When the Philippine election arm had it’s 55 million voters info breached

It took almost a month for the national news to report seriously the breach which includes 55 million adult Filipino voters around the world.

I was paranoid (and still somehow) when I learned that a website created a search engine which posted our voter’s registration information. I did the unadvisable: searched my name. People are telling me not to share the link and search my name. But I did. And I found my data! Full name, birthdate, home address, registration date, voter’s identification number, and probably my fingerprints. For some new voters, it might have their passport numbers.

As a voter since 2007, it took me years to realize how incompetent and insensitive our government’s election arm is. I thought it was only an isolated case in ARMM last 2013 when one of my fellow novices had his voting sheet shaded by a watcher and the soldiers guarding the precint outside the school just let the incident unapprehended. This is one of the most serious blunder that the COMELEC allowed.

Even the hacking happened last March 27, the COMELEC (Commission on Election) is still in denial for three weeks even as far as saying that the data hacked are not that serious. Hello? Do they even realize that they, the COMELEC officials, themselves are at the risk of having their identities stolen. Even President Aquino’s data is there in the open (I know this because I searched for his name). When our government is not doing it’s job to protect it’s citizens, at least in the cyberworld, what can an ordinary citizen like me do?

When our government is seeding our data, what can we do?

These are some possible scenarios (at least for myself): With a cyber thief who have stolen my identity, our hone might receive stuffs like Shakey’s pizzas, Jollibee meal, or gadgets named after me which I never ordered and my family is asked to pay for it.

For the unlucky ones who had their passport numbers included in the registration, identity theft is a more serious threat.

The only defensive measure I did so far was to report to CloudFare and GoDaddy the search engine who leaked the files for the “lulz”.

This is one of the few times I would be ranting here in this blog.

And for the love of my country, I would use this frustration towards the COMELEC as my motivation to educate students to admit their faults, take responsibility, and understand what power and service to others means.

A bittersweet week for Mindanao

Last week, I went to General Santos City, the hometown of Manny Pacquiao. I went there not because I’m his relative (though some would insist I’m a dead ringer of the champ). Pacquiao’s victory is good news for us Filipinos who have been to some bad experiences since March 26 (start of the two-day forest fire in Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the country.

When I stayed with my relatives’ house for more than a week, aside from experiencing the oven-like temperature of GenSan (with maximum index of 40 degrees Celsius average). I have all the time to watch news and entertainment in the television. There was an ugly incident with protesters who blocked a national highway in Kidapawan City. They were complaining about the insufficient support from the government to farmers suffering from drought because of El Niño. It turned into a bloody dispersal, leaving some protesters dead and plenty wounded with some cops in ICU because of mauling. Reports said that the farmers were mixed with communist propagandists with their own agenda. The leaders or the protest organizers needs to be held responsible. Of course, the PNP must be held accountable too of their failed “maximum tolerance”. Somehow, this is an indication of the indifference of ” some” public officials.

Good news here in the Kidapawan incident is that private sectors outpoured their support towards the plight of these poor farmers. Some peacekeepers negotiated between the police and the farmers, telling the latter not to block the highwamotivatese midst of incompetence in the part of public officials, many from the private sector and showing concern not for their own agenda but because they want to help the poor farmers who are affected by the dry spell. This should be a wake up call for aspiring candidates who will take the seats in the government. Their power must be their means go serve the people particularly the oppressed sector of our society such as the farmers.

This social problems motivate me to push through in working in the education sector. I must remember that I am responsible in molding the consciences of future politicians, farmers, policemen, and peacekeepers.

Readers and WordPress, Salamat (Thanks)

4 years of blogging now. I still remember January 2011 when I am…

1. Struggling what to write
2. Posting about anything
3. Writing “for practice blogging purposes only”

Now that I am a 4 year-old WordPress-er, I would like to thank the readers whom I don’t know personally… yet.

I know it might sound creepy but I would like to meet you guys in person. I’m not a native English speaker but I will try to (struggle) understanding you talk when we finally meet. I want to know your stories offline.

Where? I don’t know. Meet me here in the Philippines or when I go to your country, send me a PM in the Contact form and I’ll try to ask Google on what place where we’ll meet.

It might happen or not and I’m just wishfully thinking it will.

And finally, thank you WordPress and I hope you’ll stay online a hundred more years or more!

Maraming salamat po!