The Philippine Online Chronicles

The 2010 Philippine Presidential Elections will prove to be one for the books. Just like the recent US Presidential Elections, the Internet will take center stage as a means by which candidates get their message across to the populace. Election involved government agencies, media organizations, partisan and non-partisan groups are using the web to disseminate information, look for volunteers, and drum up support. The web is now an important tool that various groups are using to educate and share important information to the voting public.

Election related blogs are also mushrooming together with social networking election groups. Before you start your own election related website or blog, you may want to check what and who’s out there. If you are new to this sort of activity on the web, maybe you can join a forum or two first.

Below are some of the election related websites in no particular order. Some are official websites of government agencies and concerned groups while others are blogs of passionate individuals wanting to share their thoughts and insights.

• COMELEC or Commission on Elections website provides everything you need to know about the policies, activities and role of the COMELEC. Visitors to this site are allowed to leave their inquiries, comments, or suggestions.

• NAMFREL or National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections encourages visitors to be part of the elections by becoming a NAMFREL volunteer, contributing to the website’s I-Report (send election related photos, videos and reports on election violations) or joining their online poll.

• The website of PPCRV or Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting has no blogs or forums but is worth mentioning because of its role as a parish-based non-partisan political lay movement that aims to transform the country’s electoral culture. The PPCRV promises to add more details to their site soon. Volunteers are invited to join.

• Political Arena.com, a socio-political networking site provides you with election related news, facts, videos, photos and links. It invites everyone to be heard by joining their forums.

• Youth Vote Philippines 2010 is designed with the Filipino Youth in mind. Although it has no forums (yet), you can still send in your questions or comments. The information on the Presidentiables alone is worth the visit. The site tells you where the aspirants stand on Presidential Issues or PIs (a system created by the United Nations Development Program based on the 8 Millennium Development Goals).

• 2010 Presidentiables, a blog on Wordpress, is made up of news, commentaries and forums on the Presidential elections. Readers are encouraged to speak up.

• The Philippines 2010 Election Bloggers' main goal is to have a means of communicating the needs, issues and concerns of its members regarding the 2010 elections. Access to the election related content is granted only upon registration.

• Newspaper giant The Philippine Daily Inquirer has its INQUIRER.net Blogs where you can register and post your own blog related to the upcoming 2010 elections. You can post your comments as well in their site.

• Under the website of Bloggers Unite, you can find the 2010 Philippine Election New Hope where you can join in as a blogger and submit photos, videos and blogs on the elections.

Read as many sites as you can and participate, if you must. And don’t forget our very own Philippine Online Chronicles' Blog Watch, where you will find features, commentaries, discussions, news, education and awareness campaigns, on anything related with the 2010 Elections among others.

Don’t forget to check the social networking sites like Facebook and Multiply for 2010 elections groups that you can join. There are other election related blogs and forums although some are not updated. Be informed and participate! Visit an election site today and let your voice be heard!

And yes, if you have not done so yet, REGISTER NOW and exercise your right to VOTE!