to be #1 today. I dare say that we don't deserve Bong Revilla as our #1 Senator, please. Let's make Pia #1! :)

Rock the Vote, A Road Trip to Change

Starting today, the Liberal Party will go forth and tie a big yellow ribbon around the Philippines in 17 days before the May 10 Philippine National Elections, as it said in the launching of a concert caravan yesterday morning at Serye in Quezon City Memorial Circle attended by LP’s Senatorial Candidates Risa Hontiveros, Ruffy Biazon, Yasmin Lao, Yo!Noy’s Bam Aquino, and Senator Kiko Pangilinan.

Dubbed as "Rock the Vote: Road Trip to Change," LP’s presidential candidate Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will tie yellow ribbons around the country during a 17-day concert caravan that aims to “bind the youth and inspire them that the the power of change lies in everyone's willingness to participate.”


Roadtrip to Change will go through 18 different cities and town in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It will kick off in Pampanga, then go through Tarlac, Dagupan, Baguio, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Vigan, Laoag, Tuguegarao, Isabella, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, Cagayan de Oro, Manila (EDSA Shrine), and Cebu.

This caravan of change will bring together different people from different fields of art such as visual art, music, filmmaking, photography, mountaineering, dancing, and a lot more. Popular bands and musicians such as Parokya ni Edgar, Spongecola, Kamikazee, Hale, Moonstar88, Itchyworms, Sugarfree and Noel Cabangon are set to perform, as well as different celebrities and personalities will make appearances in the concerts.


As Bam Aquino of Yo!Noy said, “this will be the most high tech part of the whole campaign.” The bus will carry a satellite that will beam Internet and connectivity wherever the bus may be all over the Philippines. The concert will be live-streamed, and new media will also be utilized in distributing content to as many websites and other social networking sites (Facebook, Plurk, Twitter, blogs, etc)

It will wholly be a youth and volunteer led and run caravan that will show the Filipino youth and everyone else how creative and innovative today's people power can be. “The RTV caravan aims to harness people power by highlighting that it is the people who asked Sen. Noynoy Aquino to run for the president, it shall be the people that will ensure his victory in May 10, 2010,” said Aquino.


From the planning, organization, execution, and even to the needs of the people such as board and lodging, food and drinks, gas, talents, were all hosted or provided for by volunteers and donors from all over the place and localities.

I was invited to join the Road Trip to Change concert caravan to cover as a blogger. I wanted to complete the whole concert caravan but I have to be back in Manila for my own commencement ceremonies, as I am a graduating student of Public Administration. I will be joining the second leg and maybe some parts of the provinces in Luzon. I am excited!


Disclaimer: I am not showing bias or favoring the Liberal Party, but I just want to report and share what they are doing in the last few days of the campaign. I reached out to the Nacionalista Party regarding my interest in covering their last few days, but it still hasn’t been confirmed nor fixed properly. I would be willing to cover them or any other candidate or party as well.

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Rock the Vote, A Road Trip to Change was written and published for Blogwatch - The Philippine Online Chronicles

Beyond 2010: Leadership for the Next Generation - UP Academic Congress

Beyond 2010: Leadership for the Next Generation
A UP Academic’s Congress To Challenge our Next Leaders

February 1 to 5, 2010
Malcolm Hall, College of Law
University of the Philippines

This academic congress intends to identify the current issues, map the various approaches that have been tried in the past, provide some assessment of their gains and failures and draw out possible actions that must be done by the next administration. It is intended to empower the general public by making these issues transparent. It is not solely addressed to the candidates for the 2010 elections.

At the end of the forum, the public should be able to draw their own measurable objectives and milestones that can be achieved within the next six years hence allowing them to craft questions which they can ask from their candidates and make wise choices. The forum should draw responses from the political candidates that will go beyond mere generalities or rhetoric.

OPEN TO ALL! No registration fee required.To pre-register, please call the UP Law Dean's Office at 927-0518 or email academic.congress@gmail.com Please indicate your name, affiliation and the sessions you are attending.

DAY 1 - February 1, 2010, Monday
8:30–9:00 AM Registration Proper
9:00–9:30 AM Opening Ceremonies
9:30–9:45 AM Opening Remarks by Dean Marvic M.V.F. Leonen
9:45–10:00 AM “The Imperatives for Philippine Society within the Next Generation” by UP President Emerlinda R. Roman
10:00–10:45 AM “What Truly Matters to Filipinos?” by Prof. Randolf S. David
10:45–12:00 PM Open Forum
12:00–1:30 PM Lunch Break
1:30–3:30 PM Session 1: Jobs and the Cost of Doing Business in the Philippines
3:45–5:45 PM Session 2: Debt and Deficits

DAY 2 - February 2, 2010, Tuesday
8:30–9:00 AM Registration Proper
9:00–11:00 AM Session 3: Backrooms, Battlefields, and Backhoes: The Mindanao Conundrum
11:00–1:00 PM Lunch Break
1:00–3:00 PM Session 4: Building Blocks to the Universal Enjoyment of the Right to Health
3:00–5:00 PM Session 5: Secularisms and Fundamentalisms

DAY 3 - February 3, 2010, Wednesday
8:00–8:30 AM Registration Proper
8:30–10:30 AM Session 6: The Diaspora of Filipinos: Strategic Issues, Concerns, and Alternatives
10:30–12:30 PM Session 7: Property Reform and Related Issues
12:30–1:30 PM Lunch Break
1:30–3:30 PM Session 8: Rethinking Urban Policy: Spatial, Economic, and Institutional Aspects
3:45–5:45 PM Session 9: Science and Technology

DAY 4 - February 4, 2010, Thursday
8:00–8:30 AM Registration Proper
8:30–10:30 AM Session 10: Confronting Trade, Markets, and Regulation
10:30–12:30 PM Session 11: Philippine Foreign Relations
12:30–2:00 PM Lunch Break
2:00–4:00 PM Session 12: Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Trends, Challenges, Lessons, and Response Options

DAY 5 - February 5, 2010, Friday
8:00–8:30 AM Registration Proper
8:30–10:30 AM Session 13: Addressing Impunity
10:30–12:30 PM Session 14: Elections and How to Choose Leaders
12:30–1:30 PM Lunch Break
1:30–3:30 PM Session 15: Labor–Revisiting Constitutional Guarantees
3:45–4:00 PM Closing Remarks by UP Diliman Chancellor Sergio S. Cao

Third Week of February
Session 16: Energy Security
Synthesis by the Chief Rapporteurs
(Details to follow)

SESSIONS MAY ALSO BE VIEWED VIA LIVE WEB STREAMING at: dilc.upd.edu.ph


This event is brought to you by the:

Office of the President, University of the Philippines | Office of the Chancellor, University of the Philippines, Diliman | College of Law | College of Engineering | College of Science | College of Social Sciences and Philosophy | College of Social Work and Community Development | National College of Public Administration and Governance | School of Economics | Asian Center | Center for Integrative and Development Studies | Center for Women’s Studies | Diliman Interactive Learning Center | Institute of Islamic Studies | Third World Studies Center

Partial Official List of Candidates in 2010 Elections

Included in the list of official presidential candidates are: (8 out of 99)

* Aquino, Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" III (Liberal Party)
* Delos Reyes, John Carlos “JC" (Ang Kapatiran)
* Ejercito Estrada, Joseph M. (Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino – UNO)
* Gordon, Richard J. (Bagumbayan)
* Madrigal, Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby" AS. (Independent)
* Teodoro, Gilberto Jr. C. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
* Villanueva, Eddie C. (Bangon Pilipinas)
* Villar, Manuel Jr. B. (Nacionalista Party)

For vice-president, the candidates approved by Comelec are: (8 out of 20)

* Binay, Jejomar C. (PDP-Laban)
* Chipeco, Dominador “Jun" Jr. F. (Ang Kapatiran)
* Fernando, Bayani F. (Bagumbayan)
* Legarda, Loren B. (National People’s Coalition)
* Manzano, Edu B. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
* Roxas, Manuel “Mar" II A. (Liberal Party)
* Sonza, Jose “Jay" Y. (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan)
* Yasay, Perfecto Jr. R. (Bangon Pilipinas)

For senator, the candidates approved by the poll body are: (58 out of 158)

* Acosta, Jr. Nereus O. (LP)
* Albani, Shariff Ibrahim H. (KBL)
* Alonto, Zafrullah M. (Bangon Pilipinas)
* Baraquel, Ana. Theresa H. (LP)
* Bautista, J.V. Larion (PMP)
* Bautista, Martin D. (LP)
* Bello, Silvestre III H. (Lakas)
* Biazon, Rozanno Rufino B. (LP)
* Revilla, Ramon “Bong" B. (Lakas)
* Caunan, Henry B. (PDP-Laban)
* Cayetano, Pilar Juliana US. (NP)
* David, Rizalito Y. (Ang Kapatiran)
* De Venecia, Jose III P. (PMP)
* Defensor-Santiago, Miriam P.(People’s Reform Party)
* Drilon, Franklin M. (LP)
* Enrile, Juan Ponce (PMP)
* Estrada, Jinggoy E. (PMP)
* Guico, Ramon, Jr. N. (Lakas)
* Guingona, Teofisto III D. (LP)
* Imbong, Jo Aurea M. (Ang Kapatiran)
* Inocencio, Ma. Katherine Luningning R. (Bangon Pilipinas)
* Lacson, Alexander L. (LP)
* Lambino, Raul L. (Lakas)
* Langit, Rey M. (Lakas)
* Lao, Yasmin B. (LP)
* Lapid, Manuel M. (Lakas)
* Lood, Alma A. (KBL)
* Lozada, Jose Apolinario Jr. L (PMP)
* Maambong, Regalado E. (KBL)
* Marcos, Ferdinand Jr. R. (NP)
* Maza, Liza L. (Independent)
* Millora, Ma. Judea G. (KBL)
* Mitra, Ramon B. (NP)
* Ocampo, Ramoncito P. (Bangong Pilipinas)
* Ocampo, Saturnino C. (Bayan Muna)
* Ople, Susan V. (NP)
* Osmeña, Sergio III D. (Independent)
* Palparan, Jovito Jr. S. (Independent)
* Papin, Imelda A. (KBL)
* Paredes, Zosimo Jesus II M. (Ang Kapatiran)
* Pimentel, Gwendolyn D. (PDP-Laban)
* Plaza, Rodolfo Rodrigo g. (NPC)
* Princesa, Reynaldo R. (Bangon Pilipinas)
* Querubin, Ariel O. (NP)
* Recto, Ralph G. (LP)
* Remulla, Gilbert Cesar C. (NP)
* Riñoza-Plazo, Maria Gracia DV. (Ang Kapatiran)
* Roco, Sonia M. (LP)
* Sison, Adrian O. (Ang Kapatiran)
* Sotto, Vicente III C. (NPC)
* Tamano, Adel A. (NP)
* Tamayo, Reginald B. (Ang Kapatiran)
* Tarrazona, Hector M. (Ang Kapatiran)
* Tatad, Francisco S. (Grand Alliance for Democracy)
* Tinsay, Alexander B. (Bangon Pilipinas))
* Valdehuesa, Manuel Jr. E. (Ang Kapatiran)
* Villanueva, Hector L. (KBL)
* Virgines, Israel N. (Bangon Pilipinas)

(the list is still “subject to change pending the disqualification cases” filed against several candidates)

Nicanor Perlas, the Presidentiable

Just recently, at the recently concluded second wave of “HER TIME IS UP: 2010 Election Forum” held at the UP College of Law by KAISA and several student councils in UP Diliman, I had the chance to interview and listen to what Mr. Nicanor Perlas has to say on the Maguindanao Massacre. Here's his video interview c/o Noemi Dado and Blogwatch.ph:



In choosing someone to succeed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2010, one must take into serious consideration what the candidate has planned, his vision, and how he or she will run the country.

In the forum, he laid out his vision and 6 pillars to spell out his platform (which you can browse at the link provided below).

• Erradicate Poverty and Enhance Quality of Life
• Advance Moral and Effective Governance
• Uphold the Integrity of Creation
• Build Partnerships for Social Justice
• Promote Creative Education and Inner Change
• Mainstream Visionary Initiatives

It is good to note that Mr. Nick Perlas is the first to have released a concrete platform of government for his bid for the Presidency of the land.


To be honest, I like his ideas, his vision, his will and courage to take the road less traveled by. Certainly, he says, it would be hard for him to win. He has too little following compared to seasoned politicians, and those who are already in the limelight. He has much less financial support as compared to others. So what are the chances he'll win?

In our elite democracy, where money, power and fame dictate societal norms, one could dare but only imagine how he'd penetrate the system. Let's see if Mr. Nicanor Perlas can do it. I like what he wrote in his site, "The Trap of Traditional Notions of Winnability," and he says, "The good news is that there is a tremendous burst of initiatives in the Philippines trying to reclaim authentic democracy in the national elections of 2010. The bad news is that the would-be bearers of change politics are still stuck with the thinking of the old politics. Nowhere is this more evident than in their concept of “winnability”. To win in 2010 means, for them, to have, from the beginning, name recognition, political machinery, financial and other resources, and endorsements."


He continues in "Winning An Election the Non-Traditional Way", and this is the point, "One of the tasks of new innovative politics is to reframe old notions of winnability and not to remain trapped into letting old winnability concepts dictate the future of new politics." In a truly democratic country, everyone has the chance to be President. But with the unequal field politics is being played in, I doubt if that's the case.

MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando and Environmentalist Nicanor Perlas in HER TIME IS UP: 2010 Election Forum Series

KAISA - Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan

in cooperation with the

College of Science Student Council (CS-SC),
College of Home Economics Student Council (CHE-SC),
National College of Public Administration and Governance Student Council (NCPAG-SC),
Asian Institute of Tourism Student Council (AIT-SC),
College of Human Kinetics Student Council (CHK-SC),
College of Architecture Student Council (ASC),
Alliance of Concerned Dormitories (ACD), and the
Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity (APB)

presents

HER TIME IS UP
2010 Election Forum Series

2nd and 3rd Guest Presidentiables are MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando and Environmentalist Nicanor Perlas

November 25, 2009, 2:00-5:00 P.M.
Ambion Room (UP College of Law), UP Diliman

This election forum series is for the benefit of UP students, who wants to be an audience with the future public officials of our country. The one-on-one will focus on the education sector, touching on his/her plans for UP as the premier state university, and overall plans for the youth as a whole. They are also expected to tackle on their governance and economic plans.

Handa ka na ba sa 2010?

2009 SONA: Sana Totoo!

The 2009 SONA-SANA video seeks to provide a candid evaluation of the Arroyo presidency, which has, for the past seven SONAs, failed to provide an accurate assessment of the state of our nation.



In the video, which will be made available to the public via the internet, opposition Sen. Francis Joseph "Chiz" G. Escudero reports on how the president has failed to meet the very standards she set when she took over the presidency in 2001. And how despite holding her position for over eight years the country continues to suffer, particularly in the areas of education, job generation, food security, and good governance.

Aside from giving a somber account of the state of the nation, Sen. Escudero also points out what should have been done to address the country's myriad problems, and looks forward as he presents alternatives so that the questionable policies of the present administration can be rectified.

Video and text courtesy of jedmeva

COMELEC PCOS Counting Machine

Smartmatic demonstrated to the public the PCOS or the Precinct Count Optical Scan earlier in the Come, Elect! Forum in Astoria, Ortigas. The guy from Smartmatec got grilled for questions he cannot seem to give a good answer. COMELEC, om the other hand, was no where to be found to help Smartmatic. For now, here's the Automated Election Machine. To the left, the sample transparent ballot box, divided into 2, for segregation of valid and invalid ballots, and to the right, the PCOS machine.