Dear Candidates: Anong tindig nyo sa 2013 poll automation?

Dear politicos,

Napansin ko na karamihin sa inyo ay tikom ang bibig kapag pinag-uusapan ang samu’t saring kapalpakan ng PCOS machines at bulnerabilidad ng buong automated election system (AES). Nauunawaan ko ito – Bakit mo nga naman kwekwestyonin ang automated system na inaasahan mong magpapanalo sa iyo. Kauna-unawa ang inyong katahimikan sa isyung ito, pero hindi iyon katanggap-tanggap.

Pansinin natin ang mga ulat hinggil sa ginaganap na final testing and sealing (FTS) ng mga election paraphernalia:

• Sa halip na serialized plastic seal ang gamitin sa pagselyo ng makina at mga balota, packaging tape lang ang ginamit sa ilang tukoy na mga presinto mula Luzon, Visayas hanggang Mindanao. Kumbaga, walang “sealing” na naganap sa aktwal
• May mga ulat ng di pagtutugma ng manual count at PCOS count
• May ulat din hinggil sa pagkaantala ng delivery ng election paraphernalia sa ilang probinsya
• At tulad noong 2010, may mga insidente na biglang huminto ang makina o di kaya’y isinusuka ang mga balota.

Hindi pa kasama sa FTS ang ibang aspeto ng poll automation, tulad ng transmission at canvassing – na noong eleksyong 2010 ay minarkahan ng aberya at anomalya. Naalala nyo pa ba noong lumabas sa central canvassing center na 256 million ang kabuuang bilang ng botante sa Pilipinas?

Kanina, naganap ang malawakang brownout sa Luzon nang nagka-aberya umano ang 5 planta. Hindi ka ba mananawagan sa Comelec na maghanda ng contingency plan kung sakaling mangyari ito sa mismong araw ng halalan? Hindi ka ba na-alarma na maaring may nilulutong malawakang pandaraya? O baka bahagi ka ng maitim na balak?

Huwag mo ring kalilimutang wala pa rin ang source code, ang instruksyon sa PCOS machines kung paano ito dapat magbilang ng boto. Dahil walang source code, wala pa ring source code review kahit pa itinatakda na dapat itong isagawa ayon sa RA 9369 o poll automation law. Ngayon, biglang nagpapakitang gilas si Brillantes na ilalabas na raw ang source code, at isasagawa raw ang source code review pagkatapos ng halalan.

Kung sakaling manalo, susuportahan mo ba ang source code review na isasagawa ng Comelec? O magsasalita ka na lang ba hinggil sa AES kapag lumabas na ikaw ay talunan? Talunan ka na sa akin ngayon pa lang kapag ikaw ay ganyan.

Walang ibang pinapanigan ang iyong katahimikan kundi ang pagkompromiso sa demokrasya. Pag-isipan mo iyan.

Nagbabantay,

@jcmaningat

Senatorial bets with labor agenda: Dissecting the platforms

first published on Blogwatch.ph

Despite the country’s much praised economic growth, lack of decent jobs and meager wages continue to hound Filipino workers. Based on the latest jobs data, nearly 3 million Filipinos are unemployed while one out of five employed workers are looking for additional jobs to augment meager incomes. Average daily wage in the country is only at P317.44, or roughly $8/ day. Such dire situation is forcing nearly 5,000 Filipinos to leave the country and look for work overseas every day.

Not surprisingly, several 2013 senatorial candidates are using key labor issues as springboard for their electoral bids. But how do we separate those who have genuine labor solutions from those who are merely using the jobs mantra to secure a job in the Senate?

Yardstick should not be mere inclusion of jobs in the platform, but the strategic positioning of employment generation in the overall economic agenda. In other words, what kind of jobs do they want to create? Business process outsourcing jobs? Manufacturing jobs? Informal jobs?

Read more 

Samsung Galaxy S III mini: big surprises inside

How I got my Globe Samsung Galaxy S III mini can be summed up in this phrase: From little things big things grow. That expression also sums up how the smaller version of Samsung’s flagship phone stands out among other smartphones.

In her first blog giveaway, Filipina blogger and social media icon Noemi Dado (@momblogger) featured the S III mini. The instruction was very simple: Just tweet: @momblogger #IWantGlobeGalaxyS3Mini [cite/name a feature or reason].

I tried my luck and tweeted at the last minute that I want the S3 mini “because its mega features will make me a more effective netizen for change.” I badly needed such powerful phone especially with my very busy social media life and hectic advocacy work, with phone photography on the side. Also, my previous smartphone was stolen in January.

Two days later, I was surprised to find out that my 140 character-response was luckily chosen as the winning tweet among dozens of tweets! Imagine, I won a smartphone worth P14,000+ in just 140 characters! Small things really lead to big surprises.

The S III mini is a downscaled S3 version with big surprises inside. Well, the S III mini is not actually small as it sports a 4”-inch super AMOLED display (similar to Apple iPhone 5’s screen size), and is bigger than most phones in the midsize category. Moreover, the display is at 233 pixels per inch (ppi) density, giving you a crisp rendering of graphics. The phone runs on the latest version of Android Jellybean.

Luckily, I got the blue S3 mini

Speed is one of my top criteria for smartphones, and the S III mini is exceptional at that. Its dual-core processor clocks at 1 GHz while RAM is at 1 GB, making homescreen switching and application startups lag-free. Even If I already installed a couple of applications, swiping homescreen to the left or right is flawlessly executed. Web browsing is almost problem-free, making Twitter and Facebook interactions like what it is supposed to be: real-time.

The S III mini also features a 5-MP camera, and based on my test shots the result was decent. The phone also allows you to choose from a range of shooting modes: continuous (burst shots), panorama, smile shot, and cartoon.

In terms of distinct features and functionality, S III mini has Smart stay, which detects if the user is looking at the display to keep screen awake. This is perfect especially for those who love to read e-books and view short clips while on the go. Also, the phone has S memo, which is a pimped version of Google calendar with a user-friendly interface and neat side tab. This feature will be very helpful in keeping tab of crazy schedules and tasks.

The only thing that disappoints me is its very small keyboard (which is less than half of the display). This presents troubles for those who have big fingers like me. But overall, the power-packed mini version of S III is a mega gift to treasure – especially since I received it FREE!

Sabah crisis: Why is Aquino hell-bent to undermine Sulu sultanate’s claim? (Part 1 of 2)

first published on Blogwatch.ph

It may seem that President Benigno Aquino III is once again showcasing his knack for crisis situation mishandling amid his sloppy response to the ongoing Sabah crisis, which has already claimed the lives of 52 Filipinos. To many, the President’s indifference to the slaughter of his compatriots seems startling amid the United Nations call for anend to violence in the volatile town of Lahad Datu.

It should not be dismissed though that this is just the President’s love for massacres and incompetence working on the situation. Actually, the President is working real hard right now – not to achieve a peaceful solution to the crisis but to discredit the Sulu sultanate’s claim even at the cost of more Filipinos’ lives.

Many pundits have diligently made their historical treatises on who really has the rightful claim over Sabah. It would be ill-timed though to dwell on such topic at length and yet disregard the serious humanitarian question at hand. The Sabah issue isn’t just about territorial claim, for it has already acquired a human rights dimension amid the massacre of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III’s followers, the illegal arrests of Filipinos in Sabah, and the possible deportation of hundreds of thousands of Filipino migrant workers working there.

Which brings us to mind-boggling questions: Why is the Aquino administration tolerating, even endorsing, the grave human rights abuses against Filipinos in Sabah? Why is the US embassy, which usually reacts to the slightest of diplomatic tensions, mum on the escalating crisis in Sabah?

Read more

PHOTOS: UP Lantern Parade 2012

Below are my photos from this year’s University of the Philippines (UP) Lantern Parade, taken using a 5MP camera phone.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

In the eyes of a Pinoy Instagramer

Twenty-something John Henry works as a regular nurse in a private hospital in Balayan, Batangas. But in today’s growing world of Instagram and phone photography (or phoneography), he is one of  the rising “Instagramers”.

Casting sunsets, beatles and street scenes in provoking textures and perspective, @Dearjohn26_pf_gi (his username on Instagram) has earned himself a reputable name in the photo-sharing platform.  Would you believe that his knack for phone photography brought him up close and personal to celebrity Georgina Wilson?

Unlike filter-happy IGers who would want colors altered,  @Dearjohn26_pf_gi would go for natural enhancement, as characterized by the vibrant colors in his photo set. Yes, his photos look stunning sans the usual filters!

Below are some of his amazing shots and my online interview with him:

Q: When did you start using Instagram? How did you learn about Instagram?

A: I started using Instagram in November last year, so it has been a year now. And i learned to use IG from my co-nurses at the hospital.

Q: What mobile device do you use for IG?

A: I don’t really have my own device way back then. I used to borrow from my aunt and friends’ IOS device just to upload my photos. Last March, I bought my friend’s iTouch 4th gen. Recently I upgraded my device and I’m currently using my iPhone 4S.

Q: Do you have any background training on digital photography?

A: I dont have any trainings or background in digital photography.

Q: What are your basic IG techniques? Any preferred filters/ filter combination?

A: My IG technique? Uhm.. You mean style? I go for random. I like to try everything. I go for HDR, minimalism, macroshots, portraits depending on my mood. Right now, I’m doing a sunset series.

I don’t usually use any IG filters. But if I have to use one, probably it will be LO-FI. From the photography applications, I normally use snapspeed.

Q: Have you joined/ won any online contest? How does it feel to be part of it?

A: Yeah. I have always been so competitive when it comes to contests. Haha. I’ve won movie tickets, electronic gift certificates, and recently, an overnight stay to Manila Peninsula for 2 from igersmanila and Ayala contest. I’ve also been a part of Globe’s exclusive photowalk in which, if i am lucky enough, one or more of my photo may be included in the exhibit this nov.30-dec1. And lastly, I’ve got the chance to take photos of portrait sitters namely Georgina Wilson, Liz Uy and Bea Soriano along with 5 more instagramers. In which my photo may have the chance to be featured in the December-January issue of Preview magazine! And as you can see, I am happy to be part of this.

I am also currently a member of various IG circles, including pakwan family, photocanvas artist, and genginsapgan.

Q: Despite the wide range of subjects you have taken photos of, what else do you want to capture with IG?

A: I want to capture underwater subjects, haha. Which is not impossible today since the accessory is a little bit expensive, Haha.

Modern-day Bonifacios to launch Gat Andres School

Workers, urban poor and other marginalized sectors will gather on Nov. 10 at the University of the Philippines Diliman for the launching of the “Paaralang Gat Andres Bonifacio” as part of the series of events leading to the Filipino working class hero’s 150th birthday on Nov. 30 next year.

Wearing the traditional red “bandana,” the modern-day Bonifacios will partake in a discussion of a historical paper prepared by UP Manila Professor Doroteo Abaya. The paper will shed light on the less documented life of Bonifacio, who led the 1896 revolution against Spanish colonial rule.

The event is organized by the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER), Anakpawis party-list, Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino, Boni 150 Committee, and the Philippine Anti-imperialist Studies.