Improbable, you might say, but it has actually worked in the US for three consecutive elections, according to Jose Victor Paterno, president & CEO of Philippine Seven Corporation. Indications that Barack Obama will win first showed in the informal poll called 7-Election that 7-11 conducted along with prominent global news networks CNN and USA Today, he added.

The Philippine version of 7-Election works this way: each 2010 presidential candidate is represented by a color-coded cup (for example: yellow for Noynoy, orange for Villar, blue for Gordon, green for Gibo etc.) There are cups for “minor” candidates and the abstaining or “undecided” portion of the populace. The presidentiables are assigned a specific barcode, which 7-Eleven cashiers will scan upon purchase of their Gulp drinks.

Anyway, I do love the colorful cups. I think they’re a nice memorabilia of the coming crazy por crazy elections

All votes will be carefully audited and may be verified at the official 7-Election website. Here, the public can view updates on detailed polling results and may even share their vote through Facebook.

To safeguard the integrity of their informal polls, 7-Eleven has vowed not to run out of candidates’ cups or drinks. They also claimed to be apolitical and non-partisan.

They expressed hopes that their promotion will be a fun way of “feeling the pulse” of the public on the forthcoming national elections, considering 7-11′s strong network of 450 stores nationwide.

Mr. Paterno added that their US exercise showed surprisingly accurate results. There was only one to two per cent discrepancy between actual numbers from US voters versus 7-Election participants. Hopefully, this kind of outcome will continue in the Philippines – and that’s supposing people who buy Gulp drinks aren’t underaged, or aren’t wise enough to mass purchase the GULP cups to favor trending for a particular candidate.

BTW, Ate Glow wants to have her own cup too! (Photo taken at the official promo launch in the Rockwell Tent)

Hot off the press: the Noynoy Aquino video first shown on ABS-CBN tonight. Have you watched it yet?

Honestly, I got goosebumps when I saw this. My American husband says the one thing with Noynoy is that he’s catching the imagination of the apathetic Filipino people and that’s a good thing.

Most notable is the fact that Noynoy is spending the least among the presidentiables. The star-studded Hindi Ka Nag-iisa video itself is described as a “love offering from entertainment and advertising industry professionals.”

Regine Velasquez is shown singing the Noynoy anthem, which makes you think why Sharon Cuneta and Ogie Alcasid aren’t lending their voice when they’re also in it. Also seen in the video: Kris Aquino (of course), Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Anne Curtis, Mariel Rodriguez, Ai-ai de las Alas, Boy Abunda and some others.

Expect the yellow Philippine Islands shirt Noynoy is wearing to be in vogue as election fever heats up. It seems I want to buy one now.

Honestly, the only thing that daunts me about a Noynoy Aquino presidency is the prospect of Ai-Ai and Boy Abunda holding Cabinet or consultative advisory positions. I dread Noynoy asking Boy Abunda’s magic mirror when he wants to be enlightened on important national decisions. Okay, am joking. Now back to business…. show business

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