Election’s just 4 months away and as early as now we can see that the candidates for the coming May 2010 elections are starting their campaigns. We need to get to know them and make the best decision of whom to vote for. Others would say that it is best to vote for the lesser evil because all of them have hidden motives.

From the past elections, I just guess who to choose for the party-list groups. Not aware of their responsibility in the Philippine politics, I choose the party-list base on their names. But after the election, I have learned that they have a very important role in the Philippine Government.

The party-list system was conceived in 2001 to ensure that marginalized sectors are given representation in Congress. For the May 2010 Philippine National Elections, each of the Party-List Groups must submit a list of five nominees not later than March 6. They will take House seats in case they are elected.

The Party-List groups have different advocacy which you have to check if they will do us benefit or it’s for their personal intentions.

Below are the list of the Party-List groups accredited by the Philippine Commission on Elections for the May 2010 Philippine National Elections:

1. 1-AANI

2. 1-Aangat Pilipino (1-AK)

3. 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy (1-CARE)

4. 1-Ako Babaeng Astig Aasenso (1-ABAA)

5. 1Guardians Nationalist of the Philippines Inc. (1Ganap/Guardians)

6. 1st Kabalikat ng Bayan Ginhawang Sangkatauhan (1st KABAGIS)

7. A Blessed Federation of Farmers and Fishermen International inc. (A Blessed)

8. Aangat Tayo (AT)

9. Abakada Guro (ABAKADA)

10. Abang Lingkod Inc. (Abang Lingkod)

11. Abante Ilonggo (aba Ilongg)

12. Abante Katutubo Inc. (Abante Ka)

13. Abante Mindanao (Abamin)

14. Abante Tribung Makabayan (ATM)

15. Abono

16. Action Brotherhood for Active Dreamers Inc. (Abroad)

17. Action for Democracy and Development for the Tribal People (Add Tribal)

18. Action for Dynamic Development Inc. (ADD)

19. Act Teachers

20. Action League of Indigenous Masses (ALIM)

21. Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao para sa Lupa, Pabahay, Hanapbuhay at Kaunlaran (Ako)

22. Adhikain ng mga Dakilang Anak ng Maharlika (ADAM)

23. Adhikaing Alay ng Marino sa Sambayanan Inc. (Alon)

24. Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba (ATING KOOP)

25. Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action Cooperation and Harmony Towards Education Reform (A Teacher)

26. Advocates for Special Children and the Handicapped Movement (Asahan Mo)

27. Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples Right Alliance (A-IPRA)

28. Agbiag Timpuyog Ilokano (AGBIAG)

29. Agila Pwersa ng Nagkakaisang Magsasaka (AGILA)

30. Agila ng Katutubong Pilipino (AGILA)

31. Agri-Agra na Reporma para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement (AGRI)

32. Agrarian Development Association (ADA)

33. Agricultural Section Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP)

34. Ahon Pinoy (AHON)

35. Akap Bata

36. Akbay Pinoy OFW-National (APOI)

37. Akbayan Citizens Action Party (Akbayan)

38. Ako Ayoko sa Bawal na Droga (Ako)

39. Ako Bicol Political Party (AKB)

40. Aksyon Magsasaka Partido Tinig ng Masa (AKMA-PTM)

41. Aksyon ng Mamamayang Nagkakaisa (Amana)

42. Alagaan Natin Ating Kalusugan (Anakalusugan)

43. Alagad

44. Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation (Alay Buhay)

45. Alay sa Bayan ng malayang Propesyunal at Repormang Kalakal (Abay Parak)

46. Alliance of Advocates in Mining Advancement for Nation Progress (AAMA)

47. Alliance for Barangay Concerns Party (ABC)

48. Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD)

49. Alliance for Philippines Security Guards Cooperative (AFPSEGCO)

50. Alliance for Rural Concerns (ARC)

51. Alliance for Association of Accredited Workers in the Water Sector (1-TUBIG formerly AAWAS)

52. Alliance for Bicolnon Party (ABP-Bicolnon)

53. Alliance for National Urban Poor Organizations Assembly Inc. (ANUPA)

54. Alliance for People’s Organizations (APO)

55. Alliance of Regional Coalitions Against People’s Povery (ARCAPP)

56. Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE)

57. Alliance Transport Sector (ATS)

58. Alma sa Paghihikahos at Ignorasya (ALMA)

59. Alyansa ng Mamamayang Naghihirap (ALMANA)

60. Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz (AMS)

61. Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan Inc. (AGHAM)

62. Alyansa ng Bayanihan ng Magsasaka, manggagawang Bukid at Mangingisda (ABA)

63. An Waray

64. Anak Mindanao (AMIN)

65. Anak Pawis (AP)

66. Ang Agrikultura Natin Isulong (AANI)

67. Ang Asosayon Sang Mangunguma Bisaya-Owa Mangunguman (AAMBIS-OWA)

68. Ang Galing Pinoy (AG)

69. Ang Laban ng Indigong Filipino (ALIF)

70. Ang Ladlad LGBT Party (ANG LADLAD)

71. Ang Mata’y Alagaan (AMA)

72. Ang Tao Muna at Bayan (A TAMBAY)

73. Angat Ating Kabuhayan Filipinas (ANAK)

74. Arts Business and Science Professionals (ABS)

75. Atong Paglaum

76. Asosasyon ng mga Maliliit na Negos-yanteng Gumaganap (AMANG)

77. Association for Righteousness Advocacy in Leadership (ARAL)

78. Association of Laborers and Employess (ALE)

79. Association of Administrators and Professionals and Seniors (AAPS)

80. Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC)

81. Babae Para sa Kaunlaran (BABAE KA)

82. Bago National Cultural Society of the Philippines (BAGO)

83. Bagong Bayan na nagtataguyod ng Demokratikong Ideolohiya at Layunin (BANDILA)

84. Bagong Henerasyon (BH)

85. Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency (BANAT)

86. Bayan Muna

87. Bayani

88. Batang Iwas sa Droga Foundation (BIDA)

89. Bigkis Pinoy Movement (BIGKIS)

90. Binhi-Partido ng mga Magsasaka Para sa mga Magsasaka (BINHI)

91. Biyaheng Pinoy Labor Association (Biyaheng Pinoy)

92. Biyayang Bukid

93. Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (Buhay)

94. Butil Farmers Party (Butil)

95. Champions for Innovative Employment (CHINOY)

96. Citizen Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC)

97. Citizen Power Movement (CPM)

98. Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens in the Country (SENIOR CITIZENS)

99. Cocofed-Philippine Coconut Producers Federation (COCOFED)

100. Coconut Farmers Association of Linamon Lanao del Sur (COFA)

101. Confederation of Nonstock Savings and Loan Association Inc. (CONSLA)

102. Cooperative Natcco Network (COOP-NATCCO)

103. Democratic Independent Workers’ Association (DIWA)

104. Filipino Muslim Organization (FIL-MUS)

105. Firm 24-K Association (FIRM 24-K)

106. First People’s Representative for Indigent Student Athletes (1ST PRISA)

107. Gabriella Women’s Party-List (GABRIELLA)

108. Green Force for the Environment Sons and Daughters of the Mother Earth

109. Itenerant Vendors Alliance of the Philippines (IVAP)

110. Kababaihang Lingkod Bayan sa Pilipinas (KLBP)

111. Kabalikat ng Mamamayan (KABAYAN)

112. Kabataan party-list

113. Kabukluran ng mga Kababaihang Filipina sa Timog Katagalugan (BUKLOD FILIPINA)

114. Kalahi Sectoral Party (KALAHI)

115. Kalinga Advocacy for Social Empowerment and Nation-Building Through Easing Poverty (KALINGA)

116. Kapatiran ng mga Nakakulong na Walang Sala (KAKUSA)

117. Kasangga sa Kaunlaran (ANG KASANGGA)

118. Kasosyo Producer-Consumer Exchange Association (AA-KASOSYO PARTY)

119. Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan All Filipino Democratic Movement (KAAKBAY)

120. Katribu Indigenous Peoples’ Sectoral Party (KATRIBU)

121. Kaunlaran ng Agrikultura Asensadong Bayan Probinsiya Angat ng Bayan (KAAGAPAY)

122. Koalisyon ng Katutubong Samahan ng Pilipinas (KASAPI)

123. One Advocacy for Health Progress and Opportunity (1-AHAPO)

124. Organization of Regional Advocates for Good Governance Onward Nation Building (ORAGON)

125. Pamilyang OFW-SME Network Foundation (OPO)

126. Parents Enabling Parents Coalition (PEP)

127. Partido Katutubong Pilipino (KATUTUBO)

128. Partido Manggagawa (PM)

129. Pilipimo Association for Country – Urban Poor Youth Advancement and Welfare (PACYAW)

130. Pro-active in Climate Change Leaders (PCL)

131. Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA)

132. Social Movement for Active Reform and Transparency (SMART)

133. Sulong Barangay Movement (SB)

134. The True Marcos Loyalist (For God, Country and People) Association of the Phils. (BANTAY)

135. Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)

136. Una ang Pamilya (1 ANG PAMILYA), which is formerly Alliance of Neo-Conservatives (ANC)

137. United Movement Against Drugs Foundation (UNI-MAD)

138. United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK)

139. Vendors and Traders of the Philippines

140. Veterans Freedom Party (VFP)

141. Women Power (WPI)

142. Yes We Can

143. You Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP)

144. Youth Leagues for Peace Advancement (LYPAD) – By Sheila Crisostomo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)