In July, immediately after the May 1992 Synchronized National and Local Elections, Operation MODEX, which stands for Modernization and Excellence, was born in a strategic planning seminar in Tagaytay City which was participated in by all COMELEC key officials from the Chairman and the Commissioners, down to all the department and regional directors. In this seminar, modernization of the electoral process was identified as one of the eight (8) components of Operation MODEX. Thus began the modernization efforts of the COMELEC under the able leadership of then Chairman Christian S. Monsod.