Roughly 8,000 people made the pledge to register and vote in the May 2010 national elections last July 30, 2009 during the Rock the Vote 2009 Cagayan de Oro City leg held at Xavier University Gymnasium, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao.

Rock the Vote is a musical cum advocacy show which aims to encourage people especially first time voters to register at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and exercise their right to suffrage. Rock the Vote is also a part of the ongoing Register and Vote (RV) campaign, which is led by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.

Pangilinan, along with author Atty. Alex Lacson, AKBAYAN Party List Rep. Risa Hontiveros and Bayan Muna Party List Rep. Teddy Casino, led the reading of a unity statement which declares commitment to bring about needed change through being a responsible voter.

Students from various Cagayan de Oro schools, young adults who have yet to register, stakeholders, representatives from various sectors of society and private citizens from CDO, Bukidnon, Butuan and other areas in Northern Mindanao converged and declared their support to the ongoing RV campaign.

Popular bands Hale and Spongecola and crooner Luke Mejares performed during the Cagayan de Oro Rock the Vote show.

Earlier that day, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing between Pangilinan and COMELEC, representatives of NGOs, media groups, business groups and private organization groups took place. The MOA signified all parties’ commitment to encourage more people to register and vote. All parties agreed that to register and vote is an essential role that each Filipino must play.

After the MOA signing, Pangilinan then proceeded to a Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) forum where he led the distribution of hundreds of Certificates of Land Ownership Agreement (CLOAs) to beneficiaries from South Bukidnon, North Bukidnon, CDO, Agusan and Camiguin, among others.

Pangilinan then proceeded to Mindanao University of Science and Technology for an advocacy forum. Despite the rain, hundreds of students, teachers and school administrators gamely stayed and listened to Pangilinan. Joining the independent senator were Lacson and Casino. The three urged the students to further strengthen their voice as citizens of the country by voting in the 2010 national elections. Pangilinan reminded the students that they only need to bring a single valid ID during registration.

After the MUST forum, Pangilinan, Lacson and Casino proceeded to the Cagayan de Oro College, where they were joined by Hontiveros and former Bukidnon Rep. Neric Acosta. A similar advocacy forum took place.

Check out these photos Mindanaoan – blogger in Mindanao took during the Rock the Vote 2009 CDO leg:

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Very special thanks to ASTERISK Events and Communications, Team Oro Photo and Video Coverage group, Atoy Martinez High Definition Video and to the CDO Bloggers. Mindanaoan would also like to thank all media colleagues as well as Maxine and TJ for their support. If you wish to tap ASTERISK Events and Communications for events management, photo and video coverage, public relations services, advertising and media relations services, please don’t hesitate to CONTACT THEM here. You can also CONTACT TEAM ORO through this form.

On a personal note, Mindanaoan would like to thank Lizel, Julie and most especially Sir Jojo. Daghang salamat!

ALL PHOTOS FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE ARE COURTESY OF IRENE, a Mindanao-based photographer, journalist, events organizer and publicist. Contact her here.