CHRONI-Cools

Boboto na Ako

2007-10-27T15:21:00.000+08:00

Finally! I can cast my precious ballot on October 29. I am a registered voter since May 2007, I am here in Tarlac, and I know who to vote for.

This may not be as grand as the Midterm Elections last May (when I was Unable to Vote). But still, I get to be a citizen of the Republic. As Prof. Solita "Winnie" Monsod said, the baranggay is where it all starts. When you have good baranggay officials, they make sure the city/municipal leaders don't mess with their powers. Then the good governance cycle goes all the way up.

Out of my sheer excitement, I went to the Comelec office at Tarlac City Hall to get my Voter's ID (though this is not necessarily needed in the voting precincts). To my surprise, the Comelec employee told me that the most recent Voters IDs delivered to them were the IDs of those who registered in 2003! Is this an isolated case here in Tarlac (where the Comelec office has only one desktop computer for the voters' registration). Is this "Only in Tarlac?" Plese let me know. Or else, I'll be sad for my hometown.

Anyway, expect me to proudly to raise my "dirty finger" up in the air with pride for my friends and relatives to see. As Prof. Danny Arao puts it, that is "one dirty finger you should proudly display at least once every three years." Well, that will be possible if and only if indelible inks are placed on one's fingertip during Baranggay Elections. Are there? With or without indelible ink, my road will lead to the my voting precinct!

God Timing, Good Timing

2007-09-27T23:15:00.000+08:00

Thursday's the practice day for the CMC Wildcats (there are also practice on Mondays, if you want to duke it out with the championship caliber Wildcats Womens Team). Supposedly, this Thurs. will be one of a kind. There could have been a "Trish factor."

My girlfriend finds it awkward to rub elbows with the pack of cats. But because of her college publication project, she has to mingle with the team for some interviews. It should have been really obvious: I really like to see her by the courtside (watching me, of course) as I dribble, pass, and shoot the ball and burn the hoops. Never mind the sweat all over my body. Never mind if walang poise. That could have been the Trish factor at work.

However, the practice was cancelled. Aw. But it was a blessing in disguise. A real blessing. Time is more than gold during these crucial times. It's even more than a diamond. Thesis proposal (one night to finish). Feature article. Looming final exams. Essays. Org. Campus organ. All in a few days worth of work. Thank God! Ah, precious time for me.

Wait! Why the heck am I blogging during this crucial time? Back to business!

'Em Back on Track

2007-09-23T16:52:00.000+08:00

My apologies. Your favorite blogger turned lazy for some time. And thanks to my blogger friends DEMANDING me to update my blog. Hehe.. Thanks also to those who have visited my outdated blog. Now, back to business. What's up with me, you say? Aside from the heavy burden of 21 units of academic load that has been hounding me for the rest of the semester, here come the Final Exams and Final Papers. Anyway, most noteworthy of the recent events was the grad pictorials. Grad pic This is one of my highly-awaited events for the school year. I thought the Grad Pictorials are held some time between January to March (when the seniors already have the idea of whether they will graduate or not). Aw, the pictorial was last week.

During the summer vacation, I often joked that I will visit my trusty pals Dr. Vicky Belo, Dr. Manny and Pie Calayan for a botox, a facial (same with what James Yap had.. hehe), a spa, a whole body massage, a hair rebond, and what have you. All to make me shine in the pictorials. Anyway, there's the trusty Adobe Photoshop to correct some photo glitches. Hehe.

No wonder graduates look good on the yearbooks. There are make-up artists all ready to make you look like a TV personality for a few minutes (before the make-up gets washed out with sweat). Tha't s the first time my face got all layered with foundations and what have you. And the photographer cum coach tells us how to pose and let out that big smile.

By the way, my creative shot is "Jerome the Rocker." I brought an electric guitar and some props. That's to be consistent with what my Wildcats teammates call me. I hope the Rockista comes out in that picture, not a boyband member (like Cueshe). Yuck! I'll burn that shot if I look like a pa-cute band member. On the other hand, I'll post it here.. IF it comes out good!

UPCAT so HOT

2007-08-06T14:40:00.000+08:00

Thousands of students, with their own set of supporters (that is, their parents, brothers and sisters, and friends) packed the UP grounds. As expected, heavy traffic was a scene all over the place.

And to think, this year’s UP hopefuls may be lesser than last year’s because of the recently imposed system-wide tuition and other fee increases, which discourages students of low-income earning families from trying their brains and luck in the UPCAT (UP College Achievement Test).

I often joked with my friends that I will take UPCAT to change my student number from ‘04 to ‘08. Anyway, if given the chance to take it again, I would have performed well on my reading comprehension and language, but badly on math and satisfactorily in science. Math and science are no longer my forte. My math know-hows have already been thrown in my brain’s recycle bin.

But what am I doing around the campus? I accompanied Trish (for us to reconciliate after yesterday’s bitter moment) and her sister Pia (who took the exam) and I borrowed a book at the library. Believe me, the librarians were hardworking enough to open the library even during UPCAT. Well, the examiners would want to do some cramming there. Hehe.

‘Twas my first time to experience the UPCAT atmosphere in Diliman (I took my exam in Tarlac). And all I can say is it’s hot! Scorching hot, literally.

Wildcats On-Air

2007-07-22T19:14:00.000+08:00

The airwaves had evaded me for the past two semesters, until last Wednesday (July 18).

Finally, I got to air my (not so beautiful) voice on the air when the MassComm Wildcats visited UP's AM radio station, DZUP 1602. Well, I think the DZUP people just didn't know what to do of the free 3:30-4:00 time slot. Instead of a half-hour dead air, they invited us to talk anything about basketball (from the invitations for aspiring players to the Wildcats jackets we wear even amidst the scorching heat of the sun).

Of course, I took the opportunity to greet my girlfriend on the air. Apparently, it was her birthday last July 18. Oh, good news (maybe bad news for the people's ears)! Since we took good care of the 30-minute airtime, we got the spot for our weekly radio program (ehem, ehem, mike test).

*By the way, I took my Econ100.1 (Intro to Macro-econ) exam today. The exam proctors were a bit strict. One of them, however, was a madman. He said, "I'm being paranoid. Your answer sheet should be on your desk." The guy at the back of my girlfriend then whispered, "Eh baliw ka pala eh." hehe...

Go Wildcatz!

2007-07-08T17:37:00.000+08:00

I'm a two-time player. No, not in the context of being a playboy. I'm now a two-time player of the Wildcatz basketball team of the College of Mass Communication.

By the way, the Wildcatz has been established as the College basketball team long before the Wildcats in the High School Musical...hehe...

Just when we were happily distributing the jerseys and the jackets, one of my team mate said, "Kulang na lang manalo." Well, that's one heck of a challenge (especially if we are grouped with the toughies from the College of Engineering and College of Human Kinetics).

On the positive note, we still have months to practice. We will.

*By the way, thanks for the bloggers who have dropped by my blog for the past month-long hiatus of yours truly. i really appreciate it. Rest assured, the Chroni-cools is back!*

Dalaga na si Jokaning

2007-06-07T11:24:00.000+08:00

Ang bilis ng panahon. Panahon na naman ng pasukan. At ngayon ko lang napansin na ang pagbabalik eskwela pala ay isang indikasyon kung gaano kabilis ang panahon.

Kung noong isang taon, isang backpack na lumolobo dahil sa siksikang mga libro at kuwaderno ang bitbit, ngayon ay naka-shoulder bag na si Johanna (ang kapatid ko na ngayon ay nasa ikalawang taon sa high school). Mas kakaunti na ang mga libro at kuwadernong dadalhin niya ngayon, at hindi magtatagal, isa na rin siya sa mga hihiling ng locker sa administrasyon ng kanyang paaralan.

Ang tangkad na ni Johanna, mas matangkad na kaysa kay nanay, at kaunting taon na lang, malamang sa malamang maging mas matangkad pa siya sa akin.
Ang bilis nga naman ng panahon. Dalaga na si Jokaning.

Rest and Recreation

2007-05-29T18:21:00.000+08:00

I’m on vacation mode. Finally.

My vacation officially began May 25, just a few days before the start of school year 07-08 (hopefully, my last school year at the University). After getting my requirements from CMFR, I took a Tarlac-bound bus.
These are what I’ve been up to in the past few days:

― The Film Buff. What can I do in a far-flung barrio away from the luxuries of a superior gaming machine and an internet connection? Good thing I brought a couple of DVDs. I am now averaging 2-4 movies a day while fattening my belly in a lazy man’s couch.

― Killing suckers. I’m no friend to mosquitoes. With constant rain showers in the afternoons, mosquitoes are again thriving. Not in my place, suckers. I am having fun with our anti-insect tennis racket used to toast blood suckers. I’m killing blood suckers with style! I toast them through a back hand, front hand, or smash. Tennis, anyone?

Pinoy Big Cheater

2007-05-19T15:08:00.000+08:00

The Balik-Bahay gimmick of Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) 2nd Season is a crap.

Wendy, Zeke, Jasmine, and Kian were already voted out of the house. That's people power. But there's also the power of the bosses: to bring back evicted housemates at will. The best thing about reality shows is that the viewers are the ones who decide the fate of the show. The viewers are the bosses. Or so we thought. It all comes down to money. It is obvious that ABS-CBN aims to PROFIT from the Bruce-Wendy loveteam. This means that every peso spent by the text voters in the past was put to waste.

It is quite ironic that ABS-CBN, which airs PBB, is also airing the Halalan 2007 Special media coverage. In the special coverage of the midterm elections, ABS-CBN reports election-related problems like election violence and cheatings. But ABS-CBN is cheating its PBB viewers. And Dionne, the latest PBB evictee was not included in the Balik-Bahay hopefuls. Talk about fair elections.

The viewer-voters have kicked these housemates out. It's no different from Joselito "Peter" Cayetano being declared as a nuisance senatorial candidate but Comelec not removing his name from the list of candidates, therefore making any Cayetano vote a stray vote. But PBB’s is fraud and cheating disguised as entertainment.

Unable to Vote

2007-05-14T17:05:00.000+08:00

The title says it all. I'm a disenfranchised citizen.

Despite my preparations for the Mid-term elections, I was unable to vote for financial reasons. Last Friday, I was determined to go home to Tarlac. Unfortunately, I found out that my summer allowance doesn't include my bus fare en route to Tarlac. (Click here for my past election-related blog entry)

Since the start of the campaign period, I have read some of candidates' and their party's platforms. I also watched numerous public affairs programs for more information. And making the most out of my intership at the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, I watched more public affairs shows, specifically those that I missed during its regular airing (CMFR records news and public affairs shows for its media monitoring projects).

Just for the record and for those curious on whom I'll vote (I doubt there are), these are whom I'll vote for in the Senate (arranged accdg. to preference):

1. Martin Bautista
2. Zosimo Paredes
3. Adrian Sison
4. Francis Pangilinan
5. Francis Escudero
6. Allan Cayetano
7. Antonio Trillanes IV
8. Loren Legarda
9. Joker Arroyo
10. Koko Pimentel
11. Benigno Aquino III
12. Panfilo Lacson

Trish, in an attempt to uplift my sagging spirit, told me that "some things aren't really meant to be." This time, maybe. But next time, I'll make sure that I am meant to vote.

Jerome sa Senado

2007-05-11T09:37:00.000+08:00

I love legworks (not the leg exercises, but the journalistic works like information research and interviews outside the office). I get to go places and discover new faces. And I also get to talk with the prominent and the common people. I love legworks, as long as I don’t get lost on the way to my destination.

Senate Building was yesterday’s destination. In line with my internship at the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, I interviewed a print reporter. On my way to the Senate, the dreaded happened. I got lost. I told the jeepney driver to drop me at Pedro Gil. He completely forgot my request until we reached Intramuros. Stupid driver. Ultimately, I was late for my interview; luckily, he was still there.

Surprisingly, I found Mark at the Press Office. He acted as my tour guide. Wait, over there! The SM Mall of Asia. I heard it call my name, or my middle name, or my last name, or some name. You got it right. We ended up strolling at that gargantuan mall and a one and a half hour bus ride back home.

Vote Me Not

2007-05-05T17:42:00.000+08:00

The looks. The killer smile (or the killer's smile). The tantalizing eyes (or the nangungusap na mga mata). The sweet words. And the handshakes. Aspiring government officials are at their best during campaigns. They transform from the unreachable, omnipotent gods to the friendliest of men and women you will ever meet to earn your precious vote.

But there's always a chink in politicians' armor (or mask) of humaneness, righteousness, and intelligence. What they say may be different from what they do.

Case in point: candidates who use campaign jingles illegally adapted from popular songs (mostly novelty songs) like Lito Camo's "Boom Tarat Tarat" and Joey de Leon's "Itaktak Mo." Ideally, candidates should buy the rights from the composer to be able to legally use the song's lyrics or tune for campaign purposes. Candidates talk about eradicating corruption and the likes. They say they are against stealing the public's coffer. But they themselves are stealing by illegally using copyrighted songs. Talk about doing what they preach.

Buying these rights will cost a fortune. In 2004, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo bought the right for Camo's "Otso-Otso" for P500,000. But the astronomical costs of these songs are not excuses to steal it. Shoplifters are not excused for stealing an expensive grocery item. Why not make an original campaign jingle? Candidates lack creativity? Then don't run for a public office. What the country needs are competent leaders able to create and think of innovative and creative solutions to the country's problems.

This coming week is crunch time for the aspiring public officials. Expect more make-believe and plastikan moments with the candidates. But beneath a traditional politician's (trapo) mask of brilliance is always a face of grim and darkness.

Missin' Lego

2007-04-02T20:46:00.000+08:00

I grew up as a normal kid playing toys of different shapes and sizes. But I enjoyed playing with toys that can be changed to different shapes and sizes. This is where LEGO is best at.

Back in my preschool and elementary days, I used to create figures from my favorite blocks of all. I created dungeons, dragons, knights, robots, and everything that comes to mind. But because I moved to Manila for my first year in highschool, I was separated from my precious toys. Since then, everytime my grandma opens the stock room in her house, I take a quick scan to look for my building blocks.

I have thought of buying a new set of Lego for me to play with whenever I'm stressed out. It has been an effective stress reliever for me. And it enhances my creativity and imagination.

Earlier, Trish and I were at SM North Edsa for a stroll (one last time, before the summer vacation kicks in. That means very chances for us to see each other). There we saw tons of Legos. Aw, I miss these things. Soon, I plan to buy some.

Interview kay Edu

2007-03-06T22:12:00.000+08:00

"I'm working for the ANITOS"-Optical Media Board Chairman Eduardo "Edu" Manzano

The story: In 2005, four brilliant Filipino fresh graduates joined forces to develop the first ever Filipino video game. And they came up with the award-winning, groundbreaking role playing game, ANITO: Defend a Land Enraged. They sent the game to US for certification then to Malaysia for the reproduction. Weeks before the official release of ANITO, the Optical Media Board discovered some 500,000 pirated copies of the game in an apartment in Quiapo, ready for distribution. "They would have been billionaires," Manzano said.

"It [piracy] is eating the very ingenuity of Pinoys"

Last Friday, I got to interview Chairman Edu Manzano. To preempt your million dollar question, yes, he is handsome. I sacrificed my Speech class for this interview. He is very accomodating, he cracks jokes once in a while, and most of all, he knows what he is doing. He knows his roles as the Anti-Piracy Chairman. He knows his tasks. And he does his job quite well, amidst the near impossible task of fighting piracy. He really got my respect.

Panagbenga 2007

2007-03-03T20:02:00.000+08:00

Guys and gals, here are the pics I took during my half-week stay in the highlands. Panagbenga 2007. Let a thousand flowers bloom!

The Annual Flower Festival, now on its 12th serving, shows no sign of slowing down. Great. After all the gimmicks in the Cordilleras, I will have to tackle my academic backlogs back here in Manila. Vacation is finished. Now, work!

Tatsulok by Bamboo

2007-03-03T19:51:00.000+08:00

Bamboo is once again on a roll. Their newest album, “We Stand Alone Together” is the talk of the town. And their latest single, “Tatsulok,” is hitting the top of the charts. Great song.

Historically, “Tatsulok” was composed by the 80s band, “Buklod.” According to my Photojournalism mentor Gil Nartea, he had the chance to talk to the song’s composer. As a payment for the song’s revival, the composer charged Bamboo only P15000. Apparently, the composer was grateful that “Tatsulok” will share the limelight with a mainstream band.

A part of the song that intrigued me was the “Hindi PULA’T DILAW tunay na magkalaban/ Ang kulay at tatak ay di siyang dahilan/ Hangga’t marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan/ At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman.” Prof. Nartea told us that the RED signified the leftists and the activists battling the YELLOW right-wing, Corazon Aquino followers. The song is about the struggle between the ruling class and the ruled class.

Now that’s a song. A revival it is, but the message is alive and kicking. Time to end inequality. Time to strive for equality.

(Incidentally, the two political parties vying for the chance to serve MassComm are colored RED and YELLOW. The activist group STAND-UP and the newbie Interdependent Student-Centered Activism)

Rubik's Cube

2007-02-23T14:04:00.000+08:00

I'm getting hooked on Rubik's Cube.

Last night, I almost denied myself a sleep. As I have mentioned on my past entry, I have been here in Baguio since Wednesday night. And last night, I got to lay my hands on Kristy's cube toy. She taught me how to solve the puzzle. After almost an hour, I finished one side. I'm satisfieed with this work. After all, One is enough. Hehe...

I will stay at her place one more day. And I hope I can finish the puzzle, which was formerly a lifelong goal for me. Hehe...

The Cube kept me busy for such a time. And it made my mind run again. What the... I'm on vacation mode. I should not be doing the puzzle problems. And by the way, the Cube is a great way to shut me up.. Hehe...

This Side Up

2007-02-23T13:37:00.000+08:00

The man is up above.

I'm finally here in the highlands after a six-hour trip last Wednesday. According to plan, I will have to get my SocSci subject credited. And I will have to give myself a RnR (Rest and Recreation).

Thursday, Mission1 Accomplished! I was able to get a certification from the secretary of the College of Social Sciences at UP Baguio. The College Secretary and the University Registrar even argued who will issue the certification.

In the following days, I will be having my RnR, consisting of trippings here and there, marathon film viewings, and all-night chats with my friends. Well, I have just realized that what I will be doing is not related to rest. I will actually be exhausting myself. Anyway, the Recreation part is still there. And that's the best part of all.

Baguio Bound

2007-02-17T17:48:00.000+08:00

Next week, my road leads to Baguio City.

It has been months since I began proposing this get-away trip before the Supreme Court (my mother) and the Court of Appeals (my father). It seems that my proposals have been falling on deaf ears. Until last week. Thanks to Ate Terry (our College's Student Records Evaluator). She told me that my SocSci10-The Filipino Family subject will not be credited as a Filipino studies at UP Diliman until I get a certification from UP Baguio, where I took the course.
Was I happy? Of course! It's been years since I left the highlands to pursue my studies in Metro Manila. Weird, I'm happy because the subject I took was not credited. That translates to me taking up 21 units per semester on my senior year. However, I'm glad that I was able to propose my Baguio plan (again and again). Now with a reinforcement: I need to get a certification from UP Baguio. And they agreed! Nice palusot.

Now that's two birds in one stone. A four-day vacation 5000 ft. above sea level (while the annual Flower Festival is celebrated) and a certification for my SocSci10 subject. Baguio, I'm coming! Soon.

Photo of the Moment

2007-02-17T17:42:00.000+08:00

One of the photos I took at SM North Edsa for my Journ123-Photojournalism portfolio. My cousin and I were taking pics or whatever we thought was cool.
When I presented my pictures in class and told them where I had my photo shoot, my classmates were in awe. I found later found out that taking pictures in the SM vicinity is prohibited. Good thing we were not caught. Hehe...

Birthday

2007-02-04T20:51:00.000+08:00

Yours truly just turned 20.. Waaah. I'm no longer a teen! Well, I got an excuse. I am now a twen-teen. Or as Trish puts it, I'm a teen-ty year old guy.

Teen no more. My parents used to tease me, telling me that I'm growing old. I came back with my retaliation: "I'm getting old? One more year, I am eligible of marrying a woman." Hehe... Of course my parents are silent about that. I still have to support my siblings in their studies. Wow, the typical, ideal kuya (elder brother).

20. I'm a positive person. Trish knows that so much. So I'm telling all of you: being twenty (pronounced as twe-ni, according to my Speech111-Diction prof) is fine. People often say that "Life begins at 40." I say: I'm just the halfway to that "life"... Hehe...

Thanks a lot to all the people who became a part of those 19 years of life. All in all, I have been blessed for the past 19 years. Thanks to my Lord God. May I be a better person this year.

Ads-tig. Astig.

2007-01-21T16:31:00.000+08:00

I finally got a raket (a sideline, an extra job) for myself. This will a bit replenish my pocket with funds for future expenses. Future much-needed expenses. What I do for my sideline is that I transcribe Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) about a research study (mostly regarding upcoming ads, products, and services).

As I transcribe the discussion, I found the ____ advertisement concept really interesting. In fact, astig!

______, ngayon na!
Di bukas. Di mamaya.
Tara na, tara na!
Ikalat ang saya!
Bagong trip, subukan na.
Pag nagyaya, sama ka.
Kung type mo, kilalanin mo.
Kung walang paraan, gawan mo.
Kung mahal mo, sabihin mo.
Sige ka, maunahan ka pa.
Pag may tampuhan, ayusin mo.
Kung di ngayon, kelan pa?
Pag may naisip, ikwento mo.
Angking galing, ipakita mo.
Idol mo, tularan mo.
At pag nakita mo, papicture ka!
Wala ng hiya-hiya.
Pag may pangarap, abutin mo.
Pag kinapos, ulitin mo.
Yung gusto mo yung gawin mo.
Wag ka dun sa pwede na.
At kung gagawin mo lang din, eh di itodo mo na!
Ano pang hinihintay mo?
Pagkakataon mo na ‘to?
Tara na, tara na!
______, ngayon na!

Expect that you’ll encounter this in the days to come. Whether or not you are a consumer of this product or not, the poetic concept is great! Plus factor: this fits me. This fits the youth.

PS: I did not mention the name of the product to avoid doubts that I am promoting this product.

Artworks in the Sky

2007-01-14T12:05:00.000+08:00

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! No,it's a plane! No, it's the 2nd World
Pyrolympics!

The hottest gimmick in town in the past two weeks was the Pyrolympics at the
SM Mall of Asia. The looming deadline for my 1500-word explanatory article,
data gathering at Culiat, and Review of Related Literature proved to be little
obstacles for my gimmick mode. Deadlines are coming soon. And soon, I’ll be
dead... Hehe.

I invited my mom for some sight seeing on a Friday night. After class, we went straight to Pasay City to see sparks fly. The MRT trip was swift, but the bus ride on the way to the venue was time-consuming. To cut the long story short, we luckily arrived in time. The night was set for the Canada-Denmark duel.

The execution was great and amusing. Oohhhhhs and wooooows resonated around the area. And boy, the venue was heavily crowded! Still, the efforts of me standing, sweating in a bus for a long time was worth it.

But there’s one question in my head. Why is the Philippines, though not a competitor, always hosts the event? My hypothesis: Other countries aren’t willing to accomodate all the air pollution produced by these fireworks.

New Look/'Em Back

2007-01-11T20:29:00.000+08:00

Chroni-cools is sporting a new look for the new year. But this template will only be temporary for the formeeeer template I have was experiencing malfunctions of some sort. The entries I posted last December 30 were not published and pictures were not uploaded in the web page.

Anyway, I'm back. Finally. This year, I'll try to update as much as possible. And be more consistent.

As for my links, I'll edit this template in the next few days and recreate the links I had.

Another blogging year for yours truly. I hope you'll stick with me for the rest of the year! Happy New Year!

Voter. Botante. Mamamayan.

2006-12-31T12:29:00.000+08:00

It’s official! I’ll be voting for the future public officials this upcoming May 2007 senatorial elections. My Voters’ registration story is a tale of I came, I saw, I conquered.

Two days. Two long days of my life I allotted to be an official voter. The Tarlac City Hall became my tambayan for two days. And random names of Tarlaqueños announced thru a poor sound system were the music to my ears. On my second day waiting (luckily, not waiting in vain), I was amused by the name “Luzon Island Beltran.” Wow. I wonder if his/her siblings are named Visayas and Mindanao Island. Hehe. Talk about finding humor amidst the boredom.

The long lines in the city hall were due to 1) the outpour of last minute registrants (like me) 2) lack of government employees due to budget deficit which hinders more employment 3) lack of facilities (there is only one computer available for the computerized registration).

For those in power and those who wish to gain power: We went under painstaking process to be citizens worthy of deciding tbe future of the nation. And we will undergo more rigorous process of choosing who to elect. Please, don’t rig our votes. Don’t put all our efforts to waste. And for those newly-registered: Kudos! We all came, saw, and conquered the arduous process. May we all be responsible voters. As the man who finished his registration next to me said, this calls for a Victory Party!