The Philippine Online Chronicles

With the amount of airtime and space in the media given to Presidential candidates, one would expect that the public would know all they need in order to make informed decisions on who to vote for in the 2010 elections. But this isn't the case.

The candidates can only say so much in so little time about certain topics; therefore, efforts are needed to increase knowledge about their platforms, their stands on issues, and basically anything that may help voters know what to do come election day.

Thus, Blog Watch, in cooperation with Vibal Foundation and the Philippine Online Chronicles, has started an initiative aiming to wring the truth out of candidates – in real-time, via new media, no less!

The past month and a half, Blog Watch has been able to talk with several aspiring and once-aspiring government officials, including Yasmin Busran Lao, Francis Escudero and AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel.

Blog Watch is also aiming high, featuring Presidentiables Senator Manny Villar, National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Chair Gilbert Teodoro, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Councilor JC de los Reyes, and Nicanor Perlas. Talks with other candidates are expected to follow.

The best thing about this initiative? Aside from using new media to get the candidates' messages across, the discourse is in real time and feedback is immediate.

Recordings of previous talks with candidates can be found here and here. Articles on the candidates can be found here. Feel free to post comments, and keep the talk going!

Blog Watch is also on Twitter, Facebook and Plurk.

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