This picture was taken November 28, 2007 when I filed my certificate of candidacy

I am very honored and proud as well as humbled to be the Iloilo City Chairman of UGYON Party. UGYON is a Hiligaynon ( our local dialect ) term that means to join, to support and to unite...


July 20, 2009

About 10 months to go before the elections, the heat of the campaign has been steadily rising. We hear, read and know about people interested in running for local and national posts more and more through mainstream media and new media. It seems that election preparations are much earlier than the usual most probably because of the much earlier deadline of the filling of candidacy which is scheduled end of November this year. This seems to have forced those who are thinking of running for elective posts to prepare early and to finalize their plans before the deadline. For the first time in Philippine election history, there will be declared and official candidates for the upcoming elections for about 6 months before the day of the elections.

Aside from the change of schedule of the filling of candidacy, the biggest change for the 2010 elections and the reason for the early filling of candidacy is the automation of the elections. People now will have a different manner and way of voting. It is said that there would be ready ballot with all positions and names of candidates in alphabetical order there. The voter would just shade their preferences from the list given. After which, the ballot will be counted by the machine so that results will be known in an instant. Some say there will still be manual voting because of the shading of circles with the choices of candidates but there will also now be an automated counting of ballots/votes.

With such major changes and other minor changes, there is a need for candidates to change strategies and plan schedules, and there is also an important role of COMELEC and other cause oriented groups to do massive voter information and education.

Let us all grab the opportunity to register before the October 31 deadline and to vote well next year. Voting equalizes all peoples of different backgrounds. We all have one vote and the right to be heard. Let us make sure we entrust our country and localities to good hands.

I would like to end with my usual spiel or battle cry, para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.