Monday, January 11, 2021
Comelec releases rules for Palawan plebiscite amid pandemic
By Ferdinand Patinio
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday released guidelines for the conduct of the plebiscite that will divide Palawan into three provinces to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
According to Comelec Resolution No. 10687, only a maximum of five voters are allowed inside a voting center and must wear face masks and face shields.
“The voters, who are properly wearing their face mask and shield, have sanitized both of their hands with alcohol at the installed sanitary in stations in the polling place, shall have the right to freely enter the polling place as soon as they arrive unless there are already five voters inside, in which case they shall wait outside the polling place, form a line in the order of their arrival, observe the one meter physical distancing, and wait for their turn to enter,” the Resolution read.
“In all cases, there shall be a maximum of five voters inside the polling place, voting simultaneously,” it added.
It said the number of voters voting simultaneously may be reduced by the Plebiscite Committee (PlebComm) if the required physical distancing cannot be observed or when the number of people inside the polling place exceeds its 50 percent of its capacity.
“The voters after having cast their votes shall immediately leave,” it added.
Likewise, the Comelec will be establishing an Isolation Polling Place (IPP) where voters who register a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher will cast their votes.
“Voters who upon temperature check at the entrance of the voting center, who registers a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher and who were not subsequently cleared by the Medical Personnel, and those who answered “Yes” to any of the questions contained in the Covid-19 Health Declaration Form, shall cast their votes in the IPP,” it said.
The IPP has an ample space capable of accommodating, at least five voters, the PlebComm and watchers, who should observe one-meter physical distancing at any time, it said.
The Comelec also released Resolution No. 10682 providing the calendar of activities for the plebiscite which aims to divide the province to Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur.
The posting of the computerized voters list will be on February 11 while the inspection of polling places will also begin February 11 until February 18.
The one-month information and campaign period is set to start on February 11 and will run until March 11, the holding of online, virtual, televised, or radio-aired information campaigns (“pulong-pulongs”, symposia, fora or debates).
The plebiscite period will be from February 11 up to March 20.
On plebiscite day on March 13, casting of votes will be from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. while the counting of votes will start at 3:00 pm onwards until finished.
The voter will be asked to write “Yes” or “Oo” if they favor the split and “No” or “Hindi” if they are not in favor on the question, “Pumapayag ka ba na hatiin ang probinsya ng Palawan sa tatlong probinsya na papangalanang: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental at Palawan del Sur alinsunod sa Batas Republika Bilang 11259.
Ixthus
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
Since the days that Christians worshipped in the catacombs to avoid persecution, the fish has been a symbol of Christianity, just as the star of David is a symbol of Judaism and the crescent symbolizes Islam. Visitors to the Calixitus catacombs outside of Rome, see the symbol carved in the limestone walls where Christians once met and worshipped. Many throughout the world still display the fish—whether it is lapel pin or a small insignia on the bumper of a car—to indicate their faith as Christians.
However, some opposed to Christianity are fighting back by taking the fish symbol, putting legs on it and inserting the word DARWIN in the body. Their argument may be with those who believe that God created the world, but they voice their dissent by desecrating a symbol which is decidedly Christian. Some do it out of ignorance, thinking to put Darwin's name on the fish symbol is a joke or something clever. Others do it with cruel intent.
Charles Darwin, whose name has become synonymous with evolution, really wouldn't have liked the anti-Christian association in the least. Darwin, who was the fifth child in a wealthy, conservative family considered himself to be a Christian and had no battle with God and certainly was not out to launch one with Christianity. What many people do not know is that in 1827, Darwin dropped out of medical school at the University of Edinburgh and went to Cambridge to study for the ministry with the Church of England. After he graduated from Cambridge in 1831, the 22-year-old young man signed on the HMS Beagle as an unpaid naturalist and became part of the crew on a voyage that took the ship around the world.
What does the fish have to do with Christianity? Is it because four of Jesus' twelve disciples were fishermen that the association was made? No, but there is a reason. The Greek word for fish is ixthus. Five Greek letters form the word, and those letters in an acrostic form a message which Christians clearly identified. The first letter represented the word Jesus. The second letter represented the word Christ. The next two, Son of God, and the final letter represented the word Savior.
Though Darwin's publication Origin of the Species brought sharp criticism from the Church, he never repudiated his faith in God, nor would he have allowed his name to become a symbol of hatred for those who affirm a belief in Christianity.
The first word, Iasous, is the Greek word for Jesus, the name given by the angel to Joseph when he learned that his wife Mary was pregnant with a child conceived of the Holy Spirit.
The second word, Christos, is the word translated "Christ." It meant the anointed one and was really a title. The Jews fully understood that using that title bestowed Messianic significance on a person, and it was never used lightly.
The next phrase, Theos huiou, meant "God's son," reminding us of what John wrote long ago when he penned these words: "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16).
And the final word, Savior, described what Jesus did. When the angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem, he cried, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). And there you have it.
Superimposing the name of Darwin over the fish is akin to painting a swastika over the star of David or putting a cross on the door of a mosque. It is tasteless, defiant and insulting. To disagree theologically is one thing, but in our world today there is no place for insult or ignorance.
Resource reading: Luke 2:1-15.
Knorr Meaty Seasoning "Sizzling tofu"
Original video courtesy of eatbulaga1979
© 2006 Unilever Philippines, Inc.
Plebiscite for creation of 3 Palawan provinces set
Voters in the plebiscite for the creation of the provinces of Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur on March 13 will have to answer only one question in the official ballot.
In Resolution No. 10687, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said voters will only have to answer this question: “Are you in favor of dividing Palawan into three provinces?”
The Comelec said the voter if he agrees shall write the word “Yes” or “Oo” or its conceptual equivalent in the blank box after the question.
If the voter is not in favor, he shall write the word “No” or “Hindi” or its conceptual equivalent in the blank line after the question.
The poll body originally scheduled the plebiscite last May 11 in accordance with Republic Act No. 11259 which provides that the plebiscite should be held on the second Monday of May 2020.
However, last April, the Comelec suspended the plebiscite as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon.
The en banc agreed with the recommendation of Law Department that holding of a free and honest plebiscite is impossible at the height of the spread of the COVID-19.
The Inter-Agency Task Force approved the proposal to hold the plebiscite in March last Oct. 8 and the Comelec set the date to March 13.
In Resolution No. 10682, the poll body set the Information and Campaign Period from February 11 to March 11 and the Plebiscite Period from Feb. 11 to March 20.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/11/plebiscite-for-creation-of-3-palawan-provinces-set/
Plebiscite for creation of 3 Palawan provinces set
BY LESLIE AQUINO
Voters in the plebiscite for the creation of the provinces of Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur on March 13 will have to answer only one question in the official ballot.
In Resolution No. 10687, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said voters will only have to answer this question: “Are you in favor of dividing Palawan into three provinces?”
The Comelec said the voter if he agrees shall write the word “Yes” or “Oo” or its conceptual equivalent in the blank box after the question.
If the voter is not in favor, he shall write the word “No” or “Hindi” or its conceptual equivalent in the blank line after the question.
The poll body originally scheduled the plebiscite last May 11 in accordance with Republic Act No. 11259 which provides that the plebiscite should be held on the second Monday of May 2020.
http://tempo.com.ph/2021/01/11/plebiscite-for-creation-of-3-palawan-provinces-set/