Rock the vote!

Reminder to first-time voters and those who will be transferring voting places: please don’t wait until Oct. 31, last day of registration.

The Commission on Elections said they will not be extending the deadline because they have to finalize the voters’ list. Remember that the 2010 elections will be the first supposedly nationwide automated elections.

The Smartmatic/TIM computers that Comelec will be using (Precinct Count Optical Scan or PCOS) are precinct-specific so it’s important that the voters list is finalized early.

After you have voted, pray that the PCOS that contains your name does not get misdelivered to a wrong precinct, just like what happened to many bunches of ballots and ballot boxes in the past elections.

The Samahang Magdalo, Taguig chapter, will stage “Rock the Vote” tomorrow Saturday, with a core message of encouraging first-time voters to register. “If we desire genuine changes and reforms from crooked governance, we must begin these steps at making sure we are legitimate voters before the Comelec,” said Lt. (s.g.) James Layug, head of the Samahang Magdalo in the city that organized the concert.

Layug is currently detained in the PNP Custodial Center for making a stand against corruption in the Arroyo government at the Oakwood in July 2003 and at Manila Peninsula in November 2007.

The concert, to be held at the multi-purpose hall in Barangay Central Bicutan (4 to 10 p.m) is for free but those who will attend are encouraged to donate in cash or in kind with the proceeds to be given to Taguig residents who were displaced by floods and are now sheltered in evacuation centers.

It’s the same arrangement of bringing something for the flood victims and enjoy the music of “Bamboo” tonight at the “Bagong Sigla” concert at Liwasang Ullalim (beside Folk Arts Theater) at the Cultural Center Complex starting at 7 p.m.

Simultaneously Bagong Sigla concerts in Dagupan (Imago),Davao (Spongecola), and Iloilo (Cueshe).

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Even as we resume our pre-occupation with politics, let’s not forget that thousands of storm Ondoy’s victims are still living a difficult life in evacuation centers.

Relief work is not yet done. Here are the messages we got from online Central Relief Center:

Council for Health & Development at 35 Examiner, West triangle , QC. badly needs, food, meds and clothes for 1,600 families whose houses were submerged and destroyed at Bagong Barrio, Kislap, Rubi, Rubosna and Pulang Lupa. Contact Dr. Merry Mia and Dr. Julie Caguiat at 9298109.

Megatent in Pasig desperately needs volunteers for the human chain to transport relief goods to Ultra. Please go to 30 Meralco Avenue, Bgy. Ugong, Ortigas Center, Pasig City-Phone:703-8124 / 566-1959. More than 270 children at Ultra and about 70 kids at the DSWD rescue center badly need your help.

Rogue Magazine will be organizing a medical mission for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy next week. They are currently looking for doctors, nurses who would be interested in lending a helping hand. Donations for medicines would also be greatly appreciated. Any interested parties please contact Marta 0920.9121571 or Denise 0917.8202081.

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I got a letter from Lindon Adriano who says he is one of Ondoy’s victims but he could not avail of the SSS calamity loan because his employer, Grand CR Graphics Inc at no.3 Reparo street, Morning Breeze Subdivision, Caloocan City has not remitted their contributions to the SSS collected from them since July 2007.

He said he and his co-employees have the same problem with their PAG-IBIG contributions.

Adriano said they have talked with the owner of Grand CR Graphics and all they got were promises. They complained with SSS Caloocan and the advice was for them to talk with their employer.

What’s Adriano going to do?