<center> VforCE:   Volunteers for Clean Elections </center>

<center> VforCE:   Volunteers for Clean Elections </center> http://vforce.multiply.com/ <CENTER>These coming elections in May 2007 are especially important. Many of our current political problems, which have hindered fuller economic development and social justice, especially for the poor, can be traced to unresolved questions concerning the conduct of past elections. As a nation, we cannot afford yet another controversial exercise that further aggravates social distrust and hopelessness. Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines January 28, 2007</CENTER> We believe that what is at stake in the May 2007 elections is the credibility of our institutions and the viability of our hard-earned democracy. And we cannot let our frustration and distrust drive us away from the political arena. This will only embolden those who disregard the rule of law and undermine our institutions. We can still reclaim our place in our country's democratic life, by ensuring that the May 2007 elections are honest and credible, and that candidates who have the people's interests at heart get a fair shot at winning. VforCE, or 1 Million Volunteers for Clean Elections, is a nationwide movement of volunteer individuals and organizations, committed to providing voter education and volunteer training to protect the integrity of the elections, to fighting fraud and violence, and to working for long-term political and social reform. VForCE is first of all, a call to political engagement in the coming elections, in the face of widespread social distrust among the citizenry not only of the electoral process but of national politics and political actors in general. Instead of withdrawal, it calls for volunteerism and coordinated action especially from Church-based groups, with a particular challenge to energize, organize and mobilize the youth who comprise the huge majority of the voting-age population. Secondly, it provides a framework that underlines the importance of both defending democratic institutions in the short-term and deepening or reforming them in the long-term. Thus the initiative recognizes that political involvement in the May 2007 elections will only be meaningful if put in the perspective of a longer term project to develop leaders, constituencies and networks for building genuine democracy towards 2010 and beyond. Thirdly, VForCE presents a menu of options for non-partisan electoral involvement as a way to recruit volunteers, as well as to present visually how different electoral initiatives especially among Church-related and civic organizations can come together in a collaborative and coordinated effort. The project is meant to serve as a portal that opens the way to different options for volunteerism. The different avenues for electoral involvement are classified under two broad headings: political education and election monitoring. Work in public information/ communications and resource generation are also seen as critical support functions. <IMG src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v286/bananachips/vforcemenu3.jpg"> Details for each option may be perused in the links found below. Forward comments or suggestions re: this website to glenntuazon@gmail.com Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:09:05 -0000 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:59:19 -0000 <center> VforCE:   Volunteers for Clean Elections </center> http://images.vforce.multiply.com/logo http://vforce.multiply.com 100 100 Christian Monsod's July 14, 2007 Presentation at Forum of Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan There are three points you want me to talk about this afternoon: (1)   the Philippine political situation in general (2)   an assessment of the May 2007 elections and its implications (3)   the next steps for the 2010 elections.   Where are we now?   Two years ago, we were undergoing a political crisis. A “crisis”, experts tell us, is a turning point in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events for better or for worse is determined. A turning point can be brief or protracted. A crisis can progress from symptomatic to acute to chronic stages to a final resolution. I would say that, since the apex of the crisis in the July 8 weekend when the Hyatt 10, former President Aquino and others called for the President to resign, the crisis had settled to a protracted acute stage after July 2005. That the elections took place and did not result in any national outrage at the admittedly flawed process and that the results were g... http://vforce.multiply.com/journal/item/10/Christian_Monsods_July_14_2007_Presentation_at_Forum_of_Simbahang_Lingkod_ng_Bayan Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:59:19 -0000 Senator Mar Roxas files Senate resolution to commend election volunteers under VforCE Senate Resolution commending http://vforce.multiply.com/links/item/17/Senator_Mar_Roxas_files_Senate_resolution_to_commend_election_volunteers_under_VforCE Thu, 7 Jun 2007 08:13:55 -0000 Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) The LENTE http://vforce.multiply.com/links/item/16/Legal_Network_for_Truthful_Elections_LENTE Tue, 15 May 2007 03:46:53 -0000 View Bantay Canvass Ad: Puede pa ring "mag-magic" kahit nakaboto na tayo at nabilang na sa presinto Patuloy nating bantayan ang proseso ng canvassing.  Call 10149 to help out or report on canvassing.<A href="http://vforce.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/RkkozQoKCm8AAAe3cqE1"> <IMG class=alignmiddle src="http://images.vforce.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RkkozQoKCm8AAAe3cqE1/BantayCanvass_PDIFP.jpg?et=x%2C4omST0h494pECrCbSGIQ" border=0> </A> http://vforce.multiply.com/journal/item/9/View_Bantay_Canvass_Ad_Puede_pa_ring_mag-magic_kahit_nakaboto_na_tayo_at_nabilang_na_sa_presinto Tue, 15 May 2007 03:24:32 -0000 Newsbreak Online - Election Day: Fraud, Blood & Endless Delays http://vforce.multiply.com/links/item/15/Newsbreak_Online_-_Election_Day_Fraud_Blood_Endless_Delays Tue, 15 May 2007 01:28:43 -0000 Rights commission to send poll monitoring teams - INQUIRER.net (10 May 2007) http://vforce.multiply.com/links/item/14/Rights_commission_to_send_poll_monitoring_teams_-_INQUIRER.net_10_May_2007 Mon, 14 May 2007 02:04:01 -0000 Lawyers, CHR link up to guard canvassing of votes - INQUIRER.net (10 May 2007) http://vforce.multiply.com/links/item/13/Lawyers_CHR_link_up_to_guard_canvassing_of_votes_-_INQUIRER.net_10_May_2007 Mon, 14 May 2007 01:58:34 -0000 Probe Team Feature on Bantay Pangako (25 April 2007) http://vforce.multiply.com/video/item/5/Probe_Team_Feature_on_Bantay_Pangako_25_April_2007 Wed, 9 May 2007 23:13:23 -0000 INQUIRER.net - Poll watchdogs learn from Garci: Focus on canvass (9 May 2007) http://vforce.multiply.com/links/item/12/INQUIRER.net_-_Poll_watchdogs_learn_from_Garci_Focus_on_canvass_9_May_2007 Wed, 9 May 2007 22:28:55 -0000 GMANews.TV - Saksi: Gabay Halalan Call Center swamped with inquiries http://vforce.multiply.com/links/item/11/GMANews.TV_-_Saksi_Gabay_Halalan_Call_Center_swamped_with_inquiries Wed, 9 May 2007 22:27:17 -0000 Listen to VforCE Radio Ads: "Panata" and "Choices" <A href="http://vforce.multiply.com/music">http://vforce.multiply.com/music</A></A> http://vforce.multiply.com/journal/item/8/Listen_to_VforCE_Radio_Ads_Panata_and_Choices Wed, 9 May 2007 12:20:47 -0000 VforCE Radio Ads Filipino and English Versions: "Panata" and http://vforce.multiply.com/music/item/1/VforCE_Radio_Ads Wed, 9 May 2007 12:11:44 -0000 LENTE Bantay Canvass Volunteers' Training Last Volunteers' training on election laws for Canvassing http://vforce.multiply.com/calendar/item/10023/LENTE_Bantay_Canvass_Volunteers_Training_ Wed, 9 May 2007 12:01:50 -0000 Covenant Signing for Bantay Pangako A Covenant Signing for Bantay Pangako between community leaders of Marytown, Kaingin, Purok 7, Selected Candidates for the House of Representatives and City Council for Quezon City, 3rd http://vforce.multiply.com/calendar/item/10022/Covenant_Signing_for_Bantay_Pangako Sun, 6 May 2007 01:55:44 -0000 Sun.Star Cebu - Toral: Volunteer in the 2007 elections http://vforce.multiply.com/links/item/10/Sun.Star_Cebu_-_Toral_Volunteer_in_the_2007_elections Thu, 3 May 2007 22:43:59 -0000 Philstar.com - Namfrel, Church group join forces for quick count http://vforce.multiply.com/links/item/9/Philstar.com_-_Namfrel_Church_group_join_forces_for_quick_count Thu, 3 May 2007 22:36:17 -0000 The Manila Times: "The Dimished Prestige of Namfrel" An article by Mr. Julius F. Fortuna, as of February 2, 2007. http://vforce.multiply.com/links/item/8/The_Manila_Times_The_Dimished_Prestige_of_Namfrel Thu, 3 May 2007 09:16:57 -0000 Gabay Halalan 10-149 (toll free on PLDT): Election Queries and Complaints  "The dream of an enlightened electorate may just be a phone call away". Starting May 1, 2007, access to UNBIASED, RELEVANT election related information is just five numbers away...10-149. The first-ever Gabay Halalan call center dedicated to helping our voters make enlightened choices will once again serve the Filipino people this 2007 elections. Callers anywhere from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao can simply pick up the phone and dial 10-149 from a PLDT landline FOR FREE (not even long distance charges) to talk to a tele-educator about:   • candidates' profiles and stand on issues   • party-list information   • your precinct   • information for first time voters   • information on how to get involved in the elections   • inquire about election related legal matters   • report election related incidents i.e. prohibited acts   • other election information which we can look up for you -- except   ... http://vforce.multiply.com/journal/item/7/Gabay_Halalan_10-149_toll_free_on_PLDT_Election_Queries_and_Complaints Wed, 2 May 2007 03:16:49 -0000 Training of Volunteers from Law Schools in Metro Manila http://vforce.multiply.com/calendar/item/10019/Training_of_Volunteers_from_Law_Schools_in_Metro_Manila Sat, 28 Apr 2007 18:59:26 -0000 Training of Volunteers for Provinces in the CAR Region http://vforce.multiply.com/calendar/item/10018/Training_of_Volunteers_for_Provinces_in_the_CAR_Region Sat, 28 Apr 2007 18:58:47 -0000 Training of Volunteers for the National Capital Region Areas http://vforce.multiply.com/calendar/item/10017/Training_of_Volunteers_for_the_National_Capital_Region_Areas Sat, 28 Apr 2007 18:57:40 -0000 Training of Volunteers from Bantay Ceasefire, Cotabato City http://vforce.multiply.com/calendar/item/10016/Training_of_Volunteers_from_Bantay_Ceasefire_Cotabato_City Sat, 28 Apr 2007 18:51:32 -0000 Regional Trainers' Training by LENTE and NASSA The provincial, city and municipal trainers training will be held. The participants here will be deployed in the canvassing points after the http://vforce.multiply.com/calendar/item/10015/Regional_Trainers_Training_by_LENTE_and_NASSA Sat, 28 Apr 2007 07:40:30 -0000 Regional Trainers' Training by LENTE and NASSA The provincial, city and municipal trainers' training will be held. The participants will be deployed in the canvassing points after the http://vforce.multiply.com/calendar/item/10014/Regional_Trainers_Training_by_LENTE_and_NASSA Sat, 28 Apr 2007 07:39:38 -0000 Gabay Halalan Call Center Volunteers' Orientation Hands-on Orientation for SLB Call Center http://vforce.multiply.com/calendar/item/10013/Gabay_Halalan_Call_Center_Volunteers_Orientation Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:08:02 -0000 Tinatawag Ka, Marami Tayong Nagmamahal sa Bayan VforCE Video: A Call to Political http://vforce.multiply.com/video/item/2/Tinatawag_Ka_Marami_Tayong_Nagmamahal_sa_Bayan Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:09:20 -0000