Friday, October 31, 2025

Philippine politics jolted into digital age

Philippine politics will never be the same after the country’s first automated ballot electrified voters long used to cheating, violence and disputes over delayed results.

Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd, whose parents led the struggle to restore Philippine democracy, may soon become the country’s first digitally elected president after a rapid vote count showed him winning by a landslide.

Despite daunting logistic challenges in a sprawling Southeast Asian  archipelago with 50 million voters, ballot-counting machines were activated just in time for Monday’s elections for 17,000 positions.

The saying that “guns, goons and gold” lord it over Philippine elections may no longer be totally true after a new weapon, the microchip, entered the scene.

In the past, paid thugs as well as rouge soldiers and policemen working for politicians snatched ballot boxes, intimidated voters and doctored tallies. This time, Filipinos were thrilled by the chance to slip their own ballots into digital scanners and know the results were being stored electronically for delivery to a central computer server in Manila, safe from theft and tampering.

“It was really an overwhelming experience for me because I knew that at that moment, I was making history for the country,” said Franz Jonathan de la Fuente, 19, a first-time voter studying journalism at the University of the Philippines.

View full post on Latest News

Hot this week

How to Create a Strong Safety & Wellbeing Culture in Your Workplace

Safety should be a priority for any business. Unfortunately,...

Can I Apply for Another Visa While on a Bridging Visa E? Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’re currently on a Bridging Visa E (BVE),...

Year-Round Gifting: 5 Great Ideas for Any Occasion

Gift-giving doesn’t have to be limited to birthdays or...

How to Build the Ultimate Home Theatre in Your Australian Home

Remember when going to the movies was simple? Twenty...

Topics

How to Create a Strong Safety & Wellbeing Culture in Your Workplace

Safety should be a priority for any business. Unfortunately,...

Year-Round Gifting: 5 Great Ideas for Any Occasion

Gift-giving doesn’t have to be limited to birthdays or...

How to Build the Ultimate Home Theatre in Your Australian Home

Remember when going to the movies was simple? Twenty...

Sydney celebrates 35 years of the Grand Philippine Fiesta Kultura

The 35th Grand Philippine Fiesta Kultura delivered a truly...

Business Foundations: How to Set up a Small Business in Australia

Australia’s business landscape overwhelmingly consists of sole traders and...

Australian Office Culture: What to Expect from Your First Job

What should I wear? How do I act professionally?...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_img
Previous article
Next article