ABS-CBN’s “Boto Mo, I-Patrol Mo: Ako ang Simula” (BMPM) was initially launched Monday during the network’s top-rated morning show Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG).

The campaign calls on young Filipinos to get involved in the upcoming elections as early as a year before the polls by going out to register and by being involved in citizen journalism.

The initial activities--registration of first-time voters and BMPM volunteers--were held on Monday at the historic La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) gymnasium where the first quick election count happened in 1986.

Of the 302 UKG audience-members from different barangays in Mandaluyong City, 150 registered as first-time voters.

The event also gathered 174 new BMPM “patrollers,” or BMPM volunteers. BMPM volunteers will receive invitations to different seminars conducted by ABS-CBN on elections.

Mildred Ople, a leader of YouthVote Philippines, said BMPM volunteers have a responsibility to report election-related irregularities.

“From voters’ registration, campaigns of politicians, and any irregularities of the Commission of Elections (Comelec), they report as should every responsible citizen,” Ople said.

For instance, in 2007, a citizen used MMS video to show how indelible ink could be erased with the use of alcohol.

Commitment wall

On Monday, first-time voters and BMPM patrollers also signed the Commitment Wall where they wrote down reasons for joining and registering.

One said, “Kung hindi ako makikialam ngayon, magsisisi ako for the next six years kung pangit ang gobyerno.”

Another said, “Sa simpleng pagreregister, ito na ang simula ng pagbabago.”

A BMPM volunteer wrote, “This is the easiest and simplest way to contribute to the 2010 elections.”

BMPM volunteers also helped in different registration sites in Pampanga, Cebu and Davao.

First-time voters and volunteers lined up in the different BMPM and Comelec booths in LSGH, Pampanga, Cebu and Davao.

These were chosen as key places for the BMPM volunteer registration and the first-time voters’ project because these are vote-rich areas.

In Davao, there were around 200 BMPM patrollers and 195 newly-registered voters as of 11:30 am.

ABS-CBN's Ces Drilon reported that although there are less than a million registered voters in Davao, it is still an influential area in Philippine elections.

In Cebu, there were 230 BMPM volunteers while Comelec captured 113 first-time registered voters, as of posting.

YouthVote

The LSGH registration closed as early as 9:00 am because of rental difficulties and school schedule.

“It did affect how many people registered today. Some people woke up late, but they could coordinate with YouthVote if they want us to conduct registration in their areas,” Ople said.

She added that a lot of the attendees were disappointed because they were not accommodated due to time constraints.

Attendees included students and youth organizations from Angeles University Foundation, Central Luzon State University in Nueva Ecija, Baliwag University in Bulacan, University of Regina Carmeli, Hagonoy Young Leaders program, Polytechnic University of the Philippine, Jose Rizal University, University of Rizal Systems, University of the Philippines Los Baños, and University of Perpetual Help Laguna

Although the LSGH registration closed early, registration sites in Pampanga and Davao would set to end at 5 pm.

Registration in Cebu will continue until the end of the YouthVote’s “Bisrock Concert” at 10 pm. -- report from Maria Althea Teves, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak