Pinoys worldwide start registering for 2013 polls

Filipinos around the world started registering as overseas absentee voters (OAVs) this week for the 2013 midterm elections. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the OAV registration in many areas began last November 2, with overseas-based Filipinos lining up to register. The OAV registration will continue until October 31, 2012. Germany In Germany, the first registrant was Melanie Steinmetz, a native of Daanbantayan of Cebu who is married to a German national. She last registered as a voter in the Philippines in the late 1990s and has been residing in Germany since 2002, according to the DFA. The DFA said she "expressed her joy and excitement at being able to vote abroad and thereby fulfill her civic duty." "Four applicants were processed at the Consulate during the first day of registration, the oldest being a 42-year old civil servant and the youngest being a 28-year old housewife," it said. The Consulate intends to also conduct mobile/field registration services to reach out to Filipinos residing in far-flung localities in the six German federal states under its jurisdiction. Australia In Australia, the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney said Filipino engineer Jerry Peñas and his wife Jacqueline were the first to register as OAVs. "Mr. and Mrs. Peñas came to the Consulate together with their three-year-old daughter to apply for an NBI clearance," it said. Peñas has been working in Sydney for the past three years as project engineer for the contractor company, Leighton Contractors Pty Limited. He participated in the first OAV in 2003 while based in Taipei. The couple had to register again as their names are no longer in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) list of voters, including OAV. The Consulate will continue its information campaign to encourage more members of the Filipino community to register as overseas absentee voters. Timor-Leste In Timor-Leste, the Philippine Embassy in Dili said the first registrant was Fe Singidas Bandrang, a resident of Timor-Leste since 2002. A total of 17 registrants attended the first day of OAV registration, it said. "The conduct of the OAV exercise was a one-country team effort with the Embassy's attached agency, with the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché augmenting the Embassy's lean staff complement," it said. Guam In Guam, the Philippine Consulate General in Agana said the first registrant was Sarah Jane Dimaano Davis, who recently arrived in Guam from Olongapo City. Consul Edgar Tomas Auxilian congratulated Davis for being the first OAV registrant on the continuing registration for the 2013 polls. The Consulate is open Mondays through Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., (except during Philippine holidays) to accept applications for registration. - VVP, GMA News