juanvote for the Philippines

#JUANVOTE is the first ever social media coverage of the Philippine Elections by the citizens. Blogwatch.PH, 100ARAW.com and Global News Network (GNN), together with the Philippine Online Chronicles, Reklamotion, Code Radio, Vote Report Philippines 2010, Worker's Electoral Watch, Gameops, TXTPower, RockEd Radio, Cebu Bloggers Society, and Global Destiny will make this dream happen.

So what is #juanvote?

"Filipino netizens formed #juanvote network to monitor elections online. The country's internet users have come together to form a network to keep a close watch on the May 10, 2010 elections. The name #juanvote is used because, the network calls on citizens to use hi-tech means to expose and hopefully thwart electoral fraud and violence. The #juanvote also aims to document the country's first nationwide automated elections," says Noemi Dado, project editor of Blogwatch.

#juanvote challenges all Filipino netizens to be champions of Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections by taking action on May 10. This May 10 we would have two “firsts”: The first nationwide automated elections, and the first social media coverage to be mounted by citizens.

We must not just vote: We must use all our powers as social media users to help others vote and to guard the vote. Armed with our cellphones, digital cameras, and social media tools, we can make a difference.

This simple guide aims to empower us with knowledge on what, when and how to report.

Pinoy Netizens Guide to May 10 by #juanvote

Freedom of Speech vs. Freedom from Influence

CBCP vs. Celebrity Endorsers

I was on my way home from the University of the Philippines Diliman this Tuesday, when I heard on the radio, specifically on DZMM Pasada Sais Trenta (630khz), the interview of Karen Davila and Vic de leon Lima with actor, comedian and game show host Willie Revillame on why he supports Nacionalista Party Presidential Candidate Senator Manny Villar, and the issues that surround Villar’s presidency and Revillime’s support to the candidate.

Unfortunately or fortunately, this article is not about why Willie Revillame supports Manny Villar, or what were his answers to questions on the issues that surround that support.

Admittedly, that is an interesting topic all together; but what struck me the most during that interview this afternoon was when Karen Davila asked Willie on his thoughts on the statement of the Catholic’s Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) regarding celebrity endorsers who have a perceived notion to be womanizers. It went further by identifying him as one of those endorsers.

Recently, the Catholics Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a statement against, or categorically stated that they are against politicians using celebrity endorsers who are perceived to be “babaero” or womanizers, and allegedly pointed specifically to Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Senator Manny Villar’s endorsers as such.

As everybody has seen on the TV, print, and other advertisements and personal endorsements, these personalities include award-winning actor and comedian Dolphy, world renowned boxing champion Manny Paquiao, and actor, comedian and game show host Willie Revillame – at least they were the ones who were being indentified, according to TV Patrol World’s reports.

Freedom of Speech, Freedom from Influence

If the CBCP says that the Nacionalista Party's endorsers have a reputation of being womanizers then I would dare say that they are being anal, judgmental and bordering “pakialamero,” or one who meddles in everything, even in affairs of the government.

Freedom of speech goes both ways. I am generally against hiring celebrity endorsers to boost a politician’s campaign, but what the CBCP did was off. It’s just that the bishops, more often than not, think of their “social status” as power and that they have every right to speak against the government from a pedestal (or if we identify with olden times, a pulpit) and to brand affairs of the government as good or evil, Christian-like or otherwise.

I agree, in principle, to the reaction of NP Vice-Presidential candidate Senator Loren Legarda that the level of the campaigns [of both parties and other candidates] in the upcoming elections has sunk very low.

I think that there should be no one person who, or entity that, can judge the character of an individual and try to affect others’ perception or impression of that person without knowing him or her fully first. It’s not even enough reason to judge or label a person if you are just an acquaintance, or, sometimes, even casual friends.

More so, I think that there should be no one who can judge someone’s intentions, for the Filipino nation and its people with malice; this does not exempt religious (priests and bishops), given their sensitive positions in Philippine society.

Filipinos must vote wisely

The Filipino people can observe, more so us from the media and online community, that if not the candidates, their supporters, have resorted and relied on mudslinging and black propaganda to either boost their campaign or bring the other candidates campaign down.

I must admit that this is not only true to the Liberal Party, but also to the Nacionalista Party, to other parties, candidates and their supporters, both in the national and in the local scenes.

Campaigns for the national and local elections should focus on platforms, principles and issues, and not bashing character, maligning integrity, and questioning intentions of the candidates and people who support them.

Let their person, their records, and the people who know them best speak and stand on their own merits. It is each and everyone’s job and responsibility to present all the facts, and at the same time, get and scrutinize all the facts.

In the end, it is we, the people, who will decide the fate of our own selves, this government, and ultimately, this beloved nation we are all living in.

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Freedom of Speech vs. Freedom from Influence was written and published at BLOGWATCH - The Philippine Online Chronicles

Susan Ople, Adel Tamano and Gilbert Remulla visit UP Diliman

I had the chance to follow Nationalista Party (NP) senatorial candidates Susan Ople (Estelle), Adel Tamano and Gilbert Remulla as they went around UP Diliman the other day. I had the privilege to ask them this question. “Why did you choose UP as one of your stops in the campaign and what can you say to all of the UP students?” You can read more about their campaign in UP on my article in Blogwatch.

Adel Tamano says that, “UP is special. The best and the brightest come here. My wife is a graduate of UP, which shows you how high and esteem I hold UP. It is important that before the students participate in the mock elections that we go to them. My message wasn’t vote for me. I came here to tell them to choose the best. Just like in UP, you don’t choose the most popular or the one who was a former UP student when you choose the students who will enter [the school, instead] they choose the best.”

“That’s the message I want the UP students to have – that they learn about all the candidates. I hope that they also learn about me, what my accomplishments are, what my track record is, so that they could choose. I am not saying that I am the best, but though I am saying is that let’s choose the best. I think we have had enough of Lito Lapid’s and Bong Revilla’s in our Senate, it’s time that we choose the best,” he stresses.


On the other hand, Gilbert Remulla, through his media officer Gelo Villar says, “Of course, it’s his Alma Matter. He has a sense of loyalty to UP, and also since he values education the most. The campaign is a way to give back the scholarship of a UP education to the taxpayers who paid for his studies. If he wins as Senator, he will be able to repay them with public service.”


His message to the UP students is to “make the most out of your stay, be active and vigilant to social issues around. It’s not all about studying, but to also to finish on time to give other worthy scholars a chance to have a UP education,” he says.

Susan Ople, through her daughter, said, "We chose UP as one of our stops because we believe the youth have the capability and desire to change Philippine politics for the better. We appeal to all voters, UP students or otherwise, to vote wisely. Look beyond celebrity and established names. New politics requires new names and faces in the Senate. So look at the new names more closely. Don't rely solely on media and ads. Google your candidates and share what you find out to fellow voters. If we do that, there is a better chance of us obtaining the change we deserve."