There was a study undertaken several years ago. It was a comprehensive DNA study which showed that Pinoy blood actually has more Taiwanese DNA material than anything. Fact is, they traced the origins of Pinoy ancestors---the Ami tribe in Taiwan island. So, in effect, we are brothers with the Taiwanese.
Centuries ago, we were truly companions and compatriots in arms of the Chinese, especially those living in Taiwan island. Taiwanese and Filipinos are not just trading partners--we also fought together. In the 16th century, Chinese and Filipinos fought side by side to repulse Spanish forces. Yes, we were massacred, and the loam soil was soaked with both Chinese and Pinoy blood.
It pains me to see now Taiwanese beating up Filipinos. Four Filipinos were reportedly beaten up by irate Taiwanese. I just don't why these Taiwanese became barbarians.
These Taiwanese owe us their very freedom. Do you know that when the Chinese revolutionary forces under Mao Tse Tung tried to conquer the Taiwanese island, we, Filipinos, took part in defending it?When several Taiwanese families migrated to the Philippines to seek succor due to the war, our government took them in and took care of them. When Taiwan was struggling economically, which country provided them with funds and extended its hand? It is us, Filipinos.
Taiwan must not be overly dramatic and should try to maintain good relations with the Philippines. Without the Philippines, who will defend Taiwan from the emerging giant, that is China? Taiwan should not think lowly of their neighbors and be reminded always of their historical debt.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
China would commit a grievous error if it engages RP in a maritime war
We may have the most underdeveloped defense systems in the region, but wars are not won by technology alone. Look at how the Vietnamese dealt the US with its most shameful defeat and how the courageous African Muslim warriors defeated the highly mobile SEALs in Mogadishu. Wars are won based on skills and stealth. Our Generals are highly educated and trained in that. Most of our field generals are skilled warriors in the field and I would not doubt a Pinoy victory over the Chinese.
There are reports that China's manufacturing sector is slowing down. This is expected considering that the global capitalist system has slowed in most areas of the world. Maritime wars are expected especially in this age where resources are fast depleting in former rich areas and newer ones are being discovered. Efforts made by several countries to effect a code of conduct in the AP region seemed headed toward defeat.
China is an emerging economic power but it has'nt built itself yet as a military one. China will be committing a grave error if it escalates tension in the Spratlys for two reason: one, it will court collective anger from countries in the ASEAN and even in East Asia and two, Japan will not allow such a thing to happen.
If China wants to demonstrate its "military power", it will start with picking a small country such as the Philippines. This is what it did with Tibet, a small Hindu state near its border.
China thinks that the Philippines is weak. Well, go on, let's fight. we may be inferior in military hardware, but we will cut down them down into tiny pieces in a guerilla war.
There are reports that China's manufacturing sector is slowing down. This is expected considering that the global capitalist system has slowed in most areas of the world. Maritime wars are expected especially in this age where resources are fast depleting in former rich areas and newer ones are being discovered. Efforts made by several countries to effect a code of conduct in the AP region seemed headed toward defeat.
China is an emerging economic power but it has'nt built itself yet as a military one. China will be committing a grave error if it escalates tension in the Spratlys for two reason: one, it will court collective anger from countries in the ASEAN and even in East Asia and two, Japan will not allow such a thing to happen.
If China wants to demonstrate its "military power", it will start with picking a small country such as the Philippines. This is what it did with Tibet, a small Hindu state near its border.
China thinks that the Philippines is weak. Well, go on, let's fight. we may be inferior in military hardware, but we will cut down them down into tiny pieces in a guerilla war.
Dan Brown and Manila as "gates of hell"
Dan Brown described Manila as the "gates of hell" in his latest book, the Fiasco, err, Inferno. He described Manila as a city of decay, of widespread prostitution and of poverty.
I don't fault Brown for saying that Manila is like that because he was born in a city, New Hampshire, where he always looks at the trees, and the frosty mountains, and never looked at his streets. New Hampshire is not as saintly as Brown probably thinks it is. His state, New Hampshire is not your usual paradise. It is home to prostitutes, decaying mine cities and extreme poverty as well.
Maybe Brown is just describing his own "town", don't you think?
Anyway, I would not fault him if he sees Manila like that because, most of his readers are not Manilenos. I find his books BOOOOring, and I read one, and really, I thought that a high school guy wrote it. I remember reading a similar book like Dan Brown's and it was somewhat of a journey, with situations and all. It was like a Dungeons and Dragon's book, albeit, the writing is extremely coarse I believe.
Anyway, who would fault Brown for saying that Manila is dying, decaying and poverty is all around? It does not take much of an effort to go to Ongpin and Recto just to see homeless people, looking like zombies. I don't really need SWS to tell me that self-rated poverty in the 1st quarter of 2013 is higher than 2012's because it is quite obvious. Prices of basic commodities have increased tremendously, and people's daily incomes cannot really cope with the prices of even the very basic of staples. What government intends to do is widen the net of people being given cash subsidies, when the main thing that they should do is encourage companies to generate jobs.
If you're poor and you're in Manila, you"ll die. Yes, you can scrape the bottom pit for some food but this will not tide you over poverty.
I would not dare say Manila as the gate to hell, because there are other cities in the Philippines which are more desolate than Manila. Look at Zamboanga City and Pagadian. These are more desolate towns made desolate by the very people living there.
I dare Dan Brown to visit the Philippines and see for himself, how paradise-like our country is. Manila maybe dying, and it is all because of poor management of the city. Yet, if the people rally around the new city administration, things would probably be better in the long run.
I don't fault Brown for saying that Manila is like that because he was born in a city, New Hampshire, where he always looks at the trees, and the frosty mountains, and never looked at his streets. New Hampshire is not as saintly as Brown probably thinks it is. His state, New Hampshire is not your usual paradise. It is home to prostitutes, decaying mine cities and extreme poverty as well.
Maybe Brown is just describing his own "town", don't you think?
Anyway, I would not fault him if he sees Manila like that because, most of his readers are not Manilenos. I find his books BOOOOring, and I read one, and really, I thought that a high school guy wrote it. I remember reading a similar book like Dan Brown's and it was somewhat of a journey, with situations and all. It was like a Dungeons and Dragon's book, albeit, the writing is extremely coarse I believe.
Anyway, who would fault Brown for saying that Manila is dying, decaying and poverty is all around? It does not take much of an effort to go to Ongpin and Recto just to see homeless people, looking like zombies. I don't really need SWS to tell me that self-rated poverty in the 1st quarter of 2013 is higher than 2012's because it is quite obvious. Prices of basic commodities have increased tremendously, and people's daily incomes cannot really cope with the prices of even the very basic of staples. What government intends to do is widen the net of people being given cash subsidies, when the main thing that they should do is encourage companies to generate jobs.
If you're poor and you're in Manila, you"ll die. Yes, you can scrape the bottom pit for some food but this will not tide you over poverty.
I would not dare say Manila as the gate to hell, because there are other cities in the Philippines which are more desolate than Manila. Look at Zamboanga City and Pagadian. These are more desolate towns made desolate by the very people living there.
I dare Dan Brown to visit the Philippines and see for himself, how paradise-like our country is. Manila maybe dying, and it is all because of poor management of the city. Yet, if the people rally around the new city administration, things would probably be better in the long run.
Only 14 partylists got 2% of the votes cast for the partylist. Why proclaim 58?
According to the partylist results as published by the Commission on Elections website (see link), there are just fourteen (14) partylists that so far got 2 percent of the total number of votes cast for the party lists. Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr announced that they'll be announcing 58.
Why? Why are you announcing 58 partylists when most of them did not get the required constitutional percentage of the votes? Comelec is ready mucking up the electoral system!
Imagine, you'll be announcing even those who got less than 1% of the votes. The 2% provision is constitutional. It has a rationale---you cannot claim legitimacy as a partylist representative of the sector you are claiming to represent if you did not get the required votes as stated by the 1987 Constitution.
Do not tell me that the Comelec is above the basic charter? This is too much already.
Migrante likewise noticed a pattern of disfranchisement and vote-shaving even in this era of "automated elections". For example, in Binan Laguna, there is about 2,500 card-carrying members of Migrante. Ask me how many votes they got from there? 100.
This is just one example of how the Commission on Elections destroyed the very integrity of this elections, according to Migrante.
The Commission on Elections should rectify its pronouncement of announcing 58 more partylists. This act of not following the Constitutional limit gives doubt and a disgrace to the democratic system.
Why? Why are you announcing 58 partylists when most of them did not get the required constitutional percentage of the votes? Comelec is ready mucking up the electoral system!
Imagine, you'll be announcing even those who got less than 1% of the votes. The 2% provision is constitutional. It has a rationale---you cannot claim legitimacy as a partylist representative of the sector you are claiming to represent if you did not get the required votes as stated by the 1987 Constitution.
Do not tell me that the Comelec is above the basic charter? This is too much already.
Migrante likewise noticed a pattern of disfranchisement and vote-shaving even in this era of "automated elections". For example, in Binan Laguna, there is about 2,500 card-carrying members of Migrante. Ask me how many votes they got from there? 100.
This is just one example of how the Commission on Elections destroyed the very integrity of this elections, according to Migrante.
The Commission on Elections should rectify its pronouncement of announcing 58 more partylists. This act of not following the Constitutional limit gives doubt and a disgrace to the democratic system.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Mga Beinte Singkong Senador at ang Kanbas ng Pekeng Pag-asa
Sa kabila ng malawakang pag-aliglahi sa boses ng masa, walang sumisigaw at walang nag-aalsa laban sa ginawang pambabastos ng Commission on Elections sa nakaraang halalan.
Isipin ninyo, sa beinte porsiyento lamang ng boto, prinuklama na ng Komisyong ito ang mga senador ng bayan. Kailan pa naging demokratiko ang maghalal ng mga taong beinte porsiyento lamang ng populasyon ang bumoto?
Sa iba't ibang dako ng bansa, hindi natinag ang mga dinastiyang pampulitiko ng mga naghaharing-uri. Naging isang bayarang katakut-takot ang eleksyon. Maging sa siyudad ng Quezon, nagpawala ng milyong milyong piso ang mga bataan ng isang Kongresista at kanyang mga galamay upang pumasok sa winning circle ang kanilang mga konsehal at mga representante sa bawat distrito.
Kung ang naghaharing-uri mismo ang bumababoy sa sistemang pangdemokratiko, ano na lamang hiyang maipapakita ng mga ito sa kanilang mga pamilya't anak? Kung ang naghaharing-uri mismo ang nag-aaliglahi sa sistemang pang-halalan, anong halaga ng sistemang ito sa buhay ng mga ordinaryong mamamayan?
Wala.
Ang halalan ay isang hungkag na prosesong nagtataguyod sa mga pamilyang nais kumontrol sa buhay ng bawat mamamayang Pinoy. Isa itong walang ka-kwenta kwentang ehersisyo na ang maaaring magandang idinudulot lamang ay ang muling pagpapawala ng perang ninakaw mula sa kaban ng mamamayan pabalik sa mga sektor na nangangailangan.
MIsmong isang political analyst at isang dating commissioner ng Comelec ang nagpatunay sa isang panayag sa telebisyon (sa ABS-CBN 2 during the election coverage), na isang paraan ang eleksyon upang mag launder ng pera ang mga mangungurakot ng bayan.
Ang perang kanilang nakukuha mula sa mga komisyon sa mga proyektong pambayan ay kanilang ginagamit sa halalan bilang isang porma ng laundering. Ito ay upang makaiwas sa matalas na mata ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Sa ating nangangarap ng pagbabago, dapat nating iwaksi na ang pag-asang dulot daw ng halalan. Pinanatili lamang ng naghaharing-uri ang halalan bilang isang pekeng paraan ng pagwawasto sa mga kabuluktutan at kawalang balintunaan ng mga pamilyang humahawak sa kayamanan ng bayan.
Ginagamit ang tradisyunal na media, mga business groups, at ilang mga dilawang NGO's at PO's upang magpinta ng isang canvas ng pag-asa gayung sa tinagal tagal ng ating Republika, pulos dayaan at kawalang hiyaan ang naidulot ng halalan.
Naaalala ko tuloy ang ginawang pambababoy at pagtataksil sa bayaning Andres Bonifacio.
Halalan ang ginawang behikulo upang siya'y kitlan ng kanyang buhay. Halalang binaboy ng mga unang Magdalo na pawang mga sekreta ng mga Kastilang tuso.
Kung walang aasahan sa sistemang ito, nasasaan ang tunay na paraan ng pagbabago.
Walang ibang sagot kundi sa pamamagitan ng isang nakapangyayaring rebolusyon. Ito lamang ang tanging paraan upang muling ibalik ang tunay na demokrasya sa bansang ito at makilala ang tunay na boses ng mga ordinaryong mamamayang patuloy na nasasadlak sa kahirapang dulot ng kawalang kahihiyan ng mga naghahari sa ating bayan.
Bakit pa mangangarap ang mga kilusan sa halalan gayong batid nilang dadayain lamang sila ng mga ilustradong ang buhay ay nasasadlak sa kadiliman.
Sinisisi ko ang mga kilusang rebolusyunaryo sa kanilang pag-abandona sa tunay na daan sa pagbabago. Nang sila ay sumali sa halalan, nawalan na siya ng kapangyarihang itaas ang antas ng pakikihamok at naging kasapakat ng mga naghaharing-uri sa pananatili ng pekeng larawan ng pag-asa.
May panahon pang gumising ang mga tunay na nakikibaka tungo sa pagbabago. May panahon pang muling tahakin ang tunay na daan tungo sa tunay na rebolusyon.
Isipin ninyo, sa beinte porsiyento lamang ng boto, prinuklama na ng Komisyong ito ang mga senador ng bayan. Kailan pa naging demokratiko ang maghalal ng mga taong beinte porsiyento lamang ng populasyon ang bumoto?
Sa iba't ibang dako ng bansa, hindi natinag ang mga dinastiyang pampulitiko ng mga naghaharing-uri. Naging isang bayarang katakut-takot ang eleksyon. Maging sa siyudad ng Quezon, nagpawala ng milyong milyong piso ang mga bataan ng isang Kongresista at kanyang mga galamay upang pumasok sa winning circle ang kanilang mga konsehal at mga representante sa bawat distrito.
Kung ang naghaharing-uri mismo ang bumababoy sa sistemang pangdemokratiko, ano na lamang hiyang maipapakita ng mga ito sa kanilang mga pamilya't anak? Kung ang naghaharing-uri mismo ang nag-aaliglahi sa sistemang pang-halalan, anong halaga ng sistemang ito sa buhay ng mga ordinaryong mamamayan?
Wala.
Ang halalan ay isang hungkag na prosesong nagtataguyod sa mga pamilyang nais kumontrol sa buhay ng bawat mamamayang Pinoy. Isa itong walang ka-kwenta kwentang ehersisyo na ang maaaring magandang idinudulot lamang ay ang muling pagpapawala ng perang ninakaw mula sa kaban ng mamamayan pabalik sa mga sektor na nangangailangan.
MIsmong isang political analyst at isang dating commissioner ng Comelec ang nagpatunay sa isang panayag sa telebisyon (sa ABS-CBN 2 during the election coverage), na isang paraan ang eleksyon upang mag launder ng pera ang mga mangungurakot ng bayan.
Ang perang kanilang nakukuha mula sa mga komisyon sa mga proyektong pambayan ay kanilang ginagamit sa halalan bilang isang porma ng laundering. Ito ay upang makaiwas sa matalas na mata ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Sa ating nangangarap ng pagbabago, dapat nating iwaksi na ang pag-asang dulot daw ng halalan. Pinanatili lamang ng naghaharing-uri ang halalan bilang isang pekeng paraan ng pagwawasto sa mga kabuluktutan at kawalang balintunaan ng mga pamilyang humahawak sa kayamanan ng bayan.
Ginagamit ang tradisyunal na media, mga business groups, at ilang mga dilawang NGO's at PO's upang magpinta ng isang canvas ng pag-asa gayung sa tinagal tagal ng ating Republika, pulos dayaan at kawalang hiyaan ang naidulot ng halalan.
Naaalala ko tuloy ang ginawang pambababoy at pagtataksil sa bayaning Andres Bonifacio.
Halalan ang ginawang behikulo upang siya'y kitlan ng kanyang buhay. Halalang binaboy ng mga unang Magdalo na pawang mga sekreta ng mga Kastilang tuso.
Kung walang aasahan sa sistemang ito, nasasaan ang tunay na paraan ng pagbabago.
Walang ibang sagot kundi sa pamamagitan ng isang nakapangyayaring rebolusyon. Ito lamang ang tanging paraan upang muling ibalik ang tunay na demokrasya sa bansang ito at makilala ang tunay na boses ng mga ordinaryong mamamayang patuloy na nasasadlak sa kahirapang dulot ng kawalang kahihiyan ng mga naghahari sa ating bayan.
Bakit pa mangangarap ang mga kilusan sa halalan gayong batid nilang dadayain lamang sila ng mga ilustradong ang buhay ay nasasadlak sa kadiliman.
Sinisisi ko ang mga kilusang rebolusyunaryo sa kanilang pag-abandona sa tunay na daan sa pagbabago. Nang sila ay sumali sa halalan, nawalan na siya ng kapangyarihang itaas ang antas ng pakikihamok at naging kasapakat ng mga naghaharing-uri sa pananatili ng pekeng larawan ng pag-asa.
May panahon pang gumising ang mga tunay na nakikibaka tungo sa pagbabago. May panahon pang muling tahakin ang tunay na daan tungo sa tunay na rebolusyon.
Monday, May 20, 2013
The 2013 mid-term elections: Had it been a presidential, things would be different
Had this happen in a Presidential election, things would have escalated to such proportions which would prove too difficult for the Commission on Elections to handle. The fact that it would be too costly and too disruptive for a candidate or a political party to question the results is one reason why no group raised the alarm bells on a higher level.
This also shows you how people perceive technology---something unknown should never be questioned by the uninitiated. Imagine how costly for someone to ask the Commission on Elections to provide him or his political party of the CF cards and read their contents, one by one.
If a review of the elections is held, it would take more than six months before a conclusive result would happen and released in the media. By that time, those proclaimed will already be serving by then, and it would be extremely difficult for the protestant to bend the situation to his favor.
What am I saying? If we continue on this path, we may as well accept that the political leadership in this country will always be at the caprice and whim of the elite. We need to accept this because this is entirely true.
What is most certain is this---this administration claims that it has a hold over the Lower House. Well, I perused the lists of winners in Congress and I don't know where the administration got its data. In the island of Luzon, specifically vote rich areas, the UNA or its affiliates, won there. In the Visayas, yes, LP won. However, in Mindanao, those who won are actually non-LP members. Lakas NUCD is still a force to reckon with as this National Unity Party, or NUP, a party of pro-Arroyo legislators who formed their own party wisely not choosing either administration or pseudo-opposition.
This also shows you how people perceive technology---something unknown should never be questioned by the uninitiated. Imagine how costly for someone to ask the Commission on Elections to provide him or his political party of the CF cards and read their contents, one by one.
If a review of the elections is held, it would take more than six months before a conclusive result would happen and released in the media. By that time, those proclaimed will already be serving by then, and it would be extremely difficult for the protestant to bend the situation to his favor.
What am I saying? If we continue on this path, we may as well accept that the political leadership in this country will always be at the caprice and whim of the elite. We need to accept this because this is entirely true.
What is most certain is this---this administration claims that it has a hold over the Lower House. Well, I perused the lists of winners in Congress and I don't know where the administration got its data. In the island of Luzon, specifically vote rich areas, the UNA or its affiliates, won there. In the Visayas, yes, LP won. However, in Mindanao, those who won are actually non-LP members. Lakas NUCD is still a force to reckon with as this National Unity Party, or NUP, a party of pro-Arroyo legislators who formed their own party wisely not choosing either administration or pseudo-opposition.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Resist Comelec brute force proclamation of Senatorial race winners!
Democracy exists because it is the only system in the world that respects the voice of the Individual. That voice, which in the case of the Philippines, is heard and respected with utmost banality, is heard every three years, in every election.
That voice is also being dictated and muzzled upon by a handful of people appointed by the Powers-that-be to just ensure that elections are conducted based on justice and law.
Now, the integrity of this elections is slowly being tainted by the desire of a few to ensure their perpetuation to Power.
Why proclaim when 11.5 million votes (some say it is still 30 million) are still lurking in cyberspace and are still not counted? Why the rush, says Senatoriable Koko Pimentel.
As I wrote in my previous blogs, every single thing that this government has accomplished will all go down the drain if it fails to keep this election clean.
What is going on? Comelec desires a quick count when it knows that it is totally impossible because of some systemic anomalies that occurred shortly after the voting stopped. Comelec cannot even tell us how many Filipinos were disfranchised and how many voters deliberately boycotted this election.
The same ailment now afflicts this administration, the very same disease that the decrepit Arroyo administration suffered---power-nitis.
We, as a People, should resist this and we should protest because it is quite obvious now---the will of the people has been compromised.
We may never know who really won the Senatorial race because our minds have been pre-programmed to accept results which have been dictated upon us by a select few.
Resist now or forever hold your tongue!
That voice is also being dictated and muzzled upon by a handful of people appointed by the Powers-that-be to just ensure that elections are conducted based on justice and law.
Now, the integrity of this elections is slowly being tainted by the desire of a few to ensure their perpetuation to Power.
Why proclaim when 11.5 million votes (some say it is still 30 million) are still lurking in cyberspace and are still not counted? Why the rush, says Senatoriable Koko Pimentel.
As I wrote in my previous blogs, every single thing that this government has accomplished will all go down the drain if it fails to keep this election clean.
What is going on? Comelec desires a quick count when it knows that it is totally impossible because of some systemic anomalies that occurred shortly after the voting stopped. Comelec cannot even tell us how many Filipinos were disfranchised and how many voters deliberately boycotted this election.
The same ailment now afflicts this administration, the very same disease that the decrepit Arroyo administration suffered---power-nitis.
We, as a People, should resist this and we should protest because it is quite obvious now---the will of the people has been compromised.
We may never know who really won the Senatorial race because our minds have been pre-programmed to accept results which have been dictated upon us by a select few.
Resist now or forever hold your tongue!
Nancy Binay proved more Senatoriable than First 5
Now I understand why millions of Filipinos voted for Nancy Binay---she has the right moral compass and does not salivate for power.
Unlike the first 5 proclaimed winners in the Senatorial circle in this year's election, Nancy Binay did not attend her own proclamation because she does not believe that the 79 Cocs which only total 13 million votes truly reflect the will of 52 million registered voters.
That shows you that Nancy possesses the character of a true Binay--a democrat thru and thru. I cannot say that to Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano and Grace Poe. I can understand Grace Poe. Her top position is unassailable. I cannot say that of the rest of the top five because 11 million uncounted votes are still considered "big" in my estimation and can still statistically affect the final outcome.
Example--what if half of that 11 million voted for, say, Enrile, who is now in the fifteen spot with 7.3 million votes and sadly, from the 11 million, only 3 million voted for, say Angara (10.2 m). That's 3 million additional votes to Enrile would put him on par with Angara. Possible? Yes, because that 11.5 m uncounted votes are statistically huge not to affect the final result.
Why is the Comelec all of a sudden rushing the proclamation? Several people speculate that Comelec is fearful that as the day prolongs, the more possible human intervention. That 9-3 might not be 9-3 afterall but 7-5, if we are to truly count the votes cast.
Or, Comelec fears that people will scalp their heads, if many people learn that those CF cards do not contain any data at all.
Unlike the first 5 proclaimed winners in the Senatorial circle in this year's election, Nancy Binay did not attend her own proclamation because she does not believe that the 79 Cocs which only total 13 million votes truly reflect the will of 52 million registered voters.
That shows you that Nancy possesses the character of a true Binay--a democrat thru and thru. I cannot say that to Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano and Grace Poe. I can understand Grace Poe. Her top position is unassailable. I cannot say that of the rest of the top five because 11 million uncounted votes are still considered "big" in my estimation and can still statistically affect the final outcome.
Example--what if half of that 11 million voted for, say, Enrile, who is now in the fifteen spot with 7.3 million votes and sadly, from the 11 million, only 3 million voted for, say Angara (10.2 m). That's 3 million additional votes to Enrile would put him on par with Angara. Possible? Yes, because that 11.5 m uncounted votes are statistically huge not to affect the final result.
Why is the Comelec all of a sudden rushing the proclamation? Several people speculate that Comelec is fearful that as the day prolongs, the more possible human intervention. That 9-3 might not be 9-3 afterall but 7-5, if we are to truly count the votes cast.
Or, Comelec fears that people will scalp their heads, if many people learn that those CF cards do not contain any data at all.
Slash and burn in 2013 mid-term elections
Pretend that I am an election operator, and a rich guy wants to become a Senator, how will I assure his victory?
Well, what I'll do is I'll operate the election results in his favor in non-descript rural areas. I will slash at least 40 votes per precinct, which, if you translate it to 70,000 precincts, that would mean 3.16 million votes already secured. How do I do this? Intercept the transmission and replace it with data that will reflect bawas-dagdag electronically. I have two sources from which to get my 40 votes extra--one, from the pool of disfranchised voters, and second, from voters whose names are still in the database but are now dead.
Meaning, if there are 1,000 voters in a polling precinct, there would probably be about 300 voters who will be disfranchised and only 700 voters allowed by the system to vote. From that 700 voters, I already secured some votes. Now, if I want my 200 votes from the 700 voters increase? I slash 40 either from that disfranchised set or those already dead but are still in the voter's digital directory. That 40 votes extra, translate that into, say 60,000 times, means substantial figure already. Unnoticeable is'nt it since I slashed the votes not from urban areas where a slight data sub will not be discovered.
Well, what I'll do is I'll operate the election results in his favor in non-descript rural areas. I will slash at least 40 votes per precinct, which, if you translate it to 70,000 precincts, that would mean 3.16 million votes already secured. How do I do this? Intercept the transmission and replace it with data that will reflect bawas-dagdag electronically. I have two sources from which to get my 40 votes extra--one, from the pool of disfranchised voters, and second, from voters whose names are still in the database but are now dead.
Meaning, if there are 1,000 voters in a polling precinct, there would probably be about 300 voters who will be disfranchised and only 700 voters allowed by the system to vote. From that 700 voters, I already secured some votes. Now, if I want my 200 votes from the 700 voters increase? I slash 40 either from that disfranchised set or those already dead but are still in the voter's digital directory. That 40 votes extra, translate that into, say 60,000 times, means substantial figure already. Unnoticeable is'nt it since I slashed the votes not from urban areas where a slight data sub will not be discovered.
How to win an election in the Philippines? Manipulate transmissions, says experts
Several reports are coming in, in what others term as "ghostly transmissions". Imagine, there were at least 3,000 instances where the Comelec Transparency servers received transmissions from areas where PCOS machines were reportedly "out of commission". Where did those servers get those transmissions from? Are all sources legitimate or real, as in, these transmissions really emanated from the areas named?
That's why Smartmatic, according to some, is not really worried because they have this IT audit logs which reflect the source, time, and date of these transmissions to the server. The question some people are asking--how fool-proof are these transmissions? Were these servers fed the right information?
Experts in the IT world are familiar with the term "mirror sites". A hacker can actually mimick, say, a Yahoo site and make it appear legitimate. IN this case, some of those whom I talked to, say that these servers can be pre-programmed to accept transmissions from "mirror sites", by inputting a different IP address instead of those addresses by the PCOS machines. I ask---what happens to transmissions sent by the legitimate PCOS machines? Another said that these could be re-directed to another server. Meaning, real results can actually be housed or kept in a separate place, and not in the Comelec transparency servers.
Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes says the reason why transmissions slowed was because of the tiered or ladderized system, wherein data from the precincts will go to the municipality, and the municipality will go to the provincial, and then to region and Comelec. Since we are talking about 78,000 precincts, the possibility of a "jam" exists.
Fact is, manipulation of these results can happen, according to IT experts from AMA and STI schools, from intervention, signals coming from another source, replacing those from legitimate sources. Meaning, the "cheating" happens not in the precincts or optical scanners---it happens during transmission. You don't need jammers to rig an election. You only need to redirect transmission to another server and fed the legitimate servers with information you desire. Intervention may be made in a few hundreds in clustered precincts. Translate those manipulations to
This explains why most transmissions happen in the dead of the night, where vigilance is at its lowest.
NOw, so that explains why Comelec right now is in a rush to proclaim because people are slowly learning the process of this elections. This also shows that there is a small group of people manipulating these results, for the sake of the people? Nah.
What do we really want? A faster yet unreliable count? Or a truthful yet slower count?
That's why Smartmatic, according to some, is not really worried because they have this IT audit logs which reflect the source, time, and date of these transmissions to the server. The question some people are asking--how fool-proof are these transmissions? Were these servers fed the right information?
Experts in the IT world are familiar with the term "mirror sites". A hacker can actually mimick, say, a Yahoo site and make it appear legitimate. IN this case, some of those whom I talked to, say that these servers can be pre-programmed to accept transmissions from "mirror sites", by inputting a different IP address instead of those addresses by the PCOS machines. I ask---what happens to transmissions sent by the legitimate PCOS machines? Another said that these could be re-directed to another server. Meaning, real results can actually be housed or kept in a separate place, and not in the Comelec transparency servers.
Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes says the reason why transmissions slowed was because of the tiered or ladderized system, wherein data from the precincts will go to the municipality, and the municipality will go to the provincial, and then to region and Comelec. Since we are talking about 78,000 precincts, the possibility of a "jam" exists.
Fact is, manipulation of these results can happen, according to IT experts from AMA and STI schools, from intervention, signals coming from another source, replacing those from legitimate sources. Meaning, the "cheating" happens not in the precincts or optical scanners---it happens during transmission. You don't need jammers to rig an election. You only need to redirect transmission to another server and fed the legitimate servers with information you desire. Intervention may be made in a few hundreds in clustered precincts. Translate those manipulations to
This explains why most transmissions happen in the dead of the night, where vigilance is at its lowest.
NOw, so that explains why Comelec right now is in a rush to proclaim because people are slowly learning the process of this elections. This also shows that there is a small group of people manipulating these results, for the sake of the people? Nah.
What do we really want? A faster yet unreliable count? Or a truthful yet slower count?
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Nancy Binay and Pure Democracy
Nancy Binay, daughter of the Vice President, reportedly won in this year's Senatorial elections. Binay, whom everyone thinks just sprouted out of nowhere to run and win an election, is being bashed by many people here and there. I read some of these anti-Nancy Binay bashing and wondered why are they bashing her?
Is it because she looks very ordinary unlike, say, Pia Cayetano and Loren Legarda? Is it because she's not as "white" as, say Miriam Defensor-Santiago or again, Pia Cayetano? Is it because the Binays are not the Madrigals, the Roxases, the Cayetanos, the Zobel de Ayalas, the Cojuangcos and the Aquinos, prized surnames linked with wealth and fame?
We always say, we want democracy. We always say that we want to see an ordinary person elected as a Senator. Now that we truly have someone, a veritable neophyte, elected, we shout foul?
What is the difference of say, Atty Llasos, a candidate of the Kapatiran party or even of Mayor Hagedorn with Nancy? Both are not national leaders. Both are not "qualified" with a Bachelors of Law degree or even a Masteral degree to boot, yet, so much flak has been received by Nancy than, say Llasos or some new candidate of the Kapatiran party.
Democracy, my dear, operates this way. Democracy allows such people as Nancy to become Senators. If people like you, then, chances are high that you'll be elected into office. If people does not love you, then, you're basically out. The only thing that probably justifies a bash is when the very mechanism, the very system that elected you, is filled with fraud or fraudulent, as they say.
Anyway, why bash Nancy when it is not her fault anyway. Nancy had a dream, according to her, that she just saw herself debating with such "heavyweights" as Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Why are we bashing Binay? Is it because she is just an OJT, a jobless woman, now, a Senator. She actually surpassed probably, even the valedictorian or summa cum laude of her class in college now that she's an "Honorable".
Binay, like every single one of us, has a protected right to dream big. She dreamt that she will be elected into office, and so it was. Why fault her for dreaming this big and realising it afterwards?
Does the Constitution require a Senatoriable to become a barangay official or town official first before becoming a Senator? Does the Charter require an intelligence quotient of 160 before one becomes a senator? Do we require those who want to become a senator to take a law degree first?
Or, we are just angry and jealous that we were not born as a Binay? We are probably just jealous that we don't have a vice president for a father?
I even saw a photo of Nancy Binay dressed in a workmaid's suit serving a tray of wine to two ladies with their noses held up high. This is disgusting and shows one the full extent of our collective racist upbringing.
Why do we expect only "intelligent people" to become Senators? Fact is, let us truly examine the Senate. Did we really elect the best and the brightest as our Senators?
Yeah, I think in the past, we did.
We must however, congratulate ourselves for one reason---we have created a true democracy where, even, the not-so-bright, or the crude, or the potatoes or the D-listers can become Senators. That is, to my book, pure democracy.
Fact is, Nancy Binay's election just shows you how easy it is to become one of the top legislators of this country---train under a consummate politician. (or have a friend from Smartmatic).
What then prevents us from electing a veritable neophyte as our President come 2016? Nothing! Every single one may dream now that the likes of Nancy is being elected into office.
Is it because she looks very ordinary unlike, say, Pia Cayetano and Loren Legarda? Is it because she's not as "white" as, say Miriam Defensor-Santiago or again, Pia Cayetano? Is it because the Binays are not the Madrigals, the Roxases, the Cayetanos, the Zobel de Ayalas, the Cojuangcos and the Aquinos, prized surnames linked with wealth and fame?
We always say, we want democracy. We always say that we want to see an ordinary person elected as a Senator. Now that we truly have someone, a veritable neophyte, elected, we shout foul?
What is the difference of say, Atty Llasos, a candidate of the Kapatiran party or even of Mayor Hagedorn with Nancy? Both are not national leaders. Both are not "qualified" with a Bachelors of Law degree or even a Masteral degree to boot, yet, so much flak has been received by Nancy than, say Llasos or some new candidate of the Kapatiran party.
Democracy, my dear, operates this way. Democracy allows such people as Nancy to become Senators. If people like you, then, chances are high that you'll be elected into office. If people does not love you, then, you're basically out. The only thing that probably justifies a bash is when the very mechanism, the very system that elected you, is filled with fraud or fraudulent, as they say.
Anyway, why bash Nancy when it is not her fault anyway. Nancy had a dream, according to her, that she just saw herself debating with such "heavyweights" as Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Why are we bashing Binay? Is it because she is just an OJT, a jobless woman, now, a Senator. She actually surpassed probably, even the valedictorian or summa cum laude of her class in college now that she's an "Honorable".
Binay, like every single one of us, has a protected right to dream big. She dreamt that she will be elected into office, and so it was. Why fault her for dreaming this big and realising it afterwards?
Does the Constitution require a Senatoriable to become a barangay official or town official first before becoming a Senator? Does the Charter require an intelligence quotient of 160 before one becomes a senator? Do we require those who want to become a senator to take a law degree first?
Or, we are just angry and jealous that we were not born as a Binay? We are probably just jealous that we don't have a vice president for a father?
I even saw a photo of Nancy Binay dressed in a workmaid's suit serving a tray of wine to two ladies with their noses held up high. This is disgusting and shows one the full extent of our collective racist upbringing.
Why do we expect only "intelligent people" to become Senators? Fact is, let us truly examine the Senate. Did we really elect the best and the brightest as our Senators?
Yeah, I think in the past, we did.
We must however, congratulate ourselves for one reason---we have created a true democracy where, even, the not-so-bright, or the crude, or the potatoes or the D-listers can become Senators. That is, to my book, pure democracy.
Fact is, Nancy Binay's election just shows you how easy it is to become one of the top legislators of this country---train under a consummate politician. (or have a friend from Smartmatic).
What then prevents us from electing a veritable neophyte as our President come 2016? Nothing! Every single one may dream now that the likes of Nancy is being elected into office.
Conspiracy to rig 2013 elections? Who lost and who really won?
How come that defective PCOS machines transmit "figures" to the central COMELEC server when they are in fact, not functioning? And since several thousands have malfunctioned and even CF cards have "erased data" or no data at all, how then did the Parish Pastoral Council of Responsible Voting or PPCRV and Namfrel get so many transmissions of data when even the Comelec failed to get some?
Where did the PPCRV, Namfrel and the Comelec got their preliminary results when, even the Comelec said that they have received only 69% of the total votes cast and there are still 10 million votes which are still not counted as we speak?
Even Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes in his presscon yesterday said they will only be reviewing a hundred or so ERs or only half of so many, to see a trend? Yet, this trend can only be relevant if it reflects not fifty percent of the total, but at least 80 or so percent when margins are totally insurmountable already.
The United Nationalist Alliance or UNA may not know it, but because they agreed on the preliminary results in the national elections of Senators, there is a presumption that they also agree on the results of the Congressional and the LGUs.
Really now, the UNA lost several valuable territories in the Visayas, as Team Pnoy lost some in half of Luzon.
For example, Cebu, which was traditionally a bailiwick of Arroyo, is now a formidable territory of the Liberal Party. The hold of the Garcias in this province has been shattered. This is a major factor come 2016 because of the sheer amount of votes in Cebu which could make or break someone's presidential campaign.
There are, however, several areas which I considered as critical areas where Liberal Party lost against UNA. Yet, please take a look as there is an emerging political force in the provinces which has made a considerable dent in this elections--the National Unity party. This party has successfully accomplished what Kapatiran and other so called "third force" failed in previous years.
It is quite presumptuous for UNA's chairman and president to say that 2016 is a goner already. Binay's vaulted local party machinery has been shattered this elections, what with monumental losses here and there. Obviously, this mid-term elections was used mainly to diminish the power of UNA's three kings: Binay, Enrile and Erap.
By the way, whoever thought of Poe's number one spot win, let me just congratulate. By placing a "safe bet"at the number one spot made it extremely uncomfortable for any party to consider the entire results of the elections.
How would one question the results of this elections when doing so will drag Poe too? Poe is perceived as a non-controversial candidate who is common to both UNA and Team Pnoy. Assuming that Poe's election is correct, do we presume that the rest of those in the Magic 12 really deserve to be there, even though: (1) there is a big part of the voters disfranchised and (2) there are irregularities now rearing its ugly head as the elections wind up?
Where did the PPCRV, Namfrel and the Comelec got their preliminary results when, even the Comelec said that they have received only 69% of the total votes cast and there are still 10 million votes which are still not counted as we speak?
Even Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes in his presscon yesterday said they will only be reviewing a hundred or so ERs or only half of so many, to see a trend? Yet, this trend can only be relevant if it reflects not fifty percent of the total, but at least 80 or so percent when margins are totally insurmountable already.
The United Nationalist Alliance or UNA may not know it, but because they agreed on the preliminary results in the national elections of Senators, there is a presumption that they also agree on the results of the Congressional and the LGUs.
Really now, the UNA lost several valuable territories in the Visayas, as Team Pnoy lost some in half of Luzon.
For example, Cebu, which was traditionally a bailiwick of Arroyo, is now a formidable territory of the Liberal Party. The hold of the Garcias in this province has been shattered. This is a major factor come 2016 because of the sheer amount of votes in Cebu which could make or break someone's presidential campaign.
There are, however, several areas which I considered as critical areas where Liberal Party lost against UNA. Yet, please take a look as there is an emerging political force in the provinces which has made a considerable dent in this elections--the National Unity party. This party has successfully accomplished what Kapatiran and other so called "third force" failed in previous years.
It is quite presumptuous for UNA's chairman and president to say that 2016 is a goner already. Binay's vaulted local party machinery has been shattered this elections, what with monumental losses here and there. Obviously, this mid-term elections was used mainly to diminish the power of UNA's three kings: Binay, Enrile and Erap.
By the way, whoever thought of Poe's number one spot win, let me just congratulate. By placing a "safe bet"at the number one spot made it extremely uncomfortable for any party to consider the entire results of the elections.
How would one question the results of this elections when doing so will drag Poe too? Poe is perceived as a non-controversial candidate who is common to both UNA and Team Pnoy. Assuming that Poe's election is correct, do we presume that the rest of those in the Magic 12 really deserve to be there, even though: (1) there is a big part of the voters disfranchised and (2) there are irregularities now rearing its ugly head as the elections wind up?
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