by magnolia_eic | Sep 7, 2010 | Features, Headlines
Manila, Philippines — People around the world will experience around the third week of this month, what they call the autumn equinox. This marks the beginning of shorter days and longer nights in the northern hemisphere, including the Philippines.
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.
by magnolia_eic | Aug 7, 2010 | Features, Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
The magically lit Abatan river and the equally spectacular performance by the Teatro Abatan conspired to assert Bohol’s hold as Asia’s Cultural Capital in July.
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)
by magnolia_eic | May 31, 2010 | Features, Local News / Bohol Balita
WITH raw materials in its handicrafts easily obtainable by China where cheap labor can churn products flooding international niche markets, how would Bohol crafts fare?
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)
by magnolia_eic | May 8, 2010 | Announcements, Election 2010, Features, National News
The automation of counting of ballots at the precinct level on the May 10 national elections is hounded by a lot of controversy of malfunction and other issues. The latest and embarassing mistake made by COMELEC and Smartmatic involved a relatively simple program issue: single space vs. double space. It is something that is easily tested and fixed before they came out to the public. However, it is also possible to be an honest human error and nothing more. The machine just follows whatever instruction it is given and an erroneous instruction would lead to erroneous results. But this error is already fixed and should not be used a basis for calling the coming elections a failure.
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.
by magnolia_eic | May 6, 2010 | Election 2010, Features, Opinion
Many reacted to what was considered a “hasty” statement by Liberal Party Standard bearer Benigno”Noynoy” Aquino on calling for a people power if he loses in the May 2010 Elections.
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.
by magnolia_eic | Apr 19, 2010 | Election 2010, Features, Local News / Bohol Balita
ONE congressional representative, three town mayors and two vice mayors are virtual winners before could be voted upon, and automation has nothing to do with it.
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)
