The Philippine Internet Users' Society (PIUS) is an organization for everyone and has strong advocacy towards the empowerment of everyone through computer and internet access.  Yet, PIUS is non-partisan in order to create a venue for exchange and wider support for its advocacy.

As an individual however, I would like to give my sharing on two people who will be figures in the 2010 elections and who in their careers have shown a non-political, non-gimmick and non-TRAPO sincerity in supporting information technology and internet access.

These persons are Nicanor "Nick" Perlas and Party list Representative Teddy Casino.

First is Nicanor "Nick" Perlas.  Nicky as he is called by most of his acquaintance will run for president in the 2010 elections.  He has 40 solid years of fruitful and successful public service.  Among the issues that he always support is on giving focus to the innovation of Filipinos in information technology and the empowerment of internet users and the new media.  He is one of the few people who recognizes the need and importance of internet access for everyone and the power and voice that the internet gives to ordinary citizens.

Nick Perlas is advocating for the advancement not only of call center jobs but also of encouraging I.T. students to innovate and to support this innovation so that they can further help boost the country and its economic condition.  He is supportive of information technology and internet access that nurtures the capacity and the multiple intelligence of the Filipino nation.

The second is Teddy Casino.  Teddy Casino had been advocating for a bill on the utilization of Free and Open Source Software by government agencies.  This FOSS bill if approved will greatly reduce government spending and encourage a better system for every government agencies that can be made tailor fitted to the agencies' functions.  Despite strong opposition from some sectors that profits from non-open source standards Casino is very determined to get the bill passed because he believes that in the end what is necessary is to have a software that is both cost-effective and functions according to what it intends to do.

Teddy Casino's FOSS campaign mirrors the sentiments of majority in the industry today like Mozilla, IBM, Linux and many other who advocates for Open Standards.  They believe that through this innovation, creativity and better software, systems and programs can be developed.

As part of the information technology sector and as a contributor in this particular sector I am very convinced that by voting for Nick Perlas and Teddy Casino and by working side by side with them we can be assured of a better internet and information technology sector in our country.  A better sector that will not only produce profits and money but will also help our country and its people.

So personally, I pledge my vote to both Nick Perlas and Teddy Casino.

What about you?