In his speech, the President said if the 80 million Filipino cellular phone users participate in the campaign the PPUR has a big chance to win in the competition that would help spur the country’s tourism and create thousands of job opportunities to the people.
“As of now, the country has no less than 80 million Filipino cellular phone users. All we need is 1 billion votes,” President said as he cited the almost 2 million texts recorded by the leading telecommunication companies in their daily operations.
As more Filipinos are now actively using internet as another tool in communication, thePresident urged them to vote the Philippine environment at www.new7wondersofnature orsimply text PPUR15 to 2861.

During the program, Bernard Webber, president and founder of the New 7 Wonder of Nature,officially designated Puerto Princesa as one of the 28 finalists for the new 7 wonder of naturecategory.  Renowned as the world’s longest underground river, Puerto Princesa Underground River features a stunning limestone karst mountain landscape, impressive cave systems,impressive stalactites and stalagmites formations, lush old growth tropical rain forest and interesting wildlife.  The subterranean river spans 8.2 kilometers long and flows beneathstalactites and stalagmites formation.

The Underground River beat 440 other contenders to be one of the 28 finalists for the New 7Wonders of Nature Campaign. The voting period will end on November 10 and winners will be announced on the following day (November 11). (PCOO)

The daily broadsheet based in Dublin, Ireland said the Philippines’ pristine beaches and first-class diving sites were the main reasons the country was chosen over other well-known tourist attractions in the region.

In an article published in T.I.T’s January 8, 2011 weekend supplement entitled “What’s Hot for 2011,” writer Alanna Gallagher was all praises for two “stand-out yet accessible” tourist attractions to visit in the Philippines: the islands of Cebu; and Boracay island in Malay, Aklan.

“It (Cebu and Boracay) offers first-class diving and beaches like Thailand had 20 or 30 years ago before it was over-developed,” Gallagher’s article read.

With these distinctions, aside from many other more tourist attractions to see and experience, Gallaghar says, “the new country to explore in Asia is the Philippines.”

The Irish Times, which was established in 1859, is Ireland’s quality daily newspaper with news reports coming from throughout Ireland and from a comprehensive network of foreign correspondents, as well as sports and business coverage, features and arts sections, lifestyle, jobs and property.

Each issue contains well-informed background analysis and assessment of the events of the day, and diversity of debate in the daily opinion columns.

Alanna Gallagher is a freelance journalist who contributes to publications such as the Irish Times and Sunday Times. She has also recently started her own weekly e-zine (electronic-magazine), The Weekly Edit, which gives Alanna’s top picks in fashion, beauty, interiors, and things to do that week. (PIA/PCOO)

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geosphysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the autumn equinox will occur at 11 am on September 23. This is the time where day and night will have equal length on Earth — 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night.

In the northern hemishpere, this marks a shift in season from autumn to winter. The equinox occurs twice a year, the vernal or spring equinox happened last March.

At a place where time flows with the ebb of tides, Abatan was all the while, different last July 22.

There, time paused from its flow and momentarily sat along the banks of the river; a spectator of the rare meeting of the classical East and the ethnic and indigenous Bohol cultures which later exploded in a myriad of colors in the light of the celebration.

July 22 this is year is 156th Bohol Day, an event marked by the official declaration of the island province as independent from Cebu.

That day also brings the Asian spotlight to the province as Asia’s Cultural Capital for the month.

Brandishing nothing but a track record as one of the country’s most successful engagements of culture as tool for community mobilization against poverty, Bohol’s cultural renaissance program has earned international admiration.

No less than NCCA Executive Director Cecille Guidote-Alvarez who used to described culture as “an engine for economic growth, a building block of social creation, an asset of national pride and a force for education and social transformation, as well as an effective tool for cultural diplomacy” heaped praises for Bohol that day.

The declaration of Asian Cultural Capital in July for Bohol allows the people to build audiences and unleash the creative power of people by art and persuasion and not by force.

The over-all goal is to be one with the Asean region in overcoming the war against poverty and environmental degradation to assure the survival and dignified life on earth of our children and coming generations,” Alvarez was quoted.

In the light of helping attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to eradicate poverty by 2015, Bohol, along with its partnerships with NCCA and UNESCO, would make art and culture performances affordable and accessible by all, explains Gardy Labad, Bohol based artistic consultant to the newly organized Teatro Abatan.

Under the program, communities are given free training in the visual arts, dance, drama, poetry, comics, media arts to discover their abilities, Labad said.

And like big events in Bohol, tradition dictates that milestone go with a hearty banquet of religious, political, artistic and cultural servings for everyone to feast on.

The day started with a celebration of a holy mass at the historic St. Joseph Cathedral. A wreath laying ceremony at Carlos P. Garcia Monument followed at Plaza Rizal.

Then the attention shuffled off to the nearby Escuela de Ninas, now the National Museum Bohol branch for the opening of exhibits.

Moments later, at the beat of the drums, higantes (giants) led by effigies of Boholano heroes Sikatuna, Tamblot, Dagohoy, Capt. Francisco Salazar and Carlos P. Garcia (giants) walked 15-feet high to banner Bohol’s claim to cultural greatness on their way to the Cultural Center.

Following the local higantes were giant puppets representing the Asean member nations and their representatives on a flag parade. Even with the loose traffic on a holiday, the larger than life higantes in their national costumes share the streets with bright tricycles in asserting its claim on local traditions.

The parade sauntered off to the refurbished Bohol Cultural Center where the biggest event in the morning unfolded.

UNESCO ASEAN Head Dr. Hubert Guizen together with NCCA Chairperson Vilma Labrador and UNESCO Commissioner Cecile Guidote Alvarez declared Bohol as the July site of the PHILIPPINES AS ASEAN CULTURAL CAPITAL.

The Provincial Government of Bohol led by Governor Edgar Chatto accepted the honor and welcomed the UNESCO guests by presenting to them the symbolic key to the province. DOT Secretary Lim praised Bohol’s emergence as a major ecological and cultural destination of the nation.

Later that night, Bohol’s claim to be the month’s Asian Cultural Capital was pushed to the limits. (racPIA-Bohol)

The Department of Trade and Industry says the keyword is innovation.

And in its recently formalized their collaboration with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines’ (EECP) Materials Research and Development Program, a Business Accelerator and Materials Innovation (BAMI) program is now being studied with the raffia weavers of Bohol, particularly in Inabanga and Tubigon.

The Program, which kicked off last January is conceptualized by Materials R&D Project Manager Ingrid Haufe and assisted by freelance designer Doro Barandino, has the key personalities immersed in weaving communities to try on new design patterns and media on locally made crafts, a DTI Bohol source revealed.

“They are currently assisting the raffia weavers in coming up with new design patterns and mixed media applications based on the newest trends,” the source who wishes to remain unnamed said.

By mixed media applications, the weavers are experimenting recycled materials such as newspapers and old plastic twine mixed together with raffia, she shared with the characteristic excitement of a scientist discovering a new product for the market

Other indigenous materials like buri and abaca are also being experimented, she added.

From these hand-wovens, select exporter companies convert them into actual products, and these companies who will have exclusivity on their chosen materials for at least a year.

Other areas of experimentation include the pattern development, and the most recent patterns developed are set for display at the Materials Library at the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation (CFIF) building.

The first material output will be showcased in Bohol’s raw materials fair in July, while the first products by the companies will be presented in Bijoux Cebu in September and Manila FAME in October. (PIA-Bohol)

In the last several weeks, so much misunderstanding, either due to lack of information or misinformation that has confused all of us and has created a cloud of doubt on the capability of COMELEC to succeed in the coming elections. Auza.Net has compiled 10 Myths About the May 10 Elections. This serves as a guide to all voters and hopefully everyone can vote according to their concience and free will rather than be influenced otherwise because of some of these myths.

1. We can’t verify the results of the counting and therefore it is easier to cheat in this election.
— Of course we can. The ballots will not be destroyed after counting. In the worst case scenario, we can always do a manual count. But let’s do an automated count first because the machines are definitely faster and more accurate and consistent than humans. And we can repeat the counting as many times as needed if we have to. We just need to be vigilant that the counts are real and this can be verified by the random manual count audit. COMELEC is going to be capable of publishing results much quicker than in previous elections so it is easier to verify results because we can immediately see the counts right after close of election time.

2. The candidates will know who voted or did not vote for them. — This is not possible unless you show your ballot to them or the COMELEC will give them copies of the ballots, the ballot number assigned to you and your name. So what if they know whom you voted for? It is your right to vote whoever is your choice.

3. If the PCOS machines fail, there will be failure of elections. — Not true. This is a doomsday scenario possible only if the Filipino people are not able to count. The ballots are still there. That’s what the election is all about. If the PCOS machines can’t count the results, the BEI can count them.

4. Transmission of the results to COMELEC central database is easily to disrupt. – Not true. With good signal from mobile service providers in most areas in the Philippines, there should be no issue in transmitting most of the results. In areas where mobile service is not available, COMELEC can use satellite service or they can bring the PCOS machines to areas with signal so it can transmit the data after the official tally has been printed and accepted by the BEI and other authorized parties. Also, the amount of data transmitted is very small so the opportunity to disrupt transmission is very short plus you can retransmit as many times as needed.

5. All processes of the election will be automated. Not true. Only the counting of the ballots at the precinct level is automated. The rest of the process of aggregating the results still goes through the manual process. Only this time, the manual process of aggregation is assisted by the availability of the results data in electronic form.

6. Current survey results must match the election results. Not true. The survey results reflect only the sentiment of the sample population at the time of the survey. And it is possible that the sample for the survey happens to be biased. Surveys have been proven wrong many times before. The real survey is the election itself.

7. On election day, it is easy to reprogram the PCOS machine to favor a local or national candidate. Not true. Once the machines are tested and sealed, it will be close to impossible to change the program. Even if the PCOS machines are programmed to cheat before sealing, this can be detected by the random manual audit. It is important for organizations like NAMFREL, PPCRV and others to make sure that the random selection of the precincts for manual audit is truly random and is selected only during election day. They also need to make sure that all precincts are eligible to be selected. COMELEC Resolution 8837 covers the selection process. If this is done as stated in the resolution, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to cover up any cheating.

8. The failure rate of the PCOS machines in Hongkong is 10%. PCOS machines will have problems dealing with humid conditions in the Philippines. Not true. The failure rate of the PCOS machine in Hongkong as reported by some groups is exaggerated. Their calculation was only based on the initial failure and not on the fact that the machine worked after it was allowed dry up because of moisture build up. That is also the reason why there are backup PCOS machines and technicians to ensure that any failing machine can be fixed or replaced. Any electronic equipment stored in an airconditioned room with low temperature and then brought out to a humid environment may have moisture build up as the water in the air condenses on the equipment. The user simply has to allow the moisture to evaporate again and the equipment to stabilize to room temperature. Once the equipment is turned on, the heat from the electronics will prevent any further moisture build up. We have been using computers in this country for decades without much problems due to moisture.

9. Manual count is better than machine count. Not true. Machines would have lesser error assuming it is not intentionally programmed to count otherwise. The PCOS machine would be faster, repeatable and cheaper in terms of labor cost. There is much lesser opportunity to implement dagdag-bawas. Let’s give COMELEC a chance to implement an election process with automation on the counting. Even with the glitch in the first attempt to test and seal the machines, there’s no reason to panic yet, especially now that the glitch was solved and replacement compact flash cards have been shipped and most should arrive before May 10.

10. If I don’t get elected , there will be people power. This is a myth. People power is not an automatic response by the Filipino people. It is only needed in extreme circumstances like that in 1986. Any candidate who says something like this are not fit to hold public office because it is the Filipino people who will elect a candidate and the candidates should bow to the will of the people. The Filipino people have the right to choose their leader and candidates should not threaten the voters with people power if they don’t get elected. Refer to #6.

This has caused disagreement between Cardinal Rosales and some church militants. The former considers the idea “crazy, crazy, crazy” whilst the latter thinks it is just right once the situation calls for it.

President Estrada has also expressed his dismay on such statement saying that the LP bet should not assume victory and that he should practice humility like that of his mother, former President Cory Aquino.

Supporters answer by saying Noynoy was misunderstood. Nevertheless Noynoy should watch what he says more as the election draws nearer and nearer.

While some 1,234 other candidates in Bohol are burning rubber exhausting energies to persuade voters into rooting for them in the campaign trail, these six politicians might as well prepare for their separate victory parties.

The country’s former Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap (Bohol’s third District) and incumbent mayors Dominisio Chatto of Balilihan town, Roberto Salinas of Catigbian and Thomas Louis Gonzaga of Danao all run unopposed and have the top seats handed to them in silver platter.

23 days into the country’s first automated national and elections, these candidates are now devoting their spare time campaigning for their slates to assure them of more allies as their new mandates start July 1.

Aside from Yap’s sure seat, eight other candidates vie for the two remaining congressional seats in Bohol in a political “Trip to Jerusalem” of sorts.

Some five candidates throw their hats for the single gubernatorial seat while four more are eyeing at being the chief presiding officer in the province’s highest legilslative body, data from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) show.

Another 28 candidates are vying for the 10 seats as district Board Members: 10 of them from District 1, eight from District 2 and another 10 from District 3.

Discounting the three sure winners for mayoralty seats, some 107 candidates would be politically slugging it out to sit in opened 45 mayoralty seats in 47 towns and a city.

Aside from Vice Mayor Jose Cepedoza of Danao who has sealed his seat when he ran unopposed, some 113 vice mayoralty candidates would be sweating wits to outsmart co-candidates into the voter preference count.

Meanwhile, some 964 candidates for councilors would be restless until the eve of the elections, wooing voters through intelligence, charm and talent to be elected.

Only 384 of them would be lucky enough to get into the 48 town and city councils.

At the prospect, election supervisor Labaria said it would be historic if in Bohol, we could do away with the sore loser and for those who lost to gracefully concede. (PIA-Bohol)

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SMEs in Bohol should take advantage of Google Apps because it allows them to have their very own email name on their own domain name. For marketing and communicating with vendors and customers, an email address like info@mycompany.com looks more prestigious and professional than info_mycompany@yahoo.com or info_mycompany@msn.com. And why not? It is free and configuration is included in Auza.Net’s website development and hosting service.

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The Automated Elections main advantage is that it eliminates many steps taken in the past where where manipulation can happen resulting to “dagdag-bawas”.

By automating the counting, the system eliminates the tedious and very error-prone manual counting process. The public school teachers should really be happy that they don’t have to deal with it after everyone has voted because at the end of the voting period, the counting is also done because the votes are recorded as soon as the machine accepts the ballot from the voter. All voters should feed their ballots to the machine directly and not through someone else, to ensure that your ballot will not be replaced.

By automating the submission of the results to a central location, the system eliminates another error-prone and easy to manipulate procedure. In the past, the ballot count is submitted by the precincts to the municipal or city hall and then aggregated. Then the provincial results are aggregated up to the national level. It takes quite some time before the ballot count is eventually consolidated on the national level, and this gives the manipulators a lot of time to do their magic tricks. Now, the individual counting machines can submit their results to the national level on a near real-time basis thus preventing any count manipulation or errors in between the precinct and the aggregation center.

The automated system also includes audit trails which allow the authorized persons to trace any suspicious changes on the system and identify the culprit. In the manual procedure, there is limited audit trail capability, if any.

Electronic jamming systems would be impractical to setup on a scale that can significantly affect the results and may be futile because the system uses cellular service which has its own interference mitigation capability. To be effective at jamming the transmission, you would need to have a jamming system per precinct that is always on all the time. Anytime you turn it off and the automated counting machine can have a chance to send its data and it only takes a few seconds to send all the data in the machine’s memory. The best it could do is probably delay the transmission but not totally prevent it.

The technology that will be used in the May 2010 elections would certainly make it very difficult to manipulate results unless you are able to access the system directly with the proper user privileges. But even that would not be straightforward because the data storage technology used in systems like this store data in multiple copies and have multiple backups taken at regular periods stored in multiple locations. And COMELEC for sure would be wise enough to have a few of these locations undisclosed just in case the known locations are compromised.

Cheating would be very difficult to orchestrate with the automated counting system implemented. But there are still many ways to manipulate votes like vote-buying and coercion. So each Filipino should value his vote and consider it a sacred right guaranteed by the constitution of the Philippines in order to prevent or minimize this kind of manipulation. — J. Auza