ANGAT PILIPINO

The Angat Pilipino is a large helium balloon tethered to the ground that shall be utilized as a ride and observing platform for 50 people at a time. It uses Manila hemp as tether with a carabao-and-cart design as ground connection. Thrusters are installed to auto stabilize the whole structure. Pilipino symbols are used as design inspirations for balloon and gondola – Pilipino eagle, duyan, jeepney.

The site grounds are modeled after the Ifugao rice terraces, an often overlooked Pilipino accomplishment that surpasses the Great Wall of China. Buildings on the ground will be based on the bahay kubo, bahay na bato, bahay sa kahoy, Mindanaoan house, Cordillera house and other Pilipino architectural designs.

An option for thrill-seekers is the ability to slide down as a thrill ride. There will be 20 minutes per ride to maximum altitude. Binoculars will be provided on board together with video cameras connected to wide screen T. V.’s inside and in the buildings on the ground.

It follows the London and Singapore wheels concept of an attention getting-structure expressing a Pilipino art and inspiration to greater Pilipino accomplishments.


© Sulong Pilipino
18 April 2009

Why we Pilipinos lost in the 2010 Electronic Elections, Or How to build a more Pro Pilipino Election System

Even assuming that the 2010 Electronic Elections is implemented flawlessly, we Pilipinos already lost. We lost at least P7 billion leasing a system that can only be used once, and that will remain the property of Smartmatic. Oh they can do a PR by donating these machines to the COMELEC since the money they were paid surely have covered the cost plus of the machines. But in 3 years time in the next elections most of these will already be faulty.

We lost because most of the money will go out of the Philippines.

We lost because instead of employing mostly local experts in the hardware and software, we did not.

We lost because instead of assembling the hardware here, it was done in China.

We lost because, as Jun Lozada said, it was again vendor-driven instead of user-driven.

In the next elections, we have to implement a more pro Pilipino Election system.

Where after the election the hardware can be used for educational purposes

Where local experts are employed in the design and manufacture

Where assembly happens in the Philippines

Where the software is open source and open to everyone to assess its security

Where there are no ballots to transport

Where additional communications facilities built for it can be used later for public interest use

The concept design of Appropriate Systems is

PC–based with open source software using a cellphone to transmit and printing out a receipt

It is GUI touchscreen with 2 panels, the candidates on the left and the selected ones on the right

Receipt will be deposited on the ballot box for audit purposes

02 May 2010 23:15