This year, it’s not only the president who’s reporting about the state of the nation. Starting Monday (July 20), Filipinos worldwide who have joined the Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula movement will get a chance to deliver their own state of the nation address (SONA) on national television through ABS-CBN’s “SONA Mo, iPatrol Mo.”

Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo’s citizen journalists or “Boto Patrollers” are encouraged to send their take on the real situation of the country to ABS-CBN by text, voice message, email, or video.  The best contributions will be aired in “TV Patrol World,” “Bandila,” and “Umagang Kay Ganda” starting next Monday (July 20) in the run-up to and during President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s own State of the Nation Address on July 27.

“Through “SONA Mo, iPatrol Mo,” we hope to flesh out the true condition of the country based on how “Boto Patrollers” see it from their communities,” ABS-CBN New Media Manager Arlene Burgos said.

ABS-CBN news executives recently flew to Davao and General Santos cities to conduct citizen journalism workshops for “Boto Patrollers,” such as storytelling, video recording, and journalism ethics.

To participate in “SONA Mo, iPatrol Mo,” registered “Patrollers” should key in ireport(space)name(space)address(space)message, and then send their pictures or videos with caption to 2366. “Patrollers” may also send their entries online by email. They have to type their names and Patroller IDs on the subject line and attach their picture or video, short captions, or the links to these pictures or videos, and then send it to ireport@abs-cbn.com. Submissions will be accepted from July 18 to 24.  

The 3rd ANC Leadership Forum will be aired on ANC (SkyCable channel 27) at 7 p.m. on July 28, with replays on Studio 23 on August 1 at 6 p.m. and on August 2 at 10:15 p.m. on ABS-CBN Sunday’s Best. Invited to the forum are Vice President Noli De Castro, Senators Francis Escudero, Francis Pangilinan, Loren Legarda, Manuel Villar, Manuel Roxas, as well as Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca.

ABS-CBN also continues its drive in mobilizing some nine million new voters to register in partnership with the Commission on Elections on July 29 (Wednesday) in Dagupan, Bacolod, and Zamboanga cities.  

“‘Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo’ is a countdown to change.  We need new voters to change traditional politics and make the 2010 elections work,” said Maria Ressa, ABS-CBN Senior Vice President for News and Current Affairs.

Since the launch of “Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula” last May 11, over 15,000 Filipinos have signed up to become “Boto Patroller” citizen journalists who will report election-related anomalies using their cell phones and the Internet to ensure clean and honest elections.

BMPM recently welcomed another partner in Life Haven, a non-government organization that represents People with Disability (PWD).
Join “Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula” by keying in REGBMPMname/age/gender/address then sending to 2366 for Globe and Sun subscribers and 231 for Smart and Talk N’ Text subscribers, or online by logging in at www.abs-cbnnews.com.

For updates on the “Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula” campaign, stay tuned to ABS-CBN, ANC, Studio 23, and DZMM, or visit www.abs-cbnnews.com/botomo or subscribe to http://twitter.com/abscbn_halalan  and http://botomoipatrolmo.multiply.com/  for the latest election updates.