Sexbomb Dancers joined by students in poll campaign

More than 400 students participated in a flash mob dance at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Sunday to educate voters in the first nationwide automated polls on May 10. The flash mob — a large group that converges suddenly to make a surprise performance, usually for a publicity stunt — joined the Sexbomb Dancers in a dance presentation of "Bilog na Hugis Itlog" — the poll automation information jingle of GMA Network, which aired the presentation live at noon. The song title refers to the oval in front of candidates’ names that voters need to shade. Before, voters had to remember and write all the names of their chosen candidates on the ballot. The students came from the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, Centro Escolar University and Rizal Technological University, among others. Various elementary and high schools also participated. Broadcast journalist Jessica Soho, GMA Network’s vice-president for News Programs, said the sing-and-dance number seeks to familiarize voters with the new system without being intimidated. “Many are confused when we speak of poll automation, so we need voters’ education to avoid wasting their votes," she said in Filipino shortly after the presentation.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV ‘Fun activity’ Nearly six out of 10 Filipinos had little or no knowledge of the automated elections, according to pollster Pulse Asia’s survey last December. To address these information gaps, GMA Network also set up a mock polling precinct with voting desks, ballot secrecy folders, mock ballots, and real Precinct Count Optical Scan machines to simulate the voting procedure. The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting also set up a volunteers’ booth near the stage. Smartmatic-TIM presentation coordinator Miguel Avila said Sunday’s activities had injected fun in what is perceived to be a complicated poll automation process. The consortium of Smartmatic and Total Information Management System will help the government automate the May 10 polls. “It’s really good because you pique the interest of the people. And when you do that, that’s when they’re going to explore how it works. It’s going to be a fun activity, and fun is always good for Filipinos," Avila told GMANews.TV in an interview. Last January, the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) dancing inmates, who gained worldwide fame online in 2007 by dancing to Michael Jackson’s "Thriller," danced with the Sexbomb Girls inside the prison to boost the campaign. — NPA, GMANews.TV