U.S. poll watch set in Cebu city

A mock election, live updates and other related activities concerning the Nov. 6 US elections will be held by the US Embassy at the Northwing Atrium of SM City Cebu at 10 a.m tomorrow.

According to the US Embassy website, a “US Election Watch 2012” activity will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be open to the public. A similar program will be held by the US Embassy at SM North Edsa in Manila.

A “US Election Watch” was held in SM City Cebu and the Marriot Hotel four years ago where invited Cebuanos held  a mock poll to vote for  either  Barack Obama of the Democrats or Republican challenger John McCain. Obama won the 2008 election (and the Cebu straw poll), becoming the first black American president.

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Brian L. Goldbeck will travel to Cebu for the first time to open the event which he said will be “an exciting time” for Americans and Filipinos alike.

“I look forward to meeting new Cebuano friends and sharing with them this proud democratic tradition of the United States,” said  Goldbeck.  Aside from live updates, election trivia, a free photo booth and election-related information will be issued through interaction points.

Goldbeck said tomorrow’s event would give Cebuanos an opportunity to learn about the American election process from U.S. Embassy representatives.

For their part the Aquino administration said it was prepared to continue working with President Obama or establish relations with Romney should the Republican challenger take the White House.

“Whoever wins—whether it be Republican or Democrat—we will continue to work with the United States,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told Palace reporters yesterday.  Secretary Ricky Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, said as much.

“The Aquino administration has good relations with Republicans and Democrats and is ready to work closely with whoever is the choice of the American people,” Carandang said in a brief statement.

“We would expect that the current thrust of US-Philippine defense cooperation would remain essentially unchanged regardless of whether Mr. Obama or Mr. Romney wins the election,” he said. With an Inquirer report