SOON TO BE PART OF HISTORY - AUTOMATED ELECTION

What am I reading today?

Source: Hubpages

The Malacañang's Department of Budget and Management produce the P11.9 billion supplemental budget for this coming election which will be automated. Christian Monsod has been explaining how the Open Election System method of automation works.

“Monsod stressed that the proposed OES-based automated election system, combined with an optical mark recognition (OMR) technology, could cost government about P8 billion for the equipment and operations. If Comelec prefers getting the OES automated election system alone, it will cost around P4 billion."

And he added that "The choice of automation technology and its successful implementation is key to the credibility of the elections."

What was really the "Automated Election"?

Based on the Senate Bill No. 2231: (13th Congress) which entitled:

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8436, ENTITLED AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO USE AN AUTOMATED ELECTION SYSTEM IN THE MAY 11, 1998 NATIONAL OR LOCAL ELECTIONS AND IN SUBSEQUENT NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTORAL EXERCISES, TO ENCOURAGE TRANSPARENCY, CREDIBILITY, FAIRNESS AND ACCURACY OF ELECTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881, AS AMENDED, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166 AND OTHER RELATED ELECTIONS LAWS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

On section 2 on the said article defines the automated election systemas:
A system using appropriate technology for voting, counting, consolidating, canvassing, transmission of election results and other processes in the conduct of electoral exercises.

Equipments or components that are being used for Automated Election:

1. Counting machine - a machine that uses an optical scanning mark-sense reading
2. Data storage device - a device used to electronically store counting and device of any similar advanced technology to count ballots; canvassing results, such as, memory pack or diskette;
3. Computer set - a set of equipment containing regular components, i.e., monitor, central processing unit or CPU, keyboard and printer;
4. National Ballot - refers to the ballot to be used in the automated election system for the purpose of the May 1998 elections. This shall contain the names of the candidates for president, vice-president, senators and parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system;
   
   This ballot shall be counted by the counting machine:
5. Local Ballot - refers to the ballot on which the voter will manually write the names of the candidates of his/her choice for member of the House of Representatives, governor,vice-governor, members of the provincial board, mayor, vice-mayor, and members of the city municipal council.
6. Board of Election inspector - there shall be a Board of Election Inspectors in every precinct composed of three (3) regular members who shall conduct the voting, counting and recording of votes in the polling place.

Many questions and complains arise from this issue such as:

• How reliable can be the automated election system be?Some people said that anything that is being done through computerized would be easier to falsify.
• In the side of indigenous people it would be hard for them to vote if the election will be done automatically because some of them are illiterate.

• There will be no ballot box snatching as the ERs are transmitted electronically for canvassing
• There is less work for the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI)
• If all precincts are connected, national results can be produced within one hour after the close of voting
• There is automated tally of votes at the city/municipal level
• The DRE can include an automated voter validation system
• Canvassing at the city/municipal and provincial levels is almost instantaneous
• There is an instantaneous tally of votes at the precinct level
• Ballots are pre-printed and voters simply mark choices

Actually, we will be soon part of the automated elections this May 10. I still can't understand why other people think negatives about what Philippine Government try to do regarding this automation. For me, this is something new; something fair. I agree that the country is suffering of a lot of corruption that many people do not even trust the government. But let us just wait until the election is over. Yes, there will be cheating but that will be another issue. The government  found a way - the automation.

I have been in a training last three weeks. The Smartmatic trained supervisors and technicians who will serve this coming May 10 election. I am one of them. As supervisors and technicians, we are neutral during the election. We can't even vote if we will be assigned far away from our permanent residents.

MARCH 21, 2010

It was Sunday and classes are over. I promised myself to get some sleep, so, I woke at 10:00 am. Last November 2009, during our semestral break, I started to go to gym, doing some exercises and I started loving it. But it didn't last for so long because I went back to school.

This afternoon I went back to gym. I am expecting pains in different parts of my body tomorrow but that's normal. It was fun. We have two months break from school therefore, I could come back there again for two months.

Just now, I am trying to make some tweaks of a photo.

Having fun with Adobe Photoshop to come up with this edited photo.

I started learning Photoshop last year and most of my knowledge came from self study or self experimentation. I wish I could be in a professional training about photography and editing.

RECENT EXPERIENCES

Yesterday...
Last week I posted my resume over the internet and was applying for a call center agent or technical support representative. Two days after, the company texted me to be at their office for an interview. So, I was their yesterday. The interview schedule was 10:00 AM and I arrived their 9:50, that was perfect. First, we took four parts exams and I passed. It was followed by the interview proper where you and the HR talk. He asked to tell more about myself. I was nervous that I wasn't able to talk instantly. I started describing myself in calm voice. I don't have any background about applying for such position and I haven't ask someone who underwent the same process. He said, "No go" for now. I have thought about asking what does it mean but I did not maybe he might think that I am stupid that I couldn't understand. Well, that was frustrating. I have exerted effort, money and time for nothing. But I have thought that life is sometimes like that. Do I  have to try again? I think so, but another company. Some people said that we could learn from our experiences and that is always true. Learning always comes from nothing.

Today...
Just this morning, our school is celebrating the "65th Foundation of the School" and different activities, competitions are being implemented. One of the competitions was "Computer Hardware Assembly". I was confident to attend the competition. In fact, I am doing that for almost 3 years and therefore it's not hard for me. It was fun, they're giving Php300 for the first placer, Php200 for second placer and 100 for third placer. I only got the second place. I was having fun with it. That's the one of the ways to build your competent in front of the people. Why not try while you have the skill?

Huh.... experiences.. :)

SCHOOL UPDATES

Schooling is going on. It is always a good thing to learn new things. The months I've spent of not doing anything on my blog made me think of missing it again. There many things I've learned from school not just academically but socially also. I've learned to go with other other people, friends and classmates. I used to quote "social interactions is very important to an individual" from our Psychology instructor last two years. The more I get involved with others the more chances that social relationships will be built. It's totally different last three years where I lived alone. Although I could talk my friends online but hanging out with friends has a different impact than being online.

So, go back about school...

I hate the Math subject still, but I started to overcome the pessimist character. I believe that I can do it, it just a matter of time. I used to blame that I don't have enough time for studying, which is true because, still, I have work during the day and school at night. There were some lessons in Math on high school that is still related to our present lessons today and I haven't learn if from high school. This is one of the reason that I can't absorb the lessons easily. In fact, I got low grades last mid term exam but I passed. Sometimes I have thought about quitting school and get a job somewhere but I need to finish at least 2 years in college. So, if I want to get a good job, I may get that next year. These are the options in my mind:

1. quit school and get a job

2. continue school and just wait another year

3. go to Manila and stay at my uncle, probably continue my studies

I really don't know yet but as of now I am doing the 2nd option. The contract of lease of the company where I am working will end this March 2010. Sell everything or transfer to other place are the options. This could affect my schooling because my financial support is dependent on the company. I hope I'll be at the company still until I finish my 2nd year in college. Well, time will change, ideas and thoughts of the people change. I could just used the living for today and minimize the long list for the future.

Just for today.

THINGS IN MY MIND

When I started doing my school, I used to spend time thinking or focusing on it. But just recently when my friend shared to me their situation I started thinking several things. I always heard about the global crisis... economic status. I haven't felt about being affected to it, great companies and businessmans are. As long as I am getting my fixed salary every month and I have felt satisfied of my life at the moment if only there is no tomorrow. I have shared this to my friend two days ago and I got different ideas. Sometimes I am dreaming what would I become in the next few years but I still don't know what will happen in the next few hours. HE only knows. My friends have told me that "In his time, He makes all things beautiful". The thought stucks in my mind and I can't understand the statement. Perhaps I was not close to Him last few months. I know that what my have told me has a deeper meaning, I just can't fathom.

My family is struggling from financial problem ever since. Biblically, that's not problem but practically, it is. This could the one of the reason why I want something different in the next few years. It really takes several years if He'll let me get there. As of now I still have something to eat - the proof of His providence. My friend had shared me about this agnostic idea. Maybe I am in that.

(I hate the music right now-very distracting... I'm gonna write something more about this soon)

I HAVE MISSED SOMETHING

I have mentioned in my previous post about the status of my life - work during the day and do school at night. Last two days, I got a phone call from the one I knew from Cebu City and asked me if I could visit their Computer Shop to do some troubleshooting job on Tuesday. It thought it was perfect; that was Tuesday and it's my day-off on the company where I am currently working. I still have classes at night that day but I was free during the day, so, I told her that I am coming. I was doing the maintenance in her shop 8 months ago. When I started school last 2nd semester last year, I resigned because I have thought that I couldn't handle it any longer with school. My schedules really bother me all the time. I have one subject in my class that Tuesday afternoon is the schedule. I thought it was perfect because it is day-off but I just got this another go-to-city every Tuesday for the job whom I rendered my resignation 8 months ago. At first, I have thought of my myself that I couldn't handle it anymore but the idea of grabbing the opportunity and do the simple job and get paid would help.... would really help. Here's what will be happening if I'll have to do decisions. It's either I drop my one subject and go to city every Tuesday or get my subject and don't go to city. So, I was there last Tuesday. 5 of 28 computers we're not working. I just completed 3 of 5, there's two left and I promised her of coming back next Tuesday which I am not really sure yet. (Whoever have read this, I really want your ideas, suggestions... etc. tia). I told her that I couldn't stay longer because I have classes on the night that day. I need to go back at 2:30. It's two hours bus ride. Sad thing I wasn't able to fulfill my plan. I left the shop at 4:00... and I have missed two (2) subjects. My plan's changed. We'll be having a quiz that night too at 7-9PM, so, I was really in a hurry. When I got in the room, the quiz has just started. Our quiz was really interesting. It was done by two ways - orally and written. Our instructor would choose five (5) student from us to do the quiz orally and the rest would do the written quiz. I was shocked when I entered the room, my instructor pointed me to do the oral quiz. I was not really comfortable that time. I am not really prepared but I still believed that I could do it. My instructor asked me how many question I want. I choose two. Good thing was I got the first question correctly but I wasn't really sure of my answer on the second question. It sounds strict but it's a great idea. Not just on doing quizzes but also on discipline and lots of rules: like turning your phone off when you are in class, wear name tags, bring with us the note our instructor provided, should be on time - if late for more than 10 minutes - it is equivalent of 1 absent and there's many more to mention. Well, it's not bad, in fact, I really like it. That's something that we need to learn even in just two hours but it could really help.

That's all for today.

I JUST APPRECIATE IT

I'm back. I wasn't able to update my blog regularly. There's a lot of thing to be written in here and share it with you but I was too busy last few months. I just started school and it's almost a month already. That's was funny when I first entered my classroom because, in majority, I am 4 years older than them. Of course, I am not in their level, my age proves it. Most of them called me "kuya". When I hear that word, I always feel like... yeah I am older than them. But I did not put too much emphasis in my age. I am learning how could I be friendly to them. I know one who is very talkative... she's a girl, my classmate and has a baby. She kept on asking me a lot of questions. Most peope who already knew me being silent most of the time and I admit that I am the one but last few weeks I've learned to start any conversation. So, I having fun learning how to be close to other people.

Last semester, there were subjects that I really loved - the Logic, that's correct reasoning from incorrect reasoning. Math subject is not new to me, even though I felt that it's hard sometimes but I enjoy them. Filipino, Chemistry will follow the list. But one subject that urges my mind to think was the Psychology. I really appreciated how our instructor teach us. I found some similarities with this to Logic. I always loved the idea of learning something new.

More about me. Well, we just moved from our current residence where free lodging offered to us and that was almost 4 years. My sister just started her high school here and she use to stay with us with my brother. So, we decided to move to another boarding house where we pay an amount every month. I really don't like the idea of staying somebody's house, it's a blessing however but as long as we are able to pay the monthly obligation, then we go for it. I can't imagine how life would be going. We, three, wake up in the morning, getting ready for work and school. During the night, I go to school. It seems like "no time for conversation". Everything is fine so far - no misunderstanding -- yet. It's always comfortable living in a place where we are paying for the lodge.

I'll cut it here, 'til next time.