Buhay, 13 other party list winners in 2013 midterm elections declared

Party-list Buhay (Buhay Hayaang Yumabong) topped the list of party-list winners of the PH midterm elections, as declared by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Friday, May 24.

Buhay, in its website, is an organization that "acknowledges the sanctity and value of human life as the most fundamental element of society and recognize the rights of individuals disadvantaged by age, sickness and disability. We implore the aid of the Divine Providence in order to advance their welfare, to the end that a just and humane society, defined by the truth, freedom, fairness, political stability, and due regard for human rights and dignity."

Image Courtesy: Buhay Party-list

13 other party-list were announced as winners of seats  in Congress. A party-list group can earn at least 1 congressional seat by getting 2 percent of the votes cast, which is equivalent to around 200,000 votes.

Shown below is the partial list of winner party-lists in the recently held 2013 PH national elections.

1. Buhay (BUHAY HAYAAN YUMABONG)

2. A Teacher (ADVOCACY FOR TEACHER EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ACTION COOPERATION AND HARMONY TOWARDS EDUCATIONAL REFORMS)

3. Bayan Muna

4. 1-Care (1ST CONSUMERS ALLIANCE FOR RURAL ENERGY, INC.)

5. Akbayan (AKBAYAN CITIZENS’ ACTION PARTY)

6. AKB (AKO BICOL POLITICAL PARTY)

7. Abono (ABONO PARTY-LIST)

8. OFW Family (OFW FAMILY CLUB, INC.)

9. Gabriela (GABRIELA WOMEN’S PARTY)

10. COOP-NATCCO (COOPERATIVE NATCCO NETWORK PARTY)

11. AGAP (AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ALLIANCE OF THE PHILIPPINES)

12. Cibac (CITIZENS’ BATTLE AGAINST CORRUPTION)

13. Magdalo (MAGDALO PARA SA PILIPINO)

14. An Waray

Watch Philippines Midterm, Senatorial, Local Elections Live Coverage

Watch this year's national midterm elections live as the people of the Republic of the Philippines exercise their right to vote. The live video footage of the senatorial and local elections in the PH is brought to you by GMA News. 

Dubbed as the Eleksyon 2013: The GMA News & Public Affairs Special Coverage, it will be the News Team's wide coverage for election-related issues and updates.

Spotlight Philippines Special: Top 12 Picks for Senators

The election is fast approaching, and bloggers have started expressing their opinions regarding the upcoming democratic event and their top senatorial choices. If the 2013 national election was held today, the 12 candidates whom I would vote for and who I think will win come May 13 senatorial midterm election will be the following:

1. Edward Hagedorn (Independent)

2. Juan Edgardo Angara (LDP)

3. Richard Gordon (UNA)

4. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel (Akbayan)

5. Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. (Liberal)

6. Francis Escudero (Independent) 

7. Alan Peter Cayetano (Nacionalista)

8. Teodoro Casiño (Makabayan) 

9. Francis Escudero (Independent)

10. Loren Legarda (NPC) 

11. Grace Poe-Llamanzares (Independent)

12. Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. (Liberal) 

We have so much senatorial candidates today; it just goes to show how diverse representation of PH democracy is. Too many perspectives, too many visions for the country. I still think there are those who are up to contest and possibly enter the Magic 12 Senators List since the fight will be really close on this one:

13. Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas)

14. Antonio Trillanes IV (Nacionalista)

15. Bam Aquino (Liberal)

16. Jamby Madrigal (Liberal) 

17. Aquilino Pimentel III (PDP-Laban)

18. Antonio Trillanes IV (Nacionalista)

I really think UNA's reputation has been besmirched knowing that its political Lions (or Kings) have been clouted with allegations of a lot of corruption controversies in the past. How on Earth could one former President, who was deposed by the Filipino people in a popular revolution for so many scandals, still be able to run for office in the capital of the Philippines? Hence, even I had to resort to choosing a few "less corruptible" candidates who would really get into the top 12. Well, this is just a personal view. Voice out your top 12 choices too! Comment them down below.

Is May 13 (election day) a holiday?

Many of you might be wondering if May 13, Election Day in the Philippines, is a holiday this year. The answer is yes; in fact, it's a non-working holiday throughout the country as declared by President Aquino by virtue of Proclamation No. 571 s. 2013. 

This is in order for the people to be given the chance to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming national and local elections.

The Proclamation states that, “the Constitution designates national and local polls to be held on the second Monday of May." 

Lacierda announced, "the President wishes to enable the Filipino people to exercise their right to suffrage. We enjoin all eligible to use this non-working holiday to participate in the electoral process that forms the bedrock of our democracy.”

ELEKSYON 2013: Pinoy artists take election advocacy online

OPM artists, as well as the media, have began using their influence to campaign for an informed election and to call for change in the mindset of some by choosing to vote wisely.

Here are some of the influential videos currently circulating the web and gathering positive remarks.

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel gmanews

Video Courtesy: Youtube channel KAMIKAZEEonTV

ELEKSYON 2013: Of campaign styles and approaches

In a few months time, new leaders will be elected in highly contested seats from the municipal and city council members to the Senate and House of Representatives positions. New movers of people, new headers of change, new voices of the majority - they will be, at a defined period of time, here. And you, the public, will be asked of your support.

Amid all the campaigning, what stays in mind in some of us are not the promises (probably because "we're tired of all that..."), but the jingles (music), the campaign paraphernalia, and overall, the campaign styles and strategies that make every campaign period memorable.

Do you still remember one candidate's jingle of "Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura?" Do you still find it funny nostalgic whenever you view videos of past senatorial candidates in their united stands and startlingly awesome mnemonics? Well, I do.

Video Courtesy: Youtube user chitetskoy, GMA 7

So starting today, I will be listing down some of the campaign movements I saw whenever I ride from place to place. May I also ask my fellow readers to share your thoughts and the campaign strategies, movements and styles that you've seen our candidates have planned well ahead of time (I hope so).

1. the EPAL (trapo) style  - Well, of course, there hasn't been any positive development yet with all the negative exposure that has been cast on these EPAL politicians who have already started subtle (though very obvious) campaigns a long, long time ago through their "Welcome to __________! Mabuhay!" tarpaulins with their names having fonts bigger than their "inspirational" message and photos largely eating up the space which should have been allotted for more substance.

2. the MMK (drama anthology) style - Some big, wise men of ours began branding themselves to the people by telling their true-to-life stories. There's nothing wrong that I see in it (as long as the story has not been exaggerated nor been faked).

3. the PAGTITIPON style - Usually done at the start of the campaign period, this campaign style has caused so much traffic especially along normally congested highways and passes. Irked and angered by such delay, public vehicle passengers try to calm themselves and sometimes rethink if they should vote for them or not.

4. the FIESTA style - I saw this while I was cruising the polluted lanes of Taft. One camp hired a rondalla band (complete with a majorette) to attract passersby and let them see that someone's sincerely running for a seat with all the sweet music it employs in the air defied by the beeping of jeepneys and buses. Well played.

5. the PA-ISSUE style - Bright and witty running mates do this to attack others while raising up their popularity status by saying that some threats of possible defamation have been discovered and that when asked of any evidences pointing to it, keeps mum . True or not, the performances of both the threatened and the threat-maker (noisy one) make this style very effective.

6. the CELEBRITY DUO style - One thing I learned about ensuring a win in politics, may it be for that reason or for not what you think it is, is to make sure you win the public's heart by falling in love with a cute, like-able personality. Hence, high-profile marriages as the election is approaching are a possibility.

7. the ROAM AROUND CONVOY style - Not the candidates themselves who travel long distances, but hired driver-supporters in various vehicle types with signages of a NUMBER and the party-lists they represent, are what describe this style which provides more time and space to influence the public and make them aware of who they are fighting for and representing.

8. the FLYING BALLOONS style - I have yet to see this one. Balloon-aided tarpaulins asking candidate support should be mainstream.

Do you know of any other campaign strategy? Comment it down below and see it posted here.

ELEKSYON 2013: Are you a registered voter? Verify it here.

Are you a registered voter in the forthcoming 2013 PH general election? Not sure if you are? Find out if you are in the voters list by visiting the Precinct Finder Form.

Upon clicking the link, you will be led to a page showing the image below:

All you need to do is key in your name and birthday details. Then, click on the Search button; a dialogue box will pop out asking you to continue. You will then be directed to another page.

What you see above are the details of your registry as a voter. Problems may arise if you have not printed your voters ID yet, so it's best that you check out the site to see if you could vote in order to avoid any hassle/inconvenience on the day of the Philippine midterm elections, dubbed as Halalan 2013.