After getting out of bed, although still sleepy, I checked my site and logged on to my Facebook. The updates of my facebook friends expressing relief they finished voting did not surprise me. It’s election day after all.

As the day progresses and as I was busy with my blogs, I noticed people now complaining about the long queue and the busted Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines. Some even said the machine got in paper jam while they were submitting their ballots and they are worried and uncertain if their votes were counted.

In the news, long queues, heat of the day, PCOS machine glitches, people backing out, and candidates casting their votes were among the headlines. I pretty much anticipated the problems that will be encountered this election especially that COMELEC had only a few days of testing the machines and this is the first time that Philippines will have an automated election.

Yesterday, I have decided to vote in the afternoon although my dad insisted to vote in the morning, I reasoned out that I still have to prepare my sample ballot and he believed me.

He and my mom went to their precinct early, as early as 7 in the morning I guess. And I’m so grateful for my dad after finding my precinct for me. That’s why I did not bother and waste time looking for it.

One more thing, the automation of election did not encourage other voters. It is sad to know that some people won’t take part to make a change for our country. They would just sit and wait for the result.

To be honest, I’m excited about the outcome of this election. I hope that the people who will be hailed leaders of our dear country will be honest and responsible, unite the people, and bring about the changes that our country badly needed.

Last Friday we went to UP to attend the Philippine Youth Congress in Information Technology, which is held every year. I must say that last year’s youth congress was better than this year. The only talk that I like this year’s event was that of Hon. Francis G. Escudero. During his talk, all eyes and ears were focused on him and there are applause and clapping every now and then. A lot of students took pictures of him. He is a good speaker. He talks spontaneously. I agree on what he said about the condition of our country… the politics, our economy, discipline of the people, etc. He even shared with us his prayer unfortunately I wansn’t able to write it down. I might search for it in the Internet any time soon =D. (Sigh) There’s nothing much to write… so just take a peek on the pics…

Gawi Jives for Five

UST Salinggawi Drives for Five Read the full story here.This season’s Cheerdance Competition, the UST’s premier dance group, The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, once again, for the fifth time in a row, dominated the Araneta Coliseum and declared the Champion. Click Here to watch Gawi’s performance. Gawi sets the trend and it is evident on the routine of other schools except UP. This year’s competition was really intense. Some schools have improved a lot. I like UP’s routines but I guess perfect timing and synchronization were not there that’s why FEU got the second place. Here’s the list of the winners from 1995-2006. I got this from Wikipedia.

1995 – UST ~ UP ~ FEU ~ Ateneo ~ Adamson ~ UE ~ DLSU ~ NU
1996 – UST ~ FEU ~ UP ~ Ateneo ~ Adamson ~ UE ~ DLSU ~ NU
1997 – UST ~ FEU ~ UP ~ Ateneo ~ DLSU ~ Adamson ~ UE ~ NU
1998 – FEU[1] ~ UP ~ DLSU ~ Ateneo ~ Adamson ~ UE ~ NU
1999 – UP ~ UST ~ FEU ~ Adamson ~ Ateneo ~ DLSU ~ UE ~ NU
2000 – UP ~ UST ~ Ateneo ~ UE ~ Adamson ~ FEU ~ UE ~ NU
2001 – UP ~ Adamson ~ UST ~ UE ~ Ateneo ~ FEU ~ DLSU ~ NU
2002 – UST ~ UE ~ UP ~ Ateneo ~ FEU ~ Adamson ~ NU ~ DLSU
2003 – UST ~ UP ~ FEU ~ Ateneo ~ Adamson ~ UE ~ DLSU ~ NU
2004 – UST ~ UP ~ FEU ~ Ateneo ~ Adamson ~ DLSU ~ UE ~ NU
2005 – UST ~ UP ~ FEU ~ DLSU ~ Adamson ~ UE ~ Ateneo ~ NU
2006 – UST[2] ~ FEU ~ UP ~ Adamson ~ Ateneo ~ UE ~ NU

Notes:
[1] The University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe did not join the Nestle cheerdance competition but instead joined the Lipton cheerdance competition which they won.
[2] The De La Salle University Pep Squad did not join due to the suspension of their varsity teams.

Number of Championship per University

UST – 8
UP – 3
FEU – 1

Click here to see more pictures of the Cheerdance Competition

UST vs UE

Yesterday I went in Araneta with Christian, Jam, Roy, Cheska, and Weng to watch the game between our team (UST) and UE. It was so much fun! The first and second quarter we were up by twelve or so but when third quarter took place, I became disappointed with the UST players. How can they let those bloody warriors get close to their score and worse outdo them by four. Hay! Things get really excited when fourth quarter took place. Thomasians were yelling ‘Beat UE!’ and in the end of the game we won =D (Buti na lang!). On the first game by the way Ateneo won, so I guess we’ll see you in the finals Ateneo! Go USTe!!!