By Tyrone Jay V. Smason

To hopefully usher a change in a government marred by widespread corruption, the ABS CBN together with its major partners Globe, Bayan, STI, the Philippine Star, Comelec, BusinessWorld, PPCRV, Namfrel and YouthVote Philippines launched its Boto Mo, I-Patrol Mo: Ako ang Simula program last May nationwide – in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

It aims to instill upon each and everyone the power to make a difference by choosing responsibly our next set of government officials and also taking it upon ourselves to ensure a clean and safe elections in May of 2010.

ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs Head Maria Ressa wrote in an article about the power of the media in bringing about such a lofty goal of peaceful and honest elections next year. She said that “the core of our campaign is how traditional media can combine with new media and mobile phone technology to transform society and clean up our elections. In 2007, we empowered ordinary Filipinos and they rose to the challenge – 500 messages a day in the run-up to elections and more than 2,000 messages on election day! That is only a rehearsal for what we can collectively do in 2010.”

Hoping to pitch in its small part is the DMC College Foundation of Dipolog City through its Community Extension Services Office.

CES Coordinator Pilar Cruz divulged that her office is “one with the youth and the nation in its clamor for change.”

“Being fed up with corruption and non-action on matters that needs answer and attention, we are supporting this ABS CBN program wholeheartedly and, collectively, we hope to make a difference,” Cruz said.

As part of its initial step, DMC recently culminated its “MY VOTE, MY RIGHT!” Campaign to help its students register or transfer their registration Dipolog City’s Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office.

Using its bus, DMC College Foundation brought its students to the (COMELEC) for them to register and exercise their Constitutional right to suffrage.