Monday, February 12, 2007 (Philippines)

KISSING FOR THE BOOKS. Couples pucker up during the annual festival called Lovapalooza, held Saturday night in Pasay City. The Philippines was trying to regain its old title from Hungary, in the Guinness World Records, of having the most number of couples kissing at a given time by gathering some 6,124 pairs. (AP Photo) WITH the manual conduct of the May 14 polls, the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) P400-million equipment bought in 2004 will continue to gather dust at the local poll offices. Local poll officials already said the automation of the election process cannot be implemented in time for the coming elections for lack of time, logistics and legal basis. And while the Supreme Court has not approved poll automation, the voting, counting, recounting, canvassing and transmittal of election results will be done manually, Cebu City Election Officer for the North District Marchel Sarno said. [full story]