Post-Election Philippines | Photo Credit: www.asiafoundation.org

The May 2010 national election is finally over and, to the everyone’s relief, none of the doomsayers’ predictions and conspiracy theories seem to have materialized.  Albeit it may be too early to rule these out as some parties, particularly the losing candidates, are quick to point an accusing finger to the COMELEC and PGMA’s most distrusted administration for such plots and schemes.

In general, the country’s focus has already shifted from the anxieties of pre-election, to “back to normal,” even as the two top elected officials in the land are yet to be officially proclaimed.

Post-election controversies are not unlike their pre-election counterparts.  The most raging scandal before and after the election was and is the question on whether PGMA will appoint a new SC chief justice.  That was promptly answered with the appointment of Justice Corona just a few days after the polls.  The most likely president-elect was quickly pulled into the controversy with an off-tangent remark to the effect that he would rather take his oath from a Barangay Captain than from PGMA’s newly appointed SC Chief.

The Filipino people now has to deal with the tons of garbage which has become a permanent aftermath of Philippine elections.  In fairness though, last month’s election saw a lot less campaign posters than in elections past.  This is partly due to the better political will to enforce laws by the concerned agencies (i.e. COMELEC, MMDA, PNP, etc.) and to a greater extent, the emergence of new campaign media, particularly the Internet.

Image grabbed from YouTube.com

With just 11 days to go before the May 10, 2010 elections, the anxiety over the first ever conduct of an automated election in the country is escalating.

The COMELEC came up with a series of sub-three-minute animated voter’s education videos which they uploaded in You Tube.

Below is the Tagalog version.

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The same animated video is also available in Cebuano/Bisaya.

The COMELEC has set up an online Precinct Finder in their Website.  It’s quite easy to use.  Just type in your complete name and date of birth.

Image grabbed from the COMELEC Website

By finding out where your precinct assignment is you also confirm your registration so it’s like hitting two birds with one stone.

There’s just one catch.  Several AboutPH readers and subscribers have sent us a warning that the online service is very sluggish.  Although the COMELEC Website in general appears to load quite fast, the Registration Confirmation / Precinct Finder Web page often returns a “Gateway Timed Out” message.

BE PATIENT! And keep on trying.  That is so much better than realizing that you are lost comes election day.

Several sectors including the Catholic Bishops, the Makati Business Club, and several noted personalities from no less than the IT industry are questioning the wisdom of still pushing for automation in the coming elections. †There’s no longer sufficient time, they argue, and Comelec is either deliberately misleading us into believing that automation can still work or making unrealistic statements based on false and misguided bravado. On the other side of the fence, supporters of automation would claim that nay-sayers are simply paranoid as they’ve always been. †These are the “usual suspects” who would imagine conspiracy theories and doomsday scenarios for every bit of government initiative, they’ll aver. †They will tell us to rally behind Comelec and support full automation in May 2010. †Finally, they’ll argue that we have to start somewhere and May 2010 is the best and maybe the only opportunity we’ll ever get.

What do you think? Let us actively join the debate and let our politicians and the Comelec know what we think and how we feel about this very important issue.

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You want to explain your choice or convince others to follow suit? †Leave a comment and let’s initiate a healthy and vibrant forum on this issue.

But Social Media is a boon not only to politicians seeking elective posts but also to the people that they are wooing to vote for them. †To politicians, the more tech-savvy lot that is, Social Media is a powerful tool to reach voters. †On the other hand, to voters Social Media is likewise a very powerful tool to learn about candidates.

It’s all about information. †The more information voters know about their candidates, the more intelligent (supposedly) they may be able to make decisions come election day.

Twitter is undeniably one of the more potent Social Media available to Philippine politicians and voters alike. †Consistent with its trust to inform its readers, AboutPH set about to find out who among the candidates seeking national elective positions in May 2010 have tapped Twitter as one of their campaign tools. †Here’s what we’ve managed to put together so far:

Presidential Candidates

• Noynoy AQUINO: noynoyaquino
• Erap ESTRADA: †erapdotph
• Dick GORDON: †dickgordon2010
• Jamby MADRIGAL: jamby2010,†JambyMadrigal
• Gibo TEODORO: †giboteodoro
• Bro. Eddie VILLANUEVA: †BroEddie2010
• Manny VILLAR: †Villar4Pres, sipagattiyaga, Manny_Villar, ManuelVillar

Vice-Presidential Candidates

• Jojo BINAY †jojobinay
• Bayani FERNANDO: †bayanifernando, Bayani_Fernando
• Loren LEGARDA: †thegreenVPloren, loren_legarda
• Edu MANZANO: †Edu_Manzano, edumanzano2010
• Mar ROXAS: †MARoxas, padyak
• Jun YASAY: †JunYasay

Senatorial Candidates

• Ruffy BIAZON: †ruffybiazon
• Pia CAYETANO: †piacayetano
• Johnny ENRILE: †SJPE
• Ramon GUICO: †ramonguico
• Kata INOCENCIO: †katainocencio
• Alex LACSON: †alexlacson
• Raul LAMBINO: †RLambino, moralforcemovt
• Bongbong MARCOS: †bongbongmarcos
• Ramon MITRA: †monmonmitra
• Satur OCAMPO: †Satur_Ocampo
• Susan OPLE: †OPLE2010,†susanople
• Ariel QUERUBIN: †querubinariel, arielquerubin, ArielQ, Querubin4senate
• Gilbert REMULLA: †GilbertRemullla (take note that there are 3 and not just 2 Ls in Remulla)
• Sonia ROCO: †SoniaRoco
• Adel TAMANO: †adeltamano

We make no claims that this list is either accurate or complete. †It is the product of best effort and due diligence with the limited time and resources we have available at our disposal, at the time we made our research. †If you find any inaccuracies or if you have information to add — especially for candidates who are not yet in our list — please feel free to tell us and we’ll make the appropriate adjustments right away.

Images grabbed from: politicalarena.com

Joining the eight presidential contenders whose candidacies were previously affirmed by the Comelec are Vetallano Acosta (KBL) and Jesus Nicanor Perlas (Independent).

With this development, AboutPH.com has updated its Dec 29 – Feb 28 online poll to include the 2 new aspirants.

Sources and Related Links:

• comelec.gov.ph
• comelec.wordpress.com
• Yahoo News
• Manila Bulletin Online

You should find it very interesting to note that there are a total of 12 political parties, plus three independent candidates, contending for the 12 available senate seats.  Not a single political party, however, is able to field 12 candidates.

Here is a summary by party representation:

• Ang Kapatiran = 8 candidates
• Bangon Pilipinas = 6 candidates
• Bayan Muna Party = 1 candidate
• Grand Alliance for Democracy/Gabaybayan = 1 candidate
• KBL = 6 candidates
• Lakas-Kampi-CMD = 6 candidates
• Liberal Party = 10 candidates
• Nacionalista Party = 7 candidates
• NPC = 2 candidates
• PDP-Laban = 2 candidates
• People’s Reform Party = 1 candidate
• PMP = 5
• Independent = 3 candidates

As in the actual election in May 2010, you are allowed to choose up to 12 candidates to vote for.  You may opt to choose less but not more.  Once you have submitted your vote you will no longer be able to change it, so choose wisely.

This online poll will run for exactly two months, from 2010/01/10 18:00:00 to 2010/03/10 17:59:59.

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AboutPH also launched an Online Poll for President and Vice President.  If you haven’t participated yet in that poll, you are invited to do so now.  Click here to launch the Online Poll for President and Vice President.

<<< NB: †THIS POLL HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE 2 ADDITIONAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AS PER COMELEC RESOLUTION 8743. †THERE ARE NOW 10 INSTEAD OF 8 OFFICIAL CONTENDERS IN THE MAY 2010 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. >>>

The May 2010 elections is getting closer and closer. †Have you made up your mind on who to vote for as the new President and Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines? †The major poll bodies are conducting their surveys with increasing frequency. †But if you are an online netizen who spends a big chunk of your time with your computer connected to the Internet, chances are you have not been asked by the pollsters yet. †Here now is your chance to “register” your vote.

The COMELEC has, thank goodness, reduced the number of official contenders to eight, from the total number of 99 who filed for candidacy for the highest elective position in the country. †There are also eight vice presidential contenders included in this online poll.

This online poll will run for exactly two months, from 2009/12/29 00:00:00 to 2010/02/28 23:59:59.

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California Osetra Caviar (PhP4,900/order)

From the desk of The Fat Gentleman (guest political columnist)

When the controversy over the P1M Le Cirque Dinner exploded last month, a great multitude of Filipinos were dumbfounded by the seemingly improbable price tag. †It was almost surreal that some people must have dismissed the initial reports as ludicrous. †It couldn’t be true! †Until, of course, additional follow on and follow through reports started to corroborate the earlier ones and provide more details to the controversy. †Then the vague†rumor quickly turned to crystal clear horror.

Even I, your distinguished Fat Gentleman, couldn’t fathom what that P1M dinner could have been, unless the President was throwing a party for all members of the Philippine Congress. †At first I thought there must be a typographical error in the report. But we are all wiser now, aren’t we? †Are we?

Thanks to the efforts, dedication, and sleuthing skills of some investigative journalists and patriotic bloggers we can now take a peek at the much talked about Le Cirque dinner. †Now we can begin to understand how it must be like to dine with the President while on official business trip abroad.

Here’s an Excel reconstruction of the Le Cirque bill.

And here are the photos of some — not all — of the items ordered by our beloved PGMA and her distinguished and honorable entourage.

California Osetra Caviar (PhP4,900/order)

Spring Pee Soup (PhP1,176/bowl)

Krug Champagne (PGMA’s entourage allegedly ordered 11 bottles worth approximately PhP250,000)

Le Cirque Salad (PhP1,078/order)

Lobster Salad (PhP2,842/order)

Halibut Poached Coconut Milk (PhP1,960/order)

Le Cirque Tuna (PhP1,029/order)

Soft Shell Crab Tempura (PhP1,078 /platter)

Wild Burgundy Escargot (PhP1,421/order)

Torchon of Foie Gras (PhP1,715/order)

Paupiette of Block Cod (PhP2,401/order)

Saddle of Lamb (PhP2,548/order)

Dover Sole (PhP3,675/order)

Photo Credit: eyes-wideopen.co.uk

From the desk of The Web Parliamentarian (guest columnist).

The 2010 election is all the more going to be a very exciting spectacle as the landscape shifts and rolls while wannabes in all levels jump ship, coallesce, unite, part ways, negotiate, sell out, buy in, aim high, slide down, give way, cash in, take a stand, accept the challenge, accept the cash, etc.

This early we’ve seen the wildcard phenomenon happening in the highest contested position — the Presidency of the Republic of the Philippines — with the emergence of Noynoy Aquino as among the contenders. Just a month ago Noynoy was not even remotely considered a viable candidate.

And then there are the simply “wild.” Sen. Ja-ja-Jamby Madrigal couldn’t wait any longer and spilt her heart’s long desire — to serve the Filipino people as its next woman president. †Expect more “wild” announcements as the deadline for the filing of candidacies draws near. Almost sure to join Jamby are the likes of Pamatong, Victor Wood, Amay Bisaya And many more colorful personalities that makes Philippine Politics so supremely entertaining.

Expect high profile defections, too. Likely to either jump ship or go “on their own” are the administration bets †Bayani Fernando, Noli de Castro, Gibo Teodoro. †Strangely enough, Bayani and Gibo seem to be fiercely competing for, and in a hurry to get, the president’s and her party’s nomination as official administration bet while Kabayan, on the other hand, seems all bent to delay his decision whether to align himself with the administration or not. Perhaps he, too, believes that PGMA’s and her party’s nomination is a kiss of death as those in the opposition claim.

And then there are the handpicked and spoken-to by no less than God himself. Eddie Villanueva claims, and actually believes it, that his destiny has been preordained. Who are we, mere mortals, to question that?

Thank goodness Among Ed has already declared that he will no longer seek the presidency. With all due respect to my colleague, The Fat Gentleman, I don’t believe that Amomg Ed personally wants to be president. The pressure from groups and individuals urging and egging him on was simply too much. He must be thanking all the saints and angels in heaven when Noynoy suddenly emerged as the new apple of the eye of the “Reform Agenda” groups.

El Shaddai lay minister Bro. Mike Velarde may have sounded like he already declared his intentions, or the lack of it, in so far as the presidential contest is concerned. But don’t count him out just yet. If you read between the lines you will decipher the fact that he hasn’t categorically ruled himself out. Playing coy or cleverly calculating? He has divine providence on his side, remember?

And what do we make of Erap’s self-serving challenge that unless the opposition unites behind a single candidate he will run? Well it’s just that — self-serving. †Why can’t anybody see that Erap’s statement has always been a run-on sentence (i.e., incomplete)? If we complete the sentence it should read like this: “Unless the opposition unites behind a single candidate, myself, I will run.” It’s a no-lose proposition for Erap. A true gambler never bets unless the odds are 50:50 between him and himself (I just made that up).

What about Villar. Come hell or high water, Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga will go for it. There is no reason for him not to. He has heavily prepared for and invested into his presidential bid, he consistently tops the surveys, all potshots hurled at him have so far only succeeded to make him even more popular, he has the money and the political machinery, he doesn’t have Mar’s misfortune of being in the same boat as the heir to two Philippine icons, and so on ad infinitum. If you ask me, the only thing, or person, that scares Manny Villar right now is Erap. And probably Cynthia. But both are understandable and shouldn’t be taken against him.