{"id":218,"date":"2009-04-09T23:50:14","date_gmt":"2009-04-09T13:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/?p=218"},"modified":"2009-04-09T23:50:14","modified_gmt":"2009-04-09T13:50:14","slug":"raffy-garcia-selfless-filipino-by-tony-joaquin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/?p=218","title":{"rendered":"Raffy Garcia: Selfless Filipino  by Tony Joaquin"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" \/><meta name=\"ProgId\" content=\"Word.Document\" \/><meta name=\"Generator\" content=\"Microsoft Word 11\" \/><meta name=\"Originator\" content=\"Microsoft Word 11\" \/>\n<link href=\"file:\/\/\/C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cdino%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml\" rel=\"File-List\" \/><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" name=\"place\" downloadurl=\"http:\/\/www.5iantlavalamp.com\/\"><\/o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" name=\"City\" downloadurl=\"http:\/\/www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\"><\/o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:Compatibility>    <w:BreakWrappedTables\/>    <w:SnapToGridInCell\/>    <w:WrapTextWithPunct\/>    <w:UseAsianBreakRules\/>    <w:DontGrowAutofit\/>   <\/w:Compatibility>   <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4<\/w:BrowserLevel>  <\/w:WordDocument> <\/xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState=\"false\" LatentStyleCount=\"156\">  <\/w:LatentStyles> <\/xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object  classid=\"clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D\" id=ieooui><\/object> \n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<style> <!--  \/* Font Definitions *\/  @font-face \t{font-family:\"Arial Narrow\"; \tpanose-1:2 11 5 6 2 2 2 3 2 4; \tmso-font-charset:0; \tmso-generic-font-family:swiss; \tmso-font-pitch:variable; \tmso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;}  \/* Style Definitions *\/  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal \t{mso-style-parent:\"\"; \tmargin:0cm; \tmargin-bottom:.0001pt; \tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:12.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";} p \t{mso-margin-top-alt:auto; \tmargin-right:0cm; \tmso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; \tmargin-left:0cm; \tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:12.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";} @page Section1 \t{size:595.3pt 841.9pt; \tmargin:17.0pt 17.0pt 17.0pt 17.0pt; \tmso-header-margin:35.45pt; \tmso-footer-margin:35.45pt; \tmso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 \t{page:Section1;} @page Section2 \t{size:595.3pt 841.9pt; \tmargin:17.0pt 17.0pt 17.0pt 17.0pt; \tmso-header-margin:35.45pt; \tmso-footer-margin:35.45pt; \tmso-columns:2 even 14.2pt; \tmso-paper-source:0;} div.Section2 \t{page:Section2;} --> <\/style>\n<p><!--[if gte mso 10]> \n\n<style>  \/* Style Definitions *\/  table.MsoNormalTable \t{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\"; \tmso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; \tmso-tstyle-colband-size:0; \tmso-style-noshow:yes; \tmso-style-parent:\"\"; \tmso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; \tmso-para-margin:0cm; \tmso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; \tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:10.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-ansi-language:#0400; \tmso-fareast-language:#0400; \tmso-bidi-language:#0400;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<p class=\"Section1\">\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">For many of us, whenever we hear the word \u201chero\u201d the image that comes to mind is that of one courageous person sacrificing his life to save his comrades in battle. That is the stereotype that we grew up with. However, over the years we have been seeing real heroes. Ordinary Filipinos doing what they usually do day by day and achieving a measure of attention because of their deeds.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">To mention a few, we heard of the taxi driver who found a packet of cash by the thousands left by a passenger and readily turned the whole envelope to police authorities and who later found the real owner who was extremely thankful to the honest driver.<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">Another event focused on the bravery and selflessness of a young girl who despite serious burns on her back due to a fire was able to rescue five brothers and sisters out of the burning house to safety. However, the person I am featuring today belongs to a different category.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"> <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">He has made great strides not in the area of sacrificing his personal safety but in using his technical know-how to assist his country improve and develop important government systems, thus revolutionizing very important functions affecting millions of Filipinos.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">The person, I am happy to refer to is Raffy Garcia, whom I first met as a fellow Rotarian decades ago when I joined my first Rotary club \u2013 the Rotary Club of Pasig. Raffy, soft spoken [in fact too soft to hear him as he speaks] who eventually became a close friend and client<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><br style=\"page-break-before: auto\" clear=\"all\" \/> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">those times back in <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">Manila<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> when I managed my own small atelier. Over the years, Raffy has serviced a lot of clients the world over, and now he owns a conglomerate under the Mega Computer banner. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">Some years back, knowing his expertise in the field of computer technology, Raffy was commissioned to examine and create improvements that would streamline the facilities and procedures of the National Bureau of Investigation particularly in the area of character \u201cclearances.\u201d Having succeeded there, Raffy was able to invent a new system that greatly accelerated and modernized the system of renewing and issuing drivers licenses in the Land Transportation Commission.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">Today, both institutions are functioning more professionally and efficiently, thanks to Raffy Garcia. If one would meet Raffy at any gathering it is possible that one could mistake him for a humble employee in the way he dresses and speaks. But once you get to know and learn about him as an entrepreneur and pioneer in the field of computers since the early sixties, one will just look at the person with complete awe.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">Still unaffected by his two creations, for there have been others he seldom speaks of and which are being used in other countries, Raffy thought of the delicate function in a democratic government \u2013 that of the voting process.<br \/>\nMany thinking Filipinos have always lamented the dire situation of our voting system \u2013 and many crooked politicians have mastered the corruptive practices by now \u2013 represented by the phrase \u201c<em>dagdag bawas<\/em>\u201d which is self explanatory.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">So, Raffy and his technicians once again put on their thinking caps and created a new system using all the modern technical developments in computer technology that would produce a voting mechanism and system that was fast and tamper-proof. This product, which Raffy patented, he offered to the Philippine government for its use &#8212; free of charge.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">Raffy named it <strong><em>Botong Pinoy<\/em><\/strong>. Raffy proudly presented the product and briefed officials of the Comelec and related government entities to his creation as a total voting system developed for use in the coming Philippine elections. Before this invention, for it is a new invention strictly speaking, the voting system was so faulty that corrupt practices known to both parties were endemic. What many dub as <em>\u201cdagdag bawas<\/em>\u201d was actually rampant cheating during and after the ballots have been cast. In fact, many trapos [traditional politicians] enjoyed using the old system riddled with corruption, which they already knew how to manipulate.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><strong><em><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">Botong Pinoy<\/span><\/em><\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"> is composed of three modules which can operate individually by themselves, but which can easily be integrated to form one complete election solution. Raffy made sure that the system he developed has built-in safeguards against fraud and manipulation, and has specific design features to help even the disabled voters. Some skeptical politician said that judging from the reaction of many to the phrase \u201cfree from fraud and manipulation,\u201d the system is in danger of not even being approved by higher authorities involved in the voting process.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">After Raffy identified the problems that have plagued past elections such as <em>dagdag-bawas<\/em>, vote buying through <em>kadena,<\/em> <em>lansadera<\/em> and carbon-copy, ghost voting and substitute voting, multiple registration, illiterate voters, slow voting because of having to write the names of candidates, and came up with solutions until each and every one of the problems had been solved.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">But, Raffy\u2019s offer of a pro bono graft-free system of voting was turned down. Of course he was downhearted but sadder still was he for his countrymen especially because here was a system that can finally assure really honest elections in his country, and it was shot down. \u2013 ?<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For many of us, whenever we hear the word \u201chero\u201d the image that comes to mind is that of one courageous person sacrificing his life to save his comrades in battle. That is the stereotype that we grew up with. However, over the years we have been seeing real heroes. Ordinary Filipinos doing what they [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=218"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}