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Comelec resumes canvassing of party-list votes |
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Written by Emily Vital
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Wednesday, 22 May 2013 08:15 |
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The Commission on Elections has resumed the canvassing of party-list votes last Monday, May 20, after it was suspended last week to focus on the senatorial race. Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes also ordered to suspend the canvassing because of several issues raised against the disqualified party-list groups.
Buhay Hayaang Yumabong or Buhay party-list is leading in the canvassing of party-list votes with 1,056,681 votes according to an Inquirer report as of May 21, Tuesday. Buhay was followed by the Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action Cooperation and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms (A Teacher) with 831,250 votes, and Bayan Muna with 784,040 votes.
Other party-list groups included in the top 10 were: 1-Care, 731,226; Akbayan, 680,159; AKB, 619,427; Gabriela, 597,959; OFW Family, 593,485; Abono, 584,088; and Senior Citizens, 552,709.
The party-list group that will garner two percent of total votes cast will get one seat or a maximum three seats in the House of Representatives. The party-list system is a proportional mode of representation for the marginalized and underrepresented. There are total of 111 party-lists vying for the 58 seats in the House of Representatives.
In another report Brillantes asked the 12 disqualified party-list groups to submit an appeal of their cases before the Supreme Court. He said that if the groups have filed petitions, their votes will be tallied separately. But if the party-list groups will be disqualified, their votes will also be removed.
“If they don’t plan to go up to the SC then we can remove them already,” Brillantes said in an article. However, votes for the disqualified groups will be counted only if the Supreme Court has a released their resolutions to the said party-lists appeal, if there were any.
But according to Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares, it would take at least two years for the SC to decide on an appeal. In a report, Colmenares relate that it took two years before the SC resolved his appeal in 2007 before he was able to sit as Bayan Muna’s third representative. Colmenares was able to serve one of the three years term in Congress.
“Our concern here is, why would the groups with the votes be made to suffer?” Colmenares was quoted saying in the report. He added that the Comelec should determine the “real threshold” for the party-list groups’ votes. The said “real threshold” would determine how many seats each one of the winning groups should get.
The Comelec targets to finish the canvassing and likely to be able to proclaim the winning party-list within 10 days. However, it was again suspended on Monday after Comelec en banc sitting as National Board of Canvassers canvassed 110 certificates of canvass equivalent to 39,994,751. Only five of the 110 COCs were from Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV). |
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Alaska Aces conquers Barangay Ginebra in Finals Game One |
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Written by Tanya Jamon-Navarro
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Thursday, 16 May 2013 12:42 |
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The heat of the wild fans of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel was steamed off by the Alaska Aces when they dominated game one of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals last Wednesday night, May 15 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. The Aces lead a strong 17 points from the Gin Kings with a score of 87-70.
From the moment the game started, the Aces put on an impressive defense play which prevented the Gin Kings from gaining momentum and shooting baskets. Alaska scored the first 14 points leaving Gin Kings fans stunned. Ginebra was able to score a shameful 6 points, an all time low and one of the lowest scores in an opening quarter in a PBA finals game, while with the help of Alaska blazed away with 28 points in the first quarter.
“We need to play to our identity. They’re run-and-gun and they get energy from the crowd. We gave them six points in the 1st quarter, that’s our identity, defense,” said head coach Luigi Trillo who is aiming to win the PBA finals for the first time.
Veteran Mark Caguioa was sent to play in the second quarter to score some offense and boost the Gin King’s team spirit. However, he didn’t contribute much as he picked up three personal fouls immediately. Meanwhile the Aces continued to knock some shots with Jazul scoring and leading the team to 28-13 with five minutes to play. By the end of the second quarter, the Aces still dominated the game with 46-24.
Knowing Ginebra’s ‘never say die’ attitude, Alaska Aces didn’t waste any time and continued their spectacular offense. They lead up to 30 points after the halftime while Ginebra head coach Alfrancis Chua was mixing his players to salvage the game. In the end of the third quarter, Alaska was still milking Gin Kings with a score of 67-48.
Ginebra is known to make miracles, but this time despite Tenorio trying to close the gap for the Gin Kings with a 68-79 score by the 2:51 mark of the fourth quarter, Dozier and Thoss sealed the deal with Alaska Aces mauling Gin Kings with a 17 lead win.
Even as Alaska Aces’ Robert Dozier was not scoring as much in game one (14 points), he is clearly the Import leading the conference. He became a defensive asset hauling down 22 rebounds, blocked three shots and 2 steals. Gin King’s Vernon Macklin, on the other end, was stopped and unable to pull his team to victory because of Alaska’s impeccable defense and only settled for 16 points.
Game two will be held on Friday, May 17, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
ALASKA (87) - Jazul 16, Dozier 14, Thoss 12, Abueva 10, Casio 10, Baguio 10, Espinas 9, Dela Cruz 4, Hontiveros 2, Belasco 0.
GINEBRA (70) - Macklin 16, Tenorio 14, Raymundo 9, Helterbrand 7, Espiritu 6, Labagala 4, Urbiztondo 4, Maierhofer 4, Mamaril 2, Caguioa 2, Ellis 1, Baracael 1, Wilson 0, Hatfield 0.
Quarterscores: 28-6, 46-24, 67-48, 87-70
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Pinoys in Taiwan advised to take precautions amid rising tension |
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Written by Maui A. Hermitanio
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Saturday, 18 May 2013 15:30 |
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The Philippine government has advised nearly 87,000 Filipinos in Taiwan to take further precaution as tensions between Philippines and Taiwan continue to escalate over the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman in a shooting incident involving the Philippine Coast Guard.
Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairman Amado Perez advised Filipino migrant workers in Taiwan to keep a low-profile, stay at home and avoid the streets.
"At this time, Taiwanese people are emotional and tension is high. We advised Filipinos there not to leave home as much as possible. Eat your meals at home, and just commute directly between home and work for now,'' Perez said in a report.
At least two Filipinos were reportedly attacked this week. One was hit in the arm with a baseball bat and another was beaten with metal sticks, according to a BBC report. There were also reports of discrimination, harassment and maltreatment against Filipinos in Taiwan.
Last May 9, the coast guard fired upon a Taiwanese fishing vessel off Balintang Channel resulting to the death of 65-year old fisherman Hung Shih-Cheng. Coast guard personnel claimed they acted in self-defense as they believed that the foreign fishing vessel tried to ram their boat.
The Philippine government has apologized but was rejected by Taiwan.
Taiwan authorities arrived in the country last Thursday and conducted their own probe on the incident. In a press conference today, the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Manila said based on the investigation carried out by Taiwan’s Institute of Forensic Medicine, Hung Shih-Cheng died from a gunshot wound from a high-powered rifle.
Taiwanese investigators said at least 45 bullets were fired at the fishing vessel, in violation of warning and security protocols. Taiwan officials also asserted that the fishing vessel was within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of China and not within Philippine waters when the PCG opened fire at the Taiwanese fishermen.
Malacanang refused to comment on Taiwan’s investigation of the shooting and said the Department of Justice (DOJ) have already tasked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to carry out a thorough, exhaustive, impartial and expeditious probe on the incident.
Taiwan demands a personal apology from President Benigno Aquino III and compensation for the family of the slain fisherman.
The United States government said it is concerned with the increase in tensions. "We urged the Philippines and Taiwan to take all appropriate measures to clarify disagreements and prevent recurrence of such tragic events," State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said in a Reuters report.
"We continue to urge both parties to ensure maritime safety and refrain from actions that could further escalate tensions in the region and undermine prospects for a rapid and effective resolution of differences," he added.
OFWs severely affected
The rising tension is affecting thousands of OFWs in Taiwan, majority are employed as factory workers.
After the incident, Taiwan imposed punitive economic measures including the suspension of visa processing for Filipino workers, cutting of high-level trade and economic exchanges, suspension of fishery cooperation and scientific research cooperation projects and tourist travel to the Philippines.
Taiwan issued a freeze order on the hiring Filipino workers effective May 15. The MECO said it also received reports that several Taiwanese factories had issued press statements about cutting Filipino jobs due to the killing of Hung Shih-Cheng.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) is now looking for alternative markets for Filipinos who could be displaced due to sanctions imposed by Taiwan.
DoLE has has identified South Korea, the Middle East, and Malaysia as possible places where Filipinos can apply for work.
An estimate of 85,185 OFWs are in Taiwan, 72 percent are working in the manufacturing sector; 26 percent in personal and social services and 2 percent in the fishing sector.
Contact numbers of MECO
MECO - Taipei:
Tel. No. (886) 2-2508-1719
Fax No. (886) 2-2508-4045
MECO - Kaohsiung Extension Office
Tel. No. (886) 7-3985935 / (886) 7-3985936
Fax No. (886) 7-3985929
MECO - Taichung Extension Office
Tel. No. (886) 4-2302-9080 to 81
Fax No. (886) 4-2302-9082 |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 19 May 2013 21:36 |
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V-Smart offers offline solution to online-based learning system |
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Written by Vibal Publishing
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Wednesday, 15 May 2013 15:49 |
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For the country’s leading academic publisher and now leading innovator in digital education, the “e” in e-learning stands for more than just “electronic.” It can also translate to “engaging” and highly-interactive activities and educational materials that motivate students to learn beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. It also means access to a knowledge database that is available both online and offline, so that daily classroom sessions are not dependent on the Wi-Fi signal and the strength of the school’s routers and access points. This is especially favorable for a country like the Philippines where bandwidth connectivity is a real, prevailing dilemma, and will be so for the foreseeable future.
This is what inspired Vibal Publishing House, Inc. through its technology arm, Vibe Technologies, to develop an alternative to existing learning management systems (LMS) that operate entirely through the internet. V-Smart is an integrated e-textbook reader, classroom learning management and e-learning system designed specifically for the 21st century digital classroom, and can run with or without internet connection.
As an offline system, V-Smart is powered by a School Server software that can function on a school’s existing network infrastructure. This powerful server can do what other LMS in the market can – and more – as a deployment mechanism of various educational content for use inside the classroom. It can store thousands of files including documents, textbooks, supplementary educational materials, and multimedia assets like video, audio, and music – which can then be available for teachers to access and send to their students instantly. At the same time, the server can host assessment databases which make it possible to deploy unique, randomized exams and other learning analytics tools.
For tablet users, the server can push mobile apps along with updates to each student’s device, i.e., web-based apps for desktop/laptop users. These applications are depicted as complementary tools to existing pedagogical techniques that help enrich students' learning experience. On the side of the school administration, the server can connect with the student information system to access student lists seamlessly and submit grade books just as easily.
The V-Smart e-learning solution was actually developed in consultation with teachers and education experts from the Philippine Normal University (PNU) – the country’s National Center for Teacher Education. Following the “Teaching Powered by Technology: Digital Education Conference” held at the university last year, a wish list of features from seminar participants all over the Philippines were compiled for inclusion in a prototype LMS.
Among these were the integration of e-textbooks and teacher’s manuals inside the LMS; supplementary lessons, exams, and learning objects that specifically address the Philippine curriculum, a customizable interface that can display the school’s logo and color theme, plus digression from the typical e-learning systems that merely generated ordinary content and assessment databases. Instead, the teachers wanted something that will make e-learning more fun, social, and collaborative.
V-Smart goes full circle this year with a pilot launch set on May 20 at the Center for Digital Education (3rd Floor, Pedro T. Orata Hall within PNU campus) where the school will host a Summer ICT Training Program for teachers from all over the Philippines. The five-day event will include relevant sessions on information technology and emerging trends in digital education, with the alpha version of V-Smart as their learning companion throughout the program.
As part of the course, the participants will be trained on V-Smart’s capacity to address the needs of teachers when it comes to classroom management, implementation of curricular guidelines, and activity frameworks. The facility will allow educators to foster an engaging learning experience for their students by providing room for personalized exercises that highlight the importance of differentiated instruction, moderated discussion of the day’s lessons through e-groups, and an overview of students’ performance via updated grade books. Similarly, the V-Smart Teacher Dashboard will provide teachers with access to teaching exemplars that espouse the use of e-learning materials as supplement to specific lessons.
This growing synergy between the traditional and the new opens up a wellspring of opportunities for innovation, variety, professional development, and a sound learning environment that is attuned to the needs of teachers and learners and the demands of the times. Indeed, teaching and learning today is no longer confined within the proverbial four walls of the classroom. With V-Smart, education transcends borders, providing greater leverage for today’s modern breed of teachers and learners.
For inquiries, please contact your Vibal Sales Representative or Vibal offices where a team of solutions architects, curriculum planners, developers, and designers is waiting for you: Manila (988-5800 to 99 loc 359), Cebu (032-2330173/ 2330176), and Davao (082-2975226/ 2978550); e-mail
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, or visit www.vibalgroup.com. ### |
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