05212024.Web.Banner Xavier Ateneo News

By: Keziah Loucille P. Mallorca, SIAP Program Officer

Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, in collaboration with the Commission on Elections Region 10 (COMELEC 10), successfully conducted a voters’ education and automated counting machine (ACM) demonstration on 22 and 24 January 2025. This initiative is part of COMELEC’s nationwide ACM roadshow, which aims to showcase the new ACM for the 2025 Midterm Elections and provide participants with a hands-on voting experience.

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Participants from COMELEC Regional Office 10 and XU SIAP during the Voters’ Education and
ACM Demonstration Roadshow on 22 and 24 January 2025.

The first demonstration took place on 22 January 2025, at the XU Senior High School Covered Court, with 894 Grade 12 students in attendance. Many of these students had already voted during the 2024 Barangay and SK Elections, but this event marked their first exposure to the automated counting machine for this year’s election. The demonstration was led by Atty. Gina Luna Zayas-Sabio, Regional Election Attorney of COMELEC 10.

Following the voting demonstration, Jamilah Anne Macasimbar, Vice President of the Xavier University Senior High Student Government (XUSHSG), encouraged her fellow students to register and vote for the upcoming and future elections. “Our votes hold power – power to influence decisions, create change, and build a community that reflects our collective aspirations,” she emphasized.

The second ACM demonstration was conducted on 24 January 2025, at AVR 1, Old Library, XU Main Campus. This session was attended by students from select Theology and History classes.

Dr Juliet Q Dalagan, Vice President for Higher Education, opened the event roadshow with encouraging words for the students, “As members of a Filipino and Jesuit university like Xavier University, we are called to be men and women for others, guided by values of integrity and service. Casting your vote is one of the most meaningful ways to live out that mission as we help shape the future of the Philippines.”

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XU students participated in the automated counting machine (ACM) demonstration led by COMELEC X.

In addition to the voting process demonstration, Atty. Sabio discussed essential election information, including important dates and guidelines for election day. She covered topics such as proper shading techniques, the number of candidates to select, and post-voting procedures. The session also featured a video presentation on vote buying, which was emphasized by the resource speaker. “We should really be vigilant when it comes to who we vote because the power [to choose our leaders] really lies in the people, in us.” shared Jellian Burgos, a first-year AB Economics student, reflecting on her key takeaways from the session.

With the upcoming elections on 12 May 2025, Xavier Ateneo is actively engaging in various electoral activities. Beyond voters' education, the university, through its Social Involvement and Advocacy Program (SIAP), plans to organize candidates' fora, stakeholder conversations, and additional voting demonstrations in the near future. On election day, Xavier Ateneo will also engage in the actual monitoring of the electoral process in partnership with NAMFREL

The success of the Voters’ Education and ACM Demonstration Roadshow was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, including the Social Development Cluster through the Social Involvement and Advocacy Program (SIAP), the Office of the Vice President for Higher Education, the Office of the Vice President for Basic Education, XU Senior High School, and COMELEC Region 10.