juanadelacruz.com » Philippines 2010 elections

Can the PCOS machines withstand the jello heat?

Rona — Fri, 07 May 2010 04:12:01 +0000

B said that the heat is like a jello-entity and we’re passing through it. Word. Can’t describe our weather for the past few months any better than she did. She has to take the MRT and LRT to and from ~~hell~~ work everyday so she gets to feel what it’s really like out there walking under the angry sun of a witch. She also believes that the small amount of rain that we had in the afternoon 2 days ago was just clouds dumping absorbed human sweat. Eew.

I am so excited to vote on Monday. I can’t wait to feed that long piece of paper in a PCOS machine. The COMELEC said that the election on May 10 will happen and I believe it. I want to stay positive about this but I thought that it was premature of them to toast champagne after the last ballot was printed out. Too early a celebration guys. Some CompactFlash (CF) cards are nowhere near to the far-flung PCOS machines and they won’t make it on election day. What are the voters in those remote areas supposed to do now? Hold voting off until the CF cards finally arrive? I see a potential problem too. Our public schools don’t have air-conditioning. In this jello heat we are experiencing this summer, will the PCOS machines survive it? I really really hope so.

My G1BO cup

Rona — Fri, 07 May 2010 03:49:56 +0000

Just like in the 711 stores, when you buy a drink in Fruitas, you get to choose the cup of your choice president. Gilbert Teodoro is sort of winning and I have made a conscious effort to buy more mango shakes to put him on top:

Fruitas G1BO cup

If only I could do the same in the coming election. I would be more than happy to vote for him over and over again. Today (May 7) at 5:00 PM is G1BO’s Grand Meeting De Avance at the Rizal Track & Field Stadium (near Harrison Plaza). Be counted! SULONG!

Of “Jejemons” and the use of “Po”

Rona — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:13:08 +0000

Our housemate left a more than a month ago so I put up an ad for a room for rent in the apartment. There were a lot of texts and some e-mails but so far, no luck. Most of them asked for what is already in the ad probably because they are too lazy to read something that is not on Facebook. What part of 5,000 per month don’t you understand, Diane? Whoever you are. I’m glad you didn’t reply anymore. I haven’t met any of the potential housemates and yet, I already don’t like them. Every time I would reply, I feel like I’m asking them to make me cringe even more. They put “po” after every sentence and in between words. WTF? Not only it is condescending, it also devalues the true intention of using “po”. For the sake of those who uses “po” in their regular conversation, in case the correct usage of “po” is already lost in you, the word “po” is directed towards the elderly or your parents to show that you are respectful to them in the old Filipino tradition way. Get it? Go talk to your mother and use “po”. They just might hug you in surprise.

Speaking of irritating text messages…

The people who type like SHIFT key crazy have evolved into something that they are now given a name. Jejemon’s are what they are called. Just go to Jejemon.com (yes, somebody was really that quick to register “jejemon.com”) to get a full grasp of what they are all about. Urban Dictionary explains it too. I just don’t know what to make of of their 3rd entry for the meaning of “Jejemon”:

A pejorative term most middle to high-class Filipino teens use to refer to their poor countrymen who dress up as ‘GaNgZtaHz’ and use txt language. What the upper class fail to see is that these Jejemons do not know any better and that’s caused by their inherent poverty.

The elite and affluent, not to mention spoiled teens find yet another way to degrade their already impoverished brethren. Instead of helping the trampled, the high-class Filipino teens jeer at the destitute who they know can’t afford the luxurious taste they have. Of course, they cover this up by volunteering in charitable works just to show that they are impeccable and far better than the so-called Jejemons.

This just goes to show how divided the Filipino people are. Social classes will never break boundaries because the discriminatory elites will never accept the poor in their society as equals.

I wouldn’t say that “Jejemons” are exclusively made up of the “impoverished brethren”. Check your favorite social networking site. One of your friends has surely abused the exclamation point or used “ha ha ha” way too much. It would be unfair not to count them as a “Jejemon“. If not, then it’s not that far that their kind will be given a name too.

Check out running-for-president Gibo Teodoro’s plan for “Jejemons”:

GIBO vs. Jejemons

I remember him saying before that one of his pet peeves is wrong grammar or wrong spelling. Check it out at 8:50:

Eh well, there goes my dream of working for him but guess who I am voting as President this May 2010.

A Little May 2010 Election Briefing And Some Election Trivias

Rona — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:21:17 +0000

1. The Presidential, legislative and local elections will be on May 10, 2010.

2. Whoever gets elected president will be the 15th President of our country.

3. The 2010 election, in compliance with Republic Act No. 9369, also known as Amended Computerization Act of 2007, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will administer the first national computerized election in the history of the Philippines.

4. Official campaign period:
Candidates running for national positions – February 9 to May 8
Candidates running for local positions – March 26 to May 8

ELECTION TRIVIAS: Did you know…
In Australia, voting is compulsory for all adult citizens aged 18 years or older. Non-voters will have to provide a reason for their failure to vote or pay a $20 penalty. Compulsory voting is also enforced in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Singapore, Switzerland and Turkey.

From DiscoveryMagazine.com: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Elections:
There are 2 things that are worth reading in relation to the coming election–

17. Ballot layout matters. There’s the “vertical proximity effect,” whereby unknown candidates whose names appear near those of popular candidates get extra votes.

18. And then there’s a tendency among voters simply to vote for the first name on the ballot. In Australia, where voting is compulsory, these votes could account for as much as 1 percent of the total.

A person’s bias is based on facts, but prejudice occurs without a person knowing or examining the facts. Vote wisely, people.

Register Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace

Rona — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:22:15 +0000

The voter’s registration has been extended until Jan. 9, 2010. Tentative opening date is on Monday, December 21. As of the previous deadline set, 49 million citizens have registered to vote for the May 2010 election. Utang na loob, go out and line up to register. You only have to do it once. It’s your right to vote and it’s about time that you exercise it. We’ve come a long way (about frakkin’ time) with the voting system and I hope it won’t go to waste because of low turnout of voters. Gone are the days when election means having to write a long list of names on paper. To be able to vote using the automated machine is exciting enough.

Here’s a video presentation from Smartmatic that can serve as a guide on how to use the new automated machine for the 2010 election:

And the Sexbomb dancers to explain it further with much fanfare:

Voters with no biometrics can still vote -COMELEC

Rona — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:18:57 +0000

Amid news reports that came out yesterday saying that voters whose biometrics were not captured during registration will not be allowed to cast their vote, James Jimenez, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) spokesman clarified that:

“Registered voters who haven’t had their biometrics captured need not panic. They can still vote in 2010.”

He also said that “so long as your name is included in the voters list, you will be allowed to vote,” adding that voters’ identification cards (ID’s) are also not a requirement on Election Day. Source

Based on my experience as a voter for the past 2 elections, what he said about the voters ID is true. No need to bring it in the precinct where you are going to vote. All you have to do is look for your name on the list and enter the room where you are going to cast your vote. I am excited to vote in 2010 because of the automated system. High-tech ika nga. Feeling ko kasi nasa Grade 2 ulit ako tuwing bumuboto. Kailangan takpan ng folder yung papel na sinusulatan ng sagot, bawal tumingin sa papel ng katabi, one seat apart kayo, tapos may nakabantay pa na mga teachers, ha ha.

People, register if you haven’t. You only have to do it once. After that, you can exercise your right to vote during elections. Last day is on Saturday, Ocotber 31.

In these times of election fever, anything political is a must read especially if you are a voter and you give a damn about your country. Just want to share this tidbit from The Professional Heckler:
“Huwag n’yo ‘kong subukan.”
~Joseph Estrada (Inauguration Day, 1998)
[Don't worry Erap. We will remember that when we go to our polling precincts in 2010.]

Ha ha ha! Apir! Di ko sasayangin ang paglakad ko mula EDSA hanggang Malacanang nung EDSA 2. Ang layo kaya nun!