Hard lesson learned about voter's registration in the city.

Yesterday, I woke up as early as 3:30 am. I prepared the things I need, then at around 5:00 am, I left home. The destination: Quezon City Hall. Reason: To register for the upcoming 2013 Elections.

I arrived at City Hall and already, thousands of people have already settled in lining up for the voter's registration which will begin at 8:00 am. I also heard from fellow registrants that some people came in lined up as early as 11:00 pm, the previous night. So I settled in for the long wait. Well, I belong in what is at the moment is the largest congressional district in the country. The second district of Quezon City which has a population of 1.5 million people. However in the upcoming elections, the 2nd district will be split into three separate districts. Batasan Hills (where I belong), Commonwealth, Holy Spirit, Payatas and Bagong Silangan will remain in District 2 with the population reduced by 60% to around 600,000+, while the Fairview and Novaliches areas will become District 5, and the Tandang Sora area becomes District 6. Both districts will have over 400,000+ residents each. So there were a lot of people who lined up in our district unlike the other districts in the city because their voting populations are relatively smaller than in District 2, and the fact the lines for these districts are not too long as we had.

I was able to meet people who were there also taking a shot on getting registered for the upcoming elections. A few hours after I lined up, we were able to get close enough and had a view of the district office. I though I'll be able to register.

Then the worst happened. The security guard at the asked all of us to "GO HOME". We would not be able to register today. There is a quota per district of only 600 registrants per day. Judging by the population of the district, it was too small as the voting population is four times greater than the other districts in the city. I never lost hope. I was still hoping to get the opportunity to register. But then, something happened that made me more pissed about registering on that day.

The whole system was really poor! The people in the COMELEC office were very rude in dealing with the people, not minding the people's causes. They could have told us to leave earlier if they knew that we were not going to make it through the line and we've not met the quota. They could have given us spots or numbers to register on a later date. Instead, they asked the people who did not make it through to simply GO HOME! and try your luck until the last day on the 31st.

Well it could also be a fault on my part, for not registering early when the lines were not long and when I had time in the summer. It's just for most of the registration period after the summer, I was in school working through the everyday struggles of school life in and out of the university. I did not have plenty of spare time for other commitments outside of school work. It was unfortunate on my part, to register in a very huge district population-wise and not knew about the thousands of people were coming in for their registration.

Disappointed, well I can't do anything to resolve it anymore. So afterwards, I went back to my high school Alma Mater. Claret School of Quezon City to take a glimpse of the campus. Took time to visit the church next door, and went out around Matalino Street and check on the different spots. A lot has changed there from the last time I was roaming this street.

For now, I won't be able to vote next year in the upcoming elections. I'm not going back on the last day tomorrow to push my luck to get registered, because I know a lot of people will come in the most inconvenient times of the day. Though, the upcoming election is not for a new president as only the senators and the local elections from representative to the city councilor will be elected next year. It was a hard and tough lesson learned for me. Despite that, I'd still have my voice to be heard about the upcoming elections. So, in the next election in 2016. I would come in to register as early as possible. I hope by that time, the COMELEC offices for the newly formed districts will be up so that the lines would not be as long as this year.

BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME!
K-Smoove

A new season is upon us.

After the craze of collegiate basketball in the Philippines has come and go for the year. As well as the continued battle for Philippine basketball supremacy in the PBA. Basketball never stops.

As another season of the world's best basketball league is upon us. In a few days, the 2012-13 NBA season will begin and a lot of basketball fans from all over the world will be on watch once again as the best basketball players in the world compete for basketball supremacy.

In a lockout-shortened season. The Miami Heat, withstood the odds, as well the millions of "haters" who rooted for their demise all-season long as they were able to bring a second NBA title to South Beach at the expense of the young Oklahoma City Thunder. Giving LeBron James his very first NBA title and a Finals MVP trophy to complement alongside his third season MVP trophy of his career as well as a Olympic Gold Medal which he won at the 2012 Summer Games in London accomplishing a feat that was also done by Michael Jordan in 1992. It also gave Dwayne Wade a second NBA title alongside Udonis Haslem who are the two members of the Heat who remain from the team that won the title in 2006. It also gave Chris Bosh his very first alongside LeBron, Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, Shane Battier, Norris Cole and other players their first NBA titles.

The off-season also saw a lot of player movement, here are some to name a few:

• Dwight Howard and Steve Nash leave Orlando and Phoenix respectively to done the purple and gold of the Los Angeles Lakers.  
• Jeremy Lin taking "Linsanity" from New York to the Houston for the Rockets where memories of Yao Ming are still fresh on the heads of Rockets fans.
• Ray Allen leaving Beantown for South Beach to play for the Heat.
• Andrew Bynum leaving Tinsletown to play in Philly for the 76ers.
• Andre Igoudala heading to the Mile High City to play for the Nuggets.
• Joe Johnson leaving the ATL to play with the new-look and newly-relocated Brooklyn Nets.
• Jason Terry taking his talents from Dallas to Boston for the Celtics.
• Jason Kidd also left Dallas, this time to play for the Knicks in New York.
• Luis Scola leaving Houston to play for the Suns in Phoenix.
• OJ Mayo, Chris Kaman, Elton Brand and Darren Collison heading to Big D to play for the Mavericks.
• Jamal Crawford going to the Clippers from Portland.
• Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields heading north of the border for the Raptors.
• Most Improved Player Ryan Anderson as well as Robin Lopez going to the Big Easy for the Hornets.
• And more recently, reigning Sixth Man of the Year James Harden as well as 3 other players heading to the Rockets from the reigning West Champions OKC Thunder for Kevin Martin and rookie Jeremy Lamb.

We also players, make their returns back into the NBA, as well as players returning to their former teams. Here are some notable returns:

• Brandon Roy who retired at the end of the 2011 season returns to action. This time, he will play for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
• Andrei Kirilenko also joins the Timberwolves after playing in Europe.
• Goran Dragic returns to the Phoenix Suns after spending a season and a half in Houston.
• Lamar Odom returns to the Los Angeles Clippers after a disappointing year in Dallas.
• Mo Williams returns to the Utah Jazz, the team that drafted him to the NBA.
• Raymond Felton returning to the New York Knicks from Portland.
• Kirk Hinrich returns to the Chicago Bulls after playing in Atlanta.
• and here's a shocker for me. Rasheed Wallace comes out of retirement to play for the New York Knicks.

The rookie class of 2012 is also to watch out. Looking forward is the #1 overall pick in the draft for the New Orleans Hornets in Anthony Davis and his famous "unibrow" teaming up with the #10 pick in Austin Rivers (son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers) leading the cause in the Big Easy. Also to watch out is the #2 pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in Charlotte, #3 pick Bradley Beal for the Wizards, #4 pick Dion Waiters in Cleveland, #7 pick Harrison Barnes in Golden State, #9 pick Andre Drummond for the Pistons. Also look out for sleepers in Thomas Robinson, Jeremy Lamb, Tyler Zeller, Jared Sullinger and Perry Jones III to name a few good rookies.

With these in mind here are some games to look out for, and also if available I'll also give out the channels to watch here in the Philippines. All dates and times in PHT (Philippine Time) and are subject to change.

Opening Day October 31, 2012:

Celtics @ Heat, 8:00 am PHT on Basketball TV

Championship Ceremony for the Miami Heat

Mavericks @ Lakers, 10:30 am PHT on ABS-CBN

The season debut of the new-look Lakers

November 1, 2012 (Halloween Day in the US):

Spurs @ Hornets, 8:00 am PHT on NBA Premium TV.
Anthony Davis makes season debut for the young Hornets against Tim Duncan and the veteran Spurs.

November 2, 2012:

Knicks @ Nets, 7:00 am PHT on Basketball TV

Another crosstown rivalry is born in New York City.

Thunder @ Spurs, 9:30 am PHT

Rematch of last year's Western Conference Finals

December 18, 2012:

Rockets @ Knicks, 8:30 am PHT on NBA Premium TV

Jeremy Lin returns to New York as a member of the Rockets.

December 26, 2012 (Christmas Day in the US):

Celtics @ Nets, 1:00 am PHT

Atlantic Division rivarly renewed.

Knicks @ Lakers, 4:00 am PHT

Kobe and the loaded Lakers vs Melo and the revitalized Knicks

Thunder @ Heat, 6:30 am PHT

The first game between last season's finalists.

January 18, 2013:
Heat @ Lakers, 11:30 am PHT on Basketball TV

LeBron vs Kobe. A possible match-up for the NBA title.

January 28, 2013:

Heat @ Celtics, 2:00 am PHT (most likely delayed telecast on ABS-CBN)

Ray Allen's return to Boston.

January 31, 2013:

Lakers @ Suns, 11:30 am PHT

Steve Nash returns to Phoenix as a Laker.

February 8, 2013:

Lakers @ Celtics, 9:00 am PHT on Basketball TV

You can't miss the greatest rivalry in NBA history.

February 11, 2013:

Lakers @ Heat, 4:30 am PHT (most likely delayed telecast on ABS-CBN)

LeBron vs Kobe Part II

February 15, 2013 (Valentine's Day Game in the US):

Heat @ Thunder, 9:00 am PHT on Basketball TV

The Heat return to OKC against the team they beat for the title.

February 16-18, 2013:
2013 NBA All-Star Weekend from the Toyota Center in Houston, TX.

March 21, 2013:

Heat @ Cavaliers, 7:00 am PHT

LeBron returns to Cleveland as a champion.

April 8, 2013:

Lakers @ Clippers, 3:30 am PHT (most likely delayed telecast on ABS-CBN)

LA's cross-town rivalry one last time for the year.

Also you have to consider these two guys returning to the the court from injuries.

Derrick Rose's return: TBD

Ricky Rubio's return: TBD

You can check the full TV schedule of NBA games to be shown in the Philippines on this link and there are good games to look forward to: http://www.nba.com/schedules/international_nba_tv_schedule.html

I'm hoping a great season for the Red Nation of the Houston Rockets. I cannot wait to see the recently formed "Rush Hour" duo of Jeremy Lin and James Harden. A lot of young players on a completely overhauled Rockets roster this season. I'm hoping that they can get back to the playoffs for the 1st time since 2009. The sky is the limit for these Rockets. Indeed, A NEW AGE has begun for Rockets basketball.

Note: Jeremy Lamb (center right) is now a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder after being traded as part of the deal which brought James Harden to Houston.

For the Rockets, first game is against the Pistons in Detroit on November 1. While their home-opener will be against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 4. (*Dates are in Philippine Time)

So I like to say the best of luck to all the players, coaches as well as the fans of the other 29 teams of the NBA. This season will be more exiting to look forward to.

THIS SEASON WILL BE BIG!
K-Smoove