The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) will be holding a registration drive for first time voters on Friday, February 27, 2009, 10:00 a.m. at the San Beda College, Mendiola, Manila. This is part of the PPCRV-NAMFREL-CEAP-COMELEC ongoing project — Bagong BIDA be the change Botanteng Pilipino – Magpalista Ka! — aimed at drawing the students’ participation in the 2010 elections.

Mr. Albert Oasan, San Beda College NSTP Faculty Facilitator who also heads the Namfrel Manila Chapter, thought of coming up with this activity in line with the NSTP Week. “We are encouraging our students to be involved in community initiatives that promote volunteerism and vigilance in safeguarding the electoral process, which is a goal of NSTP,” said Mr. Oasan as he announced the particular theme of the event: “Guiding First Time Voters Towards Vigilance and Responsible Voting”. The National Service Training Program (NSTP) is part of the curriculum aimed at encouraging college students to conduct community service.

Some 200 first time voters who are residents of the 4th and 6th districts of Manila are expected to register in the Satellite Registration Center that COMELEC is setting up in the SBC campus. Aside from San Beda College, students from University of the East, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Sebastian College, Centro Escolar University and Far Eastern University will also be joining the event.

COMELEC Commissioners Rene Sarmiento and Leonardo Leonida will be the resource speakers of the event and at the same time oversee the conduct of the registration.

“Mendiola where San Beda College is located has been a traditional site for the manifestation of the Filipinos’ advocacy for freedom and democracy. It is also the cradle of student formation. I am hopeful that this special registration of young voters on Friday 27 February 2009, will signal the pro-active engagement of our nation’s Bagong BIDA – the Filipino youth voters,” beamed Amb. Henrietta de Villa, NAMFREL-PPCRV National Chairperson.