Updates from Montreal-based election observers in the Philippines

Reverend Shaun E. Fryday, from the Beaconsfield United Church in west-end Montreal, is in the Philippines as part of the People’s International Observers Mission (PIOM) for the crucial May 10, 2010, elections. He is in Abra in the mountainous Cordillera region of northern Philippines and is putting up his thoughts and photos on a blog : http://web.me.com/roc9/Shaun_in_the_Philippines/Rev._Shaun_Fryday/Rev._Shaun_Fryday.html

Rev. Fryday reports from Philippines as elections get underway:
It's ten minutes to six morning of May 10th as I write this note to you. We were to have departed for our area site visits at five but the driver of the jeepney (ed --Philippine public vehicle) was threatened last evening when we were visiting the congresswoman’s home. We are making new arrangements and hope to set off in the next hour. Again, I'm not concerned and our being here is to document this type of activity.

Also, Stefan Christoff, a Montreal-based journalist, musician and community organizer who is well-known to many CAP-CPC members, is observing the elections in the huge urban poor town of Payatas on the outskirts of Manila. He is sending regular updates on the elections via Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/spirodon

Stefan’s latest addition (7:08 am, May 10) : “at payatas elementary school, some voting machines not working just as voting is to start #piom @ancalerts”