Poll machines unable to detect flying voters

By BONG M. REBLANDO, MICK BASA
November 5, 2009, 5:28pm
MANILA BULLETIN

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Jose Tolentino, the executive director of the Commission on Elections, Thursday said that the Smartmatic automated poll machine is incapable of detecting multiple registration of voters and “flying voters,” a case which led to the recent bombing in Marawi City.

“The automated machine cannot detect flying voters or multiple registrations of voters. The teachers manning the voting may check flying voters through the pictures of list of voters and the voters who will cast their ballots on election day,” he said.

In Davao City, groups concerned with the questionable processing of the automated election system (AES) also urged the Comelec to release the source code that is allegedly fraught with unreliable vote counting structure.

Rona Castillo, a fellow of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG), bared in a press briefing Thursday that the 82,000 sets of poll machines have not yet undergone testing nor have arrived on time for such purpose.

Tolentino of the Comelec explained that the automated machine is not equipped with a gadget or software to detect flying voters, although a bill is pending in Congress to enable a verification of voters through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).

In the Marawi City incident, a resident of Lanao del Norte died while several others, including minors, were injured when an explosion hit a line of people who were queuing to register as voters in the city’s Comelec office.

Police and Army troops led by Brig. Gen. Rey Ardo, 401st brigade commander, later found out that most victims of the blast caused by a hand grenade were not local residents but were from Lanao del Norte who tried to register as flying voters in Marawi City.

The discovery of the dubious scheme to register flying voters after the deadly grenade bombing has led to the relief of the Comelec registrar of Marawi City to ensure the dignity of registration of voters, a move welcomed by Lanao del Sur Gov. Bombit Adiong.

In Taguig City, a dubious discovery of almost 700 centenarians in the city’s voters’ list has also raised concerns about the integrity of the computerized registration of voters.

Tolentino emphasized that the automated machines are basically designed to do computerized counting of ballots in the fastest way to void attempts to cheat in the counting as experienced in previous elections.

Smartmatic personnel, the Information Communications Technology Solutions Association of Region 12 and Central Mindanao Comelec officials led by regional director Mike Abbas held a day-long information drive in Robinson’s Place Gensan on the automated elections to demonstrate the capacity of the electronic machines to count ballots.

Smartmatic personnel demonstrated the machine’s high speed capability of electronic counting of ballots, the machine’s battery which can last for several hours and its capability to operate using car or truck batteries should a power outage occur.

Tolentino and Smartmatic officials also assured the public that the software of the automated machine cannot be hacked as it will reject any alien entry to penetrate the software.

Abbas stressed that Smartmatic holds the technology for automated elections but it is the Comelec which runs the technology, operate, supervise and control the computerized machine.

However, CenPEG in Davao reiterated that Comelec left the AES untested and is fraught with at least 30 vulnerabilities and weak spots ranging from ballot printing, the lack of a source code review, to unreliable infrastructural systems and imminent power and telecommunication transmission failures.

Among the 30 vulnerabilities, Castillo said the source code is the most critical since the counting of the votes would rely on the software to be used by AES.

“How will we know if the program used is correct and whether it is secured or not?” she said.

To put teeth to their advocacy, Castillo said their group has filed a petition of mandamus before the Supreme Court last October 5 to compel the Comelec to release the source codes.

But in a statement published on its website (comelec.gov.ph), Comelec said it recently selected SysTest Labs of Colorado, USA to review and certify the source code of the AES pursuant to provisions of RA 9369 Sec. 9.

“SyTest laid out a multi-faceted approach to detail system integration and the functional artifacts for testing the AES in various load and stress situation. SysTest specified areas of review and validation which include security of public fading devices, error notification, associated recovery aspects, apart from auditing capabilities,” the Comelec said.

Miguel Avila of the Smartmatic-TIM Corporation had earlier assured that their machines are “stand alone” and could not easily be hacked even by technology-savvy people. He added that the 128-bit system is virtually hack-proof and could not be successfully hacked.

Both EBF and CenPEG conducted an AES voters’ education orientation last November 3, which gathered around 20 religious leaders comprised of nuns, bishops and pastors.

“This is a very challenging task for us, poll watchers, because the counting of votes would become invisible to the naked eye,” said Sr. Elsa Compuesta of the Sister’s Association in Mindanao.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/228081/poll-machines-unable-detect-flying-voters

Cat burglars, they are not

By Mick Basa / Mindanao Times

WHEN YOU SEE teenagers around town vaulting from roof to roof, somersaulting on  narrow ledges, or hopping on balconies, please refrain from immediately dialing 911. You might be looking at Parkour enthusiasts instead of cat burglars.

Parkour what?
Parkour traces its roots a former French naval officer named Georges Hérbert who discovered some indigenous tribes in Africa brandishing their flexible bodies sans actual training in gymnastics during World War I. Inspired by what he saw, Hérbert began to teach a new set of techniques in physical education when he went back home, borrowing the styles of those gymnast-like tribes in Africa. His teachings spread throughout France and soldiers and firefighters began to develop obstacle courses that were later dubbed as parcours du combatant and parcours SP.

Parkour Davao
Parkour literally means the art of movement. “For us Parkourists, it is the efficiency of moving from point A to point B,” Parkour Davao (PKD) pathfinder, Chunks Pude said.

“There are two parkour teams in Davao: Parkour Society Davao (PSD) and Parkour Davao (PKD). Sometimes the two teams hold a session together,” said Chunks. “The teams formally gathered last June.

Parkour practitioners are often called traceurs while traceurses for females.

“Parkour really began here two years ago but there was no formal introduction coupled with reproaches from authorities and park rangers,” he said.

“Last May 22, it was only Bern and I who broke out of boredom and found something new,” Chunks said. “From BMX, we felt the urge to try more than we used to – so we tried this new sport.”

“There is always something new with Parkour. Every location is another obstacle for our bodies to take challenge.”

Meet Parkour Davao
Last week, PKD members Lesly Nazareno, Jericho Calzo, Bern Rageth, Anjo Dorado and joined Pude as they displayed their daring (and dangerous) moves from scaling roofs and walls at the Davao Memorial Park. “Memorial parks are actually good places to do our stunts,” Chunks emphasized.

The enthusiasts always begin their day with conditioning activities such as warm-ups, push-ups, along with stretching, jumping and jogging.

Bern, 21, climbs and jumps effortlessly from wall to wall, and his friends are hardly surprised. After all, his moniker “King of the Wall” is not an accident. Anjo, a newcomer, is known for his powerful upper body moves while Jericho owns the best balance.

Lesly, PKD’s traceaurses, is the only female member of the group but this doesn’t stop her from performing stunts people think are only seen in the silver screen.

“I’ve been aware about Parkour long ago. But it is only now I’ve brought my wish to life,” she said. Lesly believes that Parkour has helped her become physically fit even when she’s at the novice level.

“I am proud to say that I am a fan of this art of motion too. The first time I met PKD was during the time I saw them parkouring at People’s Park,” said Jerico, a.k.a. Bato. Since then, he has been hooked to the sport. “This is a best way to do away with vices,” he said.

Not just stunts
Chunks said Parkour is not just an art of motion. He believes that the philosophy behind doing adventurous stunts is about conquering fears. “Everything can be accomplished. Along with physical and mental fitness, we have come to learn to embrace fear by facing it.”

According to Chunks, there are no rules in Parkouring. “Except for gravity, which we even defy by applying the right body moves,” he added.

Davaoeño Parkours go places around the city to look at challenging obstacles to overcome and learning new moves in the process.

“We usually go to Magsaysay Park but skateboarders are all over the place,” Bern said. “If we can’t be found in Magsaysay Park, we might be in City Hall Drive or here at Davao Memorial Park.”

Help, anyone?
While the movement has slowly gained acceptance, authorities and pedestrians still dismiss Parkour enthusiasts as a nuisance and even a danger. It’s the reason why the group is trying to gather support from sports organizers, businesses and philantrophists to organize a Parkour event in the city.

“Sometimes authorities break our routine because they stop us from what they believe is dangerous,” said Chunks. Aside from being suspected of being burglars, of course.

Anjo, the introvert but very talented traceur, finds Parkouring a fulfilling sport. “At first, it was too difficult to vault from point to point. But now parkouring comes out naturally. I did not only develop my stamina, but it also boosted my confidence and courage,” he added.

If you see some teenagers at the park doing stunts, seriously, don’t call the police.

ADDU students urged to register for 2010 elections

By Mick M. Basa / Mindanao Times

STUDENTS of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) are expected to register today in preparation for the 2010 elections.

The “Atenista Ako, Tama Ako” program aims to entice students of the school to register so they will be able to vote in the elections next year.  “We are hoping that the youth would do their part as citizens of this country by bringing their voice in the form of their vote,” said Michelle Ong, ADDU Social Involvement Coordinating Office (SICO) program officer.

Ong said about 40% of the students have yet to register.  She explained that some students find it hard to register even when the office of the Commission on Elections is near. The office is located at Magsaysay Park.
“The students don’t have the luxury of time to register because of their busy schedules,” she added.

SICO also organized the voter’s registration program especially for students who are not residents of the city. “They won’t be forced to go back to their localities during May just to vote,” she explained.

While the registration program is primarily for the Ateneo community, Ong told TIMES that Comelec instructed them to accommodate visitors who wish to register as well. “This is a government service,” said Ong.

The registration starts today for District 1 and tomorrow for Districts 2 and 3.  Ong said ADDU is the first school in the city to collaborate with Comelec for the 2010 voter’s registration.

Hunger forces 2 of 3 kids to quit school

By Mick Basa / Mindanao Times

THE prevalence of hunger in Mindanao has forced two of every three children to quit school, an official of the World Food Program said.

“(The) level of malnutrition is very high. Food security, nutrition and education are very low amid the availability of natural resources here,” said Alghassim Wurie, WFP deputy director.

In some areas in Central and Western Mindanao, armed conflicts have exacerbated the situation, said Wurie, as he blamed poverty on the continued armed conflicts in the island.

“And because of the conflict, a lot of homes, livelihood, schools, clinics are destroyed,” he said.

Based on the data of the Department of Education, in the school year 2006-2007 in the elementary level, 13 of Mindanao provinces were among the 20 provinces whose net enrollment ratio (NET), or the ratio of those enrolled with the total population of a certain age group, was very low.

The case was worse in the secondary level as only three of the 20 provinces with low NER were not from Mindanao, the report added.

Ever Abasolo, Mindanao Economic Development Council economic specialist, said that hunger has become a bane in the pursuit of peace in the island. “You lose all sense of rationality when you’re hungry,” Abasolo said.

One big problem is the seeming indifference on the part of some rich people, Wurie added. “A lot of people got wealthy because they studied poverty and hungry. But they don’t do anything to stop it,” he said.

“The cost of hunger is more morbid than HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acute immunodeficiency syndrome), tuberculosis and malaria,” he said.

Wurie’s organization has already supported internally displaced people (IDPs) in Central Mindanao and other parts of the island beset by armed conflict. “(About) 11,000 tons of food such as rice, oil, beans and dates (for Muslims) are distributed to 600,000 IDPs. We have been giving food since August,” he added.

He said his group has vowed to continue its fight against hunger in Mindanao, particularly on helping IDPs. “(Some) 50,000 families need our help.”

“We decided to maintain food rationing. We distribute 25 kilos of rice, 5 kilos of beans and 5 kilos of oil twice a month every 2 weeks. In that way, we can avoid people sell their received goods,” he added.

Wurie, however, said the organization has received complaints from the military. “AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) blames us on feeding the rebels. If there’s conflict, they blame you. But for us, we don’t check whom we are giving. Any person will be fed regardless of political participation,” he said.

WFP closed in 1996 but has re-established its presence in the country.

Science and Math: Tools to discovery

Published in Mindanao Times (4 July 2009)

FOR MOST people, science is something they do not wish to delve into. But for young Jovani, science is a tool to answer life’s many questions.

Jovani Tomale, 16, was then a senior at the Davao City National High School (DCNHS), when he worked on a research project that would determine the sex of the endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecohaga Jeffery).

His study topped other student research projects here and at the regional leve. He won first place during the Intel Philippine Regional Science Fair (XI) and then, at the national competition held in Olongapo in February this year, he bagged the second place.

“I felt so contented during that time because everyone deserves to win,” Jovani said. But the story didn’t end there.

Jovani, with eight other high school students chosen to represent the Philippines in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Reno, Nevada. It was the largest gathering of pre-college students across the world who brought their inventions in the competition.

There in Reno, the Davaoeno who an award in Physical Science.

The bedrock of his study was a computer program which could interpret an eagle’s size of beak, tarsus and weight and through a mathematical formula, determine whether it is male or female.

“My research was born out of curiosity. During my extraordinary trip to the Philippine Eagle Center, a staff shared to us the problem in determining the eagle’s gender. If they can’t determine the gender, they can’t proceed in breeding the species in captivity,” Jovani said.

Jovani, who is now studying at Ateneo de Davao University, said that the aim of the research was to prevent the wrong pairing of the eagles. “If they aren’t rightly matched, chances are they will harm each other,” he said.

Jovani said that eagles are sexually monomorphic. “The sex organs, male and female, look the same.”

This promising scientist, (though he is taking a degree in Accountancy) confessed that his passion for science could be traced back to grade school. However he admits that his understanding of Science and Mathematics has evolved when he reached high school.

“Before, Science and Math for me are subjects that may be done well through memorization, he said. “Real science is when you get to answer your own questions out of your own experiment.”

He believes these two disciplines unfold curtains of wisdom that guide us in our journey through life. “Napaka cool pala ng math. We are able to solve problems because we are able to formulate answers that most people think are impossible.”

This brought Jovani to come out with a mathematical model that could provide considerable assitance to the foundation that has helped preserve the Philippine Eagle from extinction.

“They’ve realized that mathematics can calculate even the most hairsplitting of all tasks.” Because of Jovani’s contribution to the development of PEF, they have cut their time of waiting for eagles to determine their sex until they turn five years old and saved them from costly laboratory procedures such as DNA testing.

The young scientist enjoys computer games and chatting with friends during his spare time. He turns the boob tube on to watch the Big Bang Theory in which he says Sheldon Cooper is his favorite character.

“It was an overwhelming experience. I got to meet the US Ambassador to the Philippine and the chairman for Intel. While we were in Reno, there were different people from different places.”

Jovani told TIMES that his academic trip opened doors and windows of opportunities. “I had the opportunity to meet other scientists from all over, including Nobel Prize winners. I felt really lucky. To think that we had the chance to share to the world what our study was all about – considereing that we did not spend money to flaunt our research.”

Science is something most people wouldn’t dare delving in anymore. But Jovani Tomale embraced science in his quest for answers. His questions show his advocacy in preserving the environment, the same questions that led him to Reno, Nevada. (Mick Basa)

Embrace your fears, come to Zip City

Zips may also be done in tandem. Photo by Marvince Reyes

By Mick Basa / Mindanao Times (22 June 2009)

THERE’S a better alternative to reach ecstasy, and it’s just located at the heart of the city.

Zip City, which officially kicked off June 20, is another attraction added to the map of Davao City, while the local government — through the City Tourism Office and Mayor Rodrigo Duterte — is engrossed in claiming the title “eco-adventure capital of the Philippines.”

With other existing zip-line spots such as Camp Sabroso and Outland Adventure, Zip City owner Sonny Dizon is confident that Davao Region will soon bag the title.

“Considering that we have Mt. Apo and Davao River tourist spots, Davao can claim the label soon,” said Dizon.

Located along Carlos P. Garcia highway (formerly known as Diversion Road), Zip City is by far the most accessible zip-line and its 310-meter aerial runway is a must-try. Expect more velocity and heart pumping action for only P200 per ride.

“People who are scared of heights can conquer their fear,” Dizon said. Although the zip wire extends not as long as its rival zips, Zip City bests all other sites for its highest elevation of 120 to 200 feet off the ground.

Zip City held its soft opening a month ago but had to adjust its operations until its official opening yesterday.

Come few weeks later and its 30-feet wall climbing structure is ready for some clamber action.

The good news, Dizon said, is that “the British government has lifted the negative travel advisory on Mindanao – hopefully Commonwealth countries such as Singapore will do the same.”

Dizon sees opportunity that, along with Zip City, tourists from foreign countries would eye Davao as their travel destination.

Also, Davao region will likely claim the promising tag as no other places in the country offers much concentration on zip sites on a given area, Dizon said.

For people with extreme fear of heights, there’s nothing to worry about. Dizon has a Zip Line Crew with Red Cross certification under their belts. “Our crew members were trained here in Davao where Red Cross technical training is advanced and internationally recognized,” Dizon said.

“Live while we’re still alive. Some people out here act like they’re dead,” said Dizon, who is also an adventure enthusiast.

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Wish me luck on my new job.

Becoming

THERE ARE PEOPLE who could give up their ideals in exchange of jobs. I tried giving up mine – but it didn’t work. Five days ago, my supervisors witnessed my epiphany as I pronounced my vehement desire to resign.

In a matter of days, everything will be written on a different page. I have a different story to tell. To some extent, though, I committed economic suicide and now I’ll be home clinging to parental budget. But on the bright side, I have set myself free. Let me forget the days I wasted my time walking on unforeseeable roads. Let me go back to the start because I am free to do it now.

I’m often criticized for my idealism. According to some people whom I have talked to, my ideals wouldn’t work. They say I won’t succeed in pursuing journalism and law. In my opinion, it really wouldn’t work if I sympathize their acrid interjections. But their comments are always shrugged by my strong conviction that someday those dreams of mine will happen.

Let’s see. Mom called last night that I should attend Law School by November. I am no longer receiving objections from my Father to pursue Journalism on the account of substandard compensation. Grandmother is praying so hard. I have my family’s support.

A lot of my friends I know are going to Law School so this dream of mine might sound banal while you’re reading it. But, wholeheartedly, this has been a long-standing yearning.

According to earlier laws of Aviation, there was no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are way too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bees, of course, flew anyway. Because bees didn’t care what humans thought was impossible.

Currently listening to: Merrimack River & Indian Summer (M. Moore), Moment of Truth (FM Static), Trouble (Coldplay) and Yg Terbaik Bagimu (Ada Band).
Reading: We The Living (Ayn Rand)

Marina

A fish can’t survive in a stream engulfed with different forms of pathogens, chemicals and other contaminants. Only when the river is benign and sound as home when natural creatures dwell without the angst of having to fight its survival – breathing against other detrimental strangers. Pasig River, for one, is a mammoth cemetery of unfortunate fishes and other poor water creatures. It verifies the perils of being a constant receiver of virulent thoughts, feelings, and actions inflicted by the world or people around us.

Life is a river with a series and pieces of damaging life forms. As open as it is, life may become a recipient to people junking rubbish into your life, bit by bit decaying your soul with poison. We struggle everyday, dealing with unnecessary people and thoughts in your life. We waste our time proving and defending our worth instead of shrugging the negativity and try to make life out of our own. Existence is misspent for every effort dealing with people we actually don’t need to get along. Worse, condemnations gobble all the life we have – until finally we live in diffidence. A cemetery of a dead identity.

When your life streams death, smut and malevolence – you’ll eventually slather yourself and the people around you.

Oh, crap, where am I? Well I got too affected with the negativities. Let me shrug them off.

Bring home the bacon

BY FAR I HAVEN’T HEARD much people talk about career until I met Kuya Raul, a workmate, who once spoke in one of our training that he seeks for a career in the company where we are working right now. That brought me to seek answers for his underlying message.

You see, a fresh graduate like me wouldn’t really get a 43-year old guy who seriously wants to seek career in his new work. True enough, questions such as “are you working?” became a random ingredient in every post-graduation conversation. But I have never heard someone say he needs a career. Not even on Facebook status messages.

That brought me to refresh my vocabulary. My word-power buddy, Merriam-Webster, says that career is an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress. For all you know, the roots of this term come from a hideous Latin word carrera. Prehistoric men must have had unimpressive attitude towards work before. Many workers before didn’t have much choice. They would often inherit or take up a single lifelong position without even asking why he had to do that work and never had a better concept of career. Rodents in rat races have no idea what they’re doing inside a racetrack except that they are all after the cheese. We, on the other hand, work not after the cheese alone. We don’t want to work hard for money alone. Here’s where career comes into the picture. We want an occupation that opens the door of opportunities for progress.

In choosing a career that bespeaks well of your soul, you might consider the following.

Find a job that will meet your principles
Don’t just work because that job pays well. You might consider jobs that will feed your ideals. An ideal job depends on what set of values you have. If you’re the type of person that values individuality and privacy, you don’t like ending up with a job that will turn you into a public figure. Some jobs really pay a lot but will require you to give up creativity, recognition, and taking risks. It also pays a lot to know the nature of a job besides from knowing how much it would pay.

Assess yourself
Get to know more of your self. Are you the type who literally freezes when asked by an interview to describe yourself? You should know how to tell the world who you are. In that way, you will know what you want. There are free personality quizzes on the web (example: 9types.com). Take advantage of it.

See yourself in the future
In the next 20 years, how do you see yourself with the kind of career you chose? Will you still be contented and happy with your career? Long-range perspectives are important. Start imagining yourself in the future. People succeed because they know their goals and they have better pictures of themselves years from now.

Money matters
This is the cheese in every carrera but yes, money matters. At the top of the banner, you have to pay a plethora of debts and you have needs that only money can pay. Friends, you should consider financial security. Next time an intervewer asks you of your expected salary, give a justifiable price tag. At the end of the day, you have to bring home the bacon.

You are what you work. If you trade your life and time for nothing in exchange of money – it’s a rotten deal.