Maniolas

Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez demonstrates how the vote-counting machine (VCM) works, during a congressional hearing on poll automation, Tuesday. Senator Koko Pimentel urged the Comelec to provided printed receipts to allow voters to check if their votes were properly scanned.(MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – A man claiming to be an automated elections expert said the vote-counting machines (VCM) that will be used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the May elections are vulnerable to hacking and manipulation. Dr. Jin Battung, who claims having ties with the Israeli founders of instant messaging app Viber, said the claims that the VCM’s source code was “unhackable” meant nothing as it was the machine’s algorithms that the Comelec should be concerned with. “This one, it is hackable… Don’t talk about source code. Ano ba ang source code? Panloloko lang ‘yan. Source code? There’s nothing there. What you have to do- algorithim… ,” Battung said in a media forum on Saturday. Battung said that suspicions about the VCM’s capabilities would’ve been eradicated if the Comelec let each party observe the VCM’s algorithm with their own bevy of experts. “Kung yung algorithm, yun yung ipakita nila, yung PDP-Laban, from Liberal, from Nacionalista, kunghi-hire ng kanya-kanyang IT expert- papasok kaming IT expert and then we run off the algorithm, dun namin makikita kung yan nga ang lumalabas,” he said. “Kasi yung algorithm nun, iba dun sa sinasabi ng PCOS (precinct-count optical scanners). I’m very sure of that,” Battung continued. However, time has run out Read More …

Vice President Jejomar Binay meets members of the Filipino-Chinese Club at the Manila Hotel on Friday. Binay promised to pursue the present administration’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipinong Program (4Ps) and implement changes in the Bureau of Internal Revenue.(MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday fired back at the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay for claiming that the administration may resort to cheating to help its bets win in the May elections. United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) secretary-general JV Bautista on Friday said that the administration has “the capability to cheat by manipulating the vote-counting machines or exploiting the Commission on Elections.” “It’s always a possibility that the Liberal Party (LP) will exploit the flaws of the electronic elections. It is not far-fetched that the party will be using the VCM to manipulate the results of the election,” Bautista added. He also said the LP has already started cheating by buying votes through the conditional cash transfer program, and lying that Binay will stop this scheme if he wins as president. In a radio interview Saturday, Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III said the Binay camp only made the allegations because it failed to downplay the corruption allegations against the vice president. Quezon pointed out that the Office of the Sandiganbayan on Friday has formally charged the vice president’s son, former Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, for graft and falsification of public documents. The elder Binay is also tagged in the complaints in connection with the allegedly anomalous bidding and construction of the Read More …

Julie Anne San Jose (MNS Photo) Singer Julie Anne San Jose has been single by choice for some time now as she opts to focus on career. It’s paid off for her with “Deeper,” her second album under GMA Records released in 2014, already selling a total of 45,000 units. The Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) recognized the feat last Jan. 24 with chair Marivic Benedicto awarding the young singer-actress a plaque on “Sunday PinaSaya.” A happy Julie Anne said, “I never expected na mari-reach ng album ’yung ganu’ng status. I feel really blessed and thankful that the Lord allowed me this new achievement.” Her previous recording feat was a Diamond certification for her 2012 eponymous debut album. The singer has paid her dues, so to speak. Her career in show business started on the now-defunct singing competition “Pop Star Kids.” She went on to prove herself more than just a singer by going the acting route, beginning in 2008 with a supporting role on Gil Tejada’s ”Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan;” followed by appearances on “Maynila,” “Andres de Saya,” “Pepito Manaloto,” among others. Her biggest break was on the 2015 afternoon series “Buena Familia” where she plays the role of the spoiled music artist, Darlina Buena. A memorable moment on the show was when her character got a huge slap on the face from Olga, played by Aicelle Santos. Ever the trouper, Julie Anne simply looks back at the experience with fondness. “Masakit siya pero okay lang kasi Read More …

Bailey May (MNS photo) Starting out young in show business has it pros and cons. Whereas many of the young actors would sometimes trade playtime for childhood memories comprised of work and more work, getting their foot in the door early gives them a lot of exposure and opportunities to hone their craft. These days, this young gun aims to make a mark in the entertainment industry. 13-year-old Bailey May, who most people know as the Fourth Big Placer on “Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) 737,” has been enjoying his fair share of attention with his boy-next-door looks and affable persona. The so-called Global Gwapito ng UK started his showbiz journey via social media, posting various videos of himself singing Sean Kingston and Ed Sheeran covers, among others. Impressed with his abilities, singer-songwriter Jamie Rivera immediately offered the young man a record deal even before the teen made it on “PBB.” “We asked if he’s interested in coming over to the Philippines and try show business here… and he said he wants to,” Jamie related. The deal didn’t push through then. Instead, Bailey tried his luck inside the Big Brother house. “It just so happens na ‘PBB’ was about to start na din at the time,” Jamie said. The two reconnected some months after Bailey finished his stint on “PBB” and picked up where they left off: He recorded an album with Jamie as his producer. Bailey’s eponymous debut CD under Star Music is now out in the market. It includes Read More …