Tonight will be a night of revelry for many people. Halloween parties will be held across the Philippines. I am just piqued by the recent rantings of the Catholic Church discouraging Filipinos from donning scary costumes. Instead, the Church wants Filipinos to wear saintly costumes. For one, it is the church who invented the concept of evil to scare the faithful the hell out of thinking independently and blindly follow its so-called "guidance."
Anyway, Filipinos should celebrate Halloween the way they deem proper and enjoyable, not listen to the controlling 'advice' of a church that once sanctioned the murder of innocent men and women for mere suspicion of being a witch, in other words, for thinking outside the dogma of church accepted beliefs. So yeah people, go ahead and wear the scariest costume you can find and hopefully, scare the clergy out of its centuries old hypocritical slumber, maybe then, they would realize that in today's milieu, thinking is actually valued more than hopeful beliefs based on what Christopher Hitchen's would describe as "plagiarism of a plagiarism, delusion of a delusion based on a few non-events..."
Huwebes, Oktubre 31, 2013
Miyerkules, Oktubre 30, 2013
First Day in New Job
Today I started out in my new job as a legal researcher in a law firm. I was immediately drafted to formulate a letter of complaint to the Chairman of the Board of Election Teller in a barangay in Dulag, Leyte for stopping the counting of vote for the sole reason that some voters wrote the middle name of a candidate instead of the full name. The BET's were probably coaxed into suspending the counting after being intimidated by powerful candidates. Obviously, the act was grossly illegal.
In addition, I was also drafted to make decisionary pleadings about a land dispute. It was exciting and difficult at first but somehow I made it through page 6, hoping to finish the document tomorrow.
As far as I can tell as of today, I think I will enjoy the workplace. I just don't know how the entire thing plays out when classes start. Let's see....
In addition, I was also drafted to make decisionary pleadings about a land dispute. It was exciting and difficult at first but somehow I made it through page 6, hoping to finish the document tomorrow.
As far as I can tell as of today, I think I will enjoy the workplace. I just don't know how the entire thing plays out when classes start. Let's see....
Martes, Oktubre 29, 2013
Reflections on the 2013 Barangay Elections
For this election, I was volunteering for LENTE (Legal Network for Truthful Elections) and we were deployed in one of the largest provincial jails operated by the Province of Leyte, the Kauswagan Prison. It's a moderately huge facility holding 580 inmates. There were 280 eligible voters although 53 did not cast their votes.
Together with my three companions, we observed how the electoral process was conducted in a prison facility, a first for all of us actually. There were two precincts opened in the prison and because of the delay in the arrival of the poll watchers, voting started at 8:30 A.M. instead of the officially mandated opening hour of 7:00 A.M. The turnover of voters for the entire morning was a little bit slow as only 4 voters for each precinct was allowed in. During the afternoon, the pace was moved faster with 8 voters for each precinct being entertained.
Generally, the voting process was orderly and peaceful as well as organized and uneventful. However, voting inmates had to squat on the benches were the Ballot Secrecy Folders were placed as there were no armchairs available. I observed one PWD (person with disability) doing the same, as he was not provided any special place to vote.
I also observed that there were no ballot boxes for each precinct, ballots were placed only in folders. One of the precinct chairmen pointed out that the absence of ballot boxes is due to the fact that the Prison Precinct were mere clusters of Brgy. Barayong, were the ballot boxes were located. The used ballots would then be transported to said barangay were they will be placed in ballot boxes.
There was some confusion with regards to the sealing of the used and unused ballots as one precinct sealed the same in the provided brown envelopes while the other precinct did not, the chairman of which explained that the sealing will only happen at Brgy. Barayong since, as pointed out earlier, the prison precincts were mere clusters of the former.
Another thing that was not followed was the extension of time for the voting process. Officially, prison precincts were supposed to close at 12 noon while regular ones would close at 3 P.M. However, due to the slow paced voting in the morning, both precincts extended the voting time up to 3 P.M.
Other than the problems pointed out, the voting process in said prison facility was generally conducted successfully.
Together with my three companions, we observed how the electoral process was conducted in a prison facility, a first for all of us actually. There were two precincts opened in the prison and because of the delay in the arrival of the poll watchers, voting started at 8:30 A.M. instead of the officially mandated opening hour of 7:00 A.M. The turnover of voters for the entire morning was a little bit slow as only 4 voters for each precinct was allowed in. During the afternoon, the pace was moved faster with 8 voters for each precinct being entertained.
Generally, the voting process was orderly and peaceful as well as organized and uneventful. However, voting inmates had to squat on the benches were the Ballot Secrecy Folders were placed as there were no armchairs available. I observed one PWD (person with disability) doing the same, as he was not provided any special place to vote.
I also observed that there were no ballot boxes for each precinct, ballots were placed only in folders. One of the precinct chairmen pointed out that the absence of ballot boxes is due to the fact that the Prison Precinct were mere clusters of Brgy. Barayong, were the ballot boxes were located. The used ballots would then be transported to said barangay were they will be placed in ballot boxes.
There was some confusion with regards to the sealing of the used and unused ballots as one precinct sealed the same in the provided brown envelopes while the other precinct did not, the chairman of which explained that the sealing will only happen at Brgy. Barayong since, as pointed out earlier, the prison precincts were mere clusters of the former.
Another thing that was not followed was the extension of time for the voting process. Officially, prison precincts were supposed to close at 12 noon while regular ones would close at 3 P.M. However, due to the slow paced voting in the morning, both precincts extended the voting time up to 3 P.M.
Other than the problems pointed out, the voting process in said prison facility was generally conducted successfully.
Lunes, Oktubre 28, 2013
2013 Barangay Elections is Today
Today will be the 2013 Barangay Elections. Hopefully the Filipino people will vote for candidates who stand for progress, honest governance and prudence. To do otherwise would be to guarantee the perpetuation of poverty, economic stagnation and unemployment.
Vote wisely and vote for the future of the country, for our FUTURE!
Vote wisely and vote for the future of the country, for our FUTURE!
Linggo, Oktubre 27, 2013
2013 Philippine Barangay Elections Tomorrow
The Philippines will be conducting its scheduled Barangay Elections tomorrow and as a volunteer of LENTE (Legal Network for Truthful Elections) I will be deployed to a prison facility and a public school here in Leyte to monitor and observe the conduct of elections.
I call on the Filipino people to vote with their conscience, to think for the future and to safeguard their sacred right of suffrage by refusing to be bribed, intimidated or threatened into voting candidates who use and depend on money, goons and armies to ensure they win positions of power.
Protect YOUR VOTE, protect our FUTURE.
I call on the Filipino people to vote with their conscience, to think for the future and to safeguard their sacred right of suffrage by refusing to be bribed, intimidated or threatened into voting candidates who use and depend on money, goons and armies to ensure they win positions of power.
Protect YOUR VOTE, protect our FUTURE.
Sabado, Oktubre 26, 2013
New TV Series: The Blacklist
After seeing good reviews from a classmate, I was hooked for the first five episodes of the Blacklist. It's basically Person of Interest in Reverse, in that unlike the latter, protagonist in The Blacklist is actually a sociopathic killer with a lust for death, gore and everything that needs to be done to get what he wants done.
Anyway, I find the opening episode exciting, dramatic and classically suave. James Spader plays Red Reddington with aplomb, finesse and cold brutality without being crass or crazed. It's a beautifully written show, well acted, excitingly presented and eerily creepy.
Anyway, I find the opening episode exciting, dramatic and classically suave. James Spader plays Red Reddington with aplomb, finesse and cold brutality without being crass or crazed. It's a beautifully written show, well acted, excitingly presented and eerily creepy.
Biyernes, Oktubre 25, 2013
Tacloban Freethinkers Society Meets for the Third Time
For three months in a row now, TFS has successfully and continuously maintained the commitment of its new members and officers by meeting for a significant third time. Interesting topics were discussed such as same-sex marriage, end of the world, love, religion, faith, truth among others. It was a fruitful night conducted in two venues no less.
TFS is a non-stock, non-profit organization founded by four law students of DVOREF Tacloban City and is dedicated to the promotion of science, philosophy and reason in solving the most challenging problems of contemporary human life. TFS meets once a month and as of date, everything is open for deliberation, discussion and analysis.
TFS is a non-stock, non-profit organization founded by four law students of DVOREF Tacloban City and is dedicated to the promotion of science, philosophy and reason in solving the most challenging problems of contemporary human life. TFS meets once a month and as of date, everything is open for deliberation, discussion and analysis.
Mag-subscribe sa:
Mga Post (Atom)