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9 years strong! STI and ABS-CBN Partners for Halalan 2016

Student leaders and faculty members from STI Colleges Caloocan, Global City, Makati, Marikina, Muñoz-EDSA, Novaliches, Ortigas-Cainta, Quezon Avenue, Recto, Shaw, and Taft teamed up with hundreds of students from various colleges and universities for the Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo (BMPM) Digital Boot Camp held at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on December 1, 2015.

The theme for Halalan 2016 is “Ipanalo Ang Pamilyang Pilipino.” This campaign encourages Filipino citizens to be proactive towards making a better change by becoming more involved in knowing the candidates better and their plans for the country. Citizen journalism remains at the helm of the upcoming
Halalan 2016.

During the boot camp, participants listened to BMPM Journalist Kori Quintos who talked about how to monitor and report the election campaign, and how to watch out for “mapapel and makapal” or to simply put, “Epal” candidates; Social Media influencer and budding journalist Gretchen Ho focused on the effective use of social media in generating awareness especially during this election period; and award-winning photojournalist Jun Sepe shared his expertise in taking photos and videos conveniently by using a smartphone as a way of monitoring the event.

Viber’s Country Manager Kristian Melquiades and Firechat’s Global Marketing Head Marina Azcarate were also present to orient the students on how they can use messaging apps and public chatrooms as one of their avenues in reporting the 2016 elections.

Maan De Vera, an AB Communication sophomore from STI College - Global City, learned so much from the boot camp and shares that: “The utilization of social media for social change can be the first and boldest step that we, the millennials, can take. It should always start with being well-informed. We must always be vigilant in handling all the information we receive. Sharing only factual information gives the world a chance to become a better place that we all desire it to be.”

In addition, Commission on Election (COMELEC) Chairman Andy Bautista visited the boot camp to answer inquiries and clarify issues on the No Bio, No Boto rule, which is being implemented for the upcoming elections, and other significant items on the voting procedures. The students were also briefed about the COMELEC Halalan application which can be downloaded on the Google Play and App Store that will allow the user to check registration status, locate designated precinct, and access important details and information regarding the elections.

One of the attendees, Holden Jacob, a BS Information Technology (BSIT) senior from STI College - Marikina, states that, “As a Bayan Patroller and as a young citizen of our country, we all need to intervene with what is happening around us especially the unreliable issues looming over some of the candidates for the Halalan 2016. They taught us how to properly report a situation by using the newly launched app made by COMELEC so that Bayan Patrollers can easily acquire and respond to the reports made by the concerned netizens.”

STI’s affiliation with the broadcasting giant ABS-CBN started in 1997 and has now spanned through six election years. It has likewise trained STIers to become catalysts for positive change by becoming socially aware and responsible individuals.






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