Yahoo's Erwin Oliva (left) and 100ARAW.com's Tonyo Cruz signed the agreement April 28 in Taguig City.

100ARAW.com today formally signed an agreement with Yahoo! on cooperation in covering the May 10, 2010 automated elections.

Tonyo Cruz, 100ARAW.com founder and editor, and Erwin Oliva, Yahoo! country editor for the Philippines, signed the agreement at the Yahoo! offices in Net Cube Center, The Fort, Taguig City.

Under the agreement, 100ARAW.com would submit and Yahoo! would publish election-related reports, photos and videos related to the May 10 polls.

In a brief statement, Cruz said that

Filipinos know and love Yahoo! websites and services.  That Yahoo! is a mainstay in Filipinos’ online lives is not lost on us who are excited to see how the country’s first automated elections would proceed, and how social/new media would be able to play a role on reporting on this important event.

Recommended reading: Yahoo! Purple Thumb

Taking off from purple-colored thumbmarks that signify our participation in the electoral process, Yahoo! Philippines today formally launches in Makati City its Purple Thumb microsite for the 2010 elections.

Through Purple Thumb, voters can “join real-time election conversation, discover more about the presidential candidates, and share images on Meme“.

Speakers at the forum include: Alan Soon, Yahoo! Southeast Asia managing editor; Joey Alarilla, Yahoo! Southeast Asia social media editor; Erwin Oliva, Yahoo! Southeast Asia Philippine country editor; journalists Ellen Tordesillas, Luz Rimban, Howie Severino, Arlene Burgos and Katrina Sandejas Manosa; columnist/TV host/blogger Manolo Quezon; Janette Toral of DigitalFilipino.com; Comelec spokesperson and blogger James Jimenez; Margaux Salcedo, spokesperson of former President Estrada; Kabataan Partylist Rep. and blogger Mong Palatino; Gang Badoy of RockEd; and Noemi Dado of Blogwatch.ph.

“We believe that social media serves as an important platform in the coming elections. With help of our content partners, the Purple Thumb website will bring Filipino people the most comprehensive election news as it happens,” said Jack Madrid, Yahoo! Philippines country general manager.

In his opening remarks, Madrid said the Philippines can look at US President Barack Obama’s social media campaign to find out how to leverage the new tools for the elections and beyond.

“Social media makes us inclusive, not exclusive. If we use social media, we can level the playing field. But we must know our responsibilities,” said Madrid.

The Philippines is a bastion of Yahoo! in Southeast Asia, with many of its services the preferred by many Filipino netizens over others.