VOTE BUYING - WORST THING

I was very convinced that this automated election would be fair - no more cheating, etc. But still some people used their intelligence and money in order to get what they really wanted. They were very wise. I really wonder why other people are willing to sell their rights to others. Everyone has the right to choose and right to vote but all of these rights would only cost Php200.00 or Php300.00, even just Php50.00 would be enough. I knew that it wasn't the first time this had happened. It (has) happened many times before. But until people realize that it is their rights, even a million pesos couldn't buy it. I attend a Sunday service one time. It wasn't the Pastor's intention to talk about politics. Candidates were very busy campaigning at that time and they promised to make changes. The Pastor said that it wasn't possible, unless God made a miracle in the heart of every man. That was really true.

I have read some Facebook statuses that said: "to those who sell their votes, SHAME ON YOU...". I was shocked by that statement but they had a point. I know this came from previous generations and I'm sure that this will be passed to the next generations. :(  

FIRST AUTOMATED ELECTION - SUCCESSFUL

The first automated election in Philippines was over. I am one of the technical support for PCOS Machine and I've witnessed a lot things which were unexpected. I have thought that voting would be quick but I was wrong, considering those senior citizens which really need assistance. There was no big difference for manual counting or automated counting if we only talk about time. However, the BEI's (Board of Election Inspectors) could no longer do the manual counting, PCOS could easily do it. On the designated area where I was assigned, I only have two PCOS and there were 1,800 more or less voters in the area. Each PCOS could hold 1,000 casting ballots, therefore, two PCOS would be enough. But still people should line-up unlike the previous manual election where there were more precincts compared to this automated where there's only two precincts - one PCOS for one precincts. Many are complaining because mostly they waited for more than two or more hours to vote. I have hoped that the machine would be fine so that there would be no delay. As hired by Smartmatic TIM as PCOS technician, we should be at our designated area as early as 5am and should sign an attendance at 6 and the voting should start at 7am. I felt glad that I didn't encountered any trouble on machine until 10pm in the evening when the ballots were not properly drop in the ballot box causing a "Paper Jam" error. On my designated area the voting was closed on one precinct, they're done. The machine itself could print election results. First, the 8 copies of local elections were printed. After printing, the machine asked if we were ready to transmit. We used modem for transmission. So, we're done at 10pm but because we didn't have a modem (supposedly there is) we should wait the other precinct. On my area, transmitting the results was easy, I have a good signal unlike those precincts on the mountain areas. At 11:30pm the voting of the other machine was done too and they're ready for transmitting the results. So, we only have one modem from the other polling area and transmission could be done by connecting the modem to a machine. We did it one at a time. After the transmission, the machine would print 22 copies for national elections. At exactly 2am, we're almost done. As Smartmatic Personnel, we were obliged to bring the PCOS machine the the municipal hall and we did it. We arrived at the Municipal Hall at 3am together with the BEI's. The canvassing center have shown their tally on a big screen, so we stayed there for two hours. We're just excited to see the results. At 5am I went home and go to bed. I was very tired that even one day on bed wasn't enough. Well, all those were experiences and I am proud that I was the part of the first automated election.

I'm not really sure if 100% of voters have voted, some are annoyed by the very long line but at least the majority have voted on my area. 

WORK-OUT SUPPLEMENTS & BENEFITS

I started doing some work-outs last summer before I went to school. Because I entered school last semester I refrained from it. There were times that I've spent just a day or once a week and I felt that it wasn't enough. I don't want to be like those people who earned great results of working out for years - huge muscles. I just want to keep my body moving because most of the time I am just sitting in front of a computer and just let my hands, eyes and brain do the work. I know that there is more my body could do. Actually, I gained much courage when I read the "Top 10" benefits of working out. 

Top 10 Benefits - Main Article

1. Reduces the risk of many diseases
2. Reduces stress, depression and anxiety
3. Improves sexual performance and restores libido
4. Increases energy and endurance
5. Improves confidence
6. Improves mental acuity
7. Strengthens and boosts your immune system
8. Builds and maintains healthy muscles, bones & joints
9. Slows the aging process & reduces the risk of premature death
10. Helps you sleep better

Supplement I took before...
Moriamin - combined preparation of amino acids and multivitamins which contains 8 basic amino acids and 11 vitamins in well balanced proportion. Amino acids are required for bond of proteins of blood and tissues, for moving of already existing amino acids, restoration of the blasted tissues and formation of new proteins. Moriamin consists of the cleared crystalline mono-amino acids which quantities are precisely calculated and prepared in the form of 7 kinds of granules of various colours for achievement of fastness of each structure.

Supplemental Facts - Click Here 

I can see some developments of my muscles and I know that the Moriamin Forte is responsible of it. But mostly, people said it better take Amino 6000 for better results. So i got this: 

Promotes Muscle Strength, Protein Assimilation And Muscle Recovery!

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of protein. People who exercise may require greater amounts of protein and amino acids than sedentary people. Amino 6000 capsules are packed with a concentrated source of Branched Chain Amino acids (L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine) and L-form Amino acids which promote muscle strength, protein assimilation and muscle recovery. Each serving contains 6000mg of high-quality potassium caseinate providing essential and non-essential amino acids in easy to digest capsules. 

 Supplemental Facts - Click Here

 I just want to live physically fit and healthy.  That's the only reason why I spend 2 hours of doing some exercise.

POLITICS

This week I get through reading different issues about politics. There was something posted on Facebook that really caught my attention - death of someone because of lack of medicines and facilities on Hospitals. That someone who posted it attacked Gwen - present Governor of Cebu. From that time, I started to hate Gwen even I don't have any proofs but most people are saying and the issue is getting hotter on istorya.net forums. I saw that the death incident was not only the one. There are more and I don't want to mention it here. I don't want to think too much that the Governor is bad but at least with power she must do her responsibility both for rich and the poor instead. She is running for her current position this May 10 with Jun Davide her rival. Many said to not vote Gwen. If I haven't read any issues about this corruption of Gwen I doubt I could choose one of them immediately. The issues I've read through would be enough to choose Davide of Liberal Party. My manager is running for a SB Member in our Municipality with Liberal Party. He had first entered politics last Barangay Election. He ran for a Barangay Councilor but unfortunately, he failed. Now, he is known to the people with  Argao Business Community (ABCI), Inc. as President. Maybe he can find his way in this coming May 10 polls.

This one of the campaign materials I've done. I've made a final edit last night. This could be the wallpaper for thirty (30) computers. I did not post this for the reason of campaigning for him but I'll just elaborate what are the things that I've done this week and one more thing, I will be neutral during the May 10 polls. The Smartmatic  hired me as one those who will serve for May 10. While I'm having fun with Photoshop I've learned also about improving my skill on journalism.

So, I am  thinking more about politics this week. :D

MEMORIES

It was a great privilege being with people; sharing ideas, agreements and disagreements on issues, hanging out and having fun. The more you are being with other people, the more you know yourself. Sometimes they tell you what to do, advise you whenever you have problems, they are sweet to you but sometimes they talk behind your back. These are just a revelation that we are human; not perfect and can never be. We only have to make some adjustments in the place where we are in.

However, those people who were with you last few months or years are the part of your life. Sometimes they really mean to us, when we try to remember laughters and jokes with them especially with those serious conversations. Sometimes we try to go back that exact scenes and settings of the passed but we can only just recall all the memories and theres no chance to go back.

I didn't write this as a tribute or something but a simple revelation of love, courage and confidence that I gained during those years that I was with them.

Note: Kamong mga 1E, if maka-visit mo ani akong blog, 'yaw mo kalimot ug comment ha. Pwede man ko ka-comment sa ubos. Sige ha.

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.