FNF Philippines 2013 | 1

2 | i am free
Our campaign Its All
About Freedom took the
international center stage
in 2013. Our foreign friends
from the Council of Asian
Liberals and Democrats
(CALD) and the Alliance
of Liberals and Democrats
for Europe (ALDE) visited
Manila and participated
in our Freedom Run and
attended the Freedom
Speech on 10 November,
and were awed by the
immense support for
our advocacy against
corruption. On November
28-29, we had the chance to
present our programs under
Its All About Freedom
at the World Forum for
Democracy in Strasbourg,
France, where we also
garnered the most number
of votes in the online voting
contest. 13,416 yes votes
on whether our campaign
promotes democratic
innovation clinched us the
top spot. Thank you!
It was a good year for us
and for the Philippines
that has become a wonder
of growth. The Philippine
economys performance
vis--vis the other ASEAN
member-states showed
that its growth rate was
the second best in the
region, only next to China.
Message
This success is largely due
to the governments anti-
corruption drive, creating
a remarkable new-found
confdence.
However, there remains
a lot of work to be done.
Senator Bam Aquino
in his Freedom Speech
acknowledged that There
is one freedom that we still
need to take care of as we
experience this growth.
We need to make sure that
many of our countrymen
are free from poverty, that
they experience this type
of growth as much as the
upper socio-economic class
is able to experience.
This is the challenge, but
it is not an impossible
task if we sustain the good
governance efforts of the
Aquino Administration,
that also stands for honest
politics. We can go back
to Kung Walang Corrupt,
Walang Mahirap as our
mantra. This is why FNF
Philippines continues to
instill its slogan i am free
from corruption and engage
as many individuals in its
programs because it is the
role of both government
and citizens to eradicate
corruption.
The reforms have started
and the Philippines is
slowly harvesting the fruits.
The country may have
experienced a number of
tragedies in 2013, most
notable of which was super
typhoon Haiyan in the
Visayas, but the Filipinos
resilience steadily moves
them forward. The country
knows that the eyes of the
world are upon it and it
shall not step out of the
limelight.
JULES MAATEN
Country Director,
FNF Philippines
On the occasion of the
20th anniversary of the
Council of Asian Liberals
and Democrats (CALD),
Prof. Dr. Jrgen Morlok,
Chairman of the FNF
Board of Trustees, lauded
CALDs accomplishments
in promoting liberalism in
Asia. The CALD founders
went against the tide with
their political ideals. CALD
has doggedly promoted
centrist, liberal-democratic
policies, making it evident
that there is no shame in
being a liberal. Liberalism
is now part of the political
furniture in most Asian
countries, he commended.
Dr. Morlok visited Manila
on November 8-11, 2013 to
join the celebration, and
to witness the Freedom
Run and to meet the liberal
Filipino network during the
Freedom Speech.
In his keynote speech at
the CALD Conference,
Dr. Morlok stressed the
accomplishments of CALD
in promoting liberalism in
Asia. The CALD founders
went against the tide with
their political ideals. CALD
has doggedly promoted
centrist, liberal-democratic
policies, making it evident
that there is no shame in
being a liberal. Liberalism
is now part of the political
furniture in most Asian
countries, he commended.
The event assembled 87
delegates from 17 countries,
including a delegation of
the Alliance of Liberals
and Democrats for Europe
(ALDE), headed by ALDE
Party President Sir Graham
Watson and Liberal
International President
Hans van Baalen, and of
FNF.
Dr. Morlok gun-started the
Freedom Run with over
3,000 participants in the
morning of 10 November,
and gave the opening
remarks at the Freedom
Speech in the evening.
Freedom is not a given. It
has to be conquered and
regained, every day, every
week, every month. Not just
that, society is evolving and
there are new freedoms to
be gained, for our countries
but even more so in our
private and social lives. New
generations emancipate,
and they want and need
new liberties, in their
personal relationships or in
economic life, for example.
As Liberals we recognize
and appreciate that. We are
part of their quest, he said.
Dr. Morlok was also among
foreign guests who were
awarded the Philippine
Freedom Spark.
Liberalism as Political
Furniture in Asia
FNF Philippines 2013 | 3
The Friedrich Naumann
Foundation for Freedom (FNF)
celebrated its 50 years of
international political work, with
partners from all over the world
sharing how the Foundation
helped in strengthening liberal
network that had made freedom
infectious.
German Foreign Minister Guido
Westerwelle, who was once a
recipient of an FNF scholarship,
addressed the staff and partners
of the Foundation at the reception
on 25 June 2013 at the German
Historical Museum in Berlin. He
commended FNF for building
bridges between politics and civil
society and instilling creating
democratic awareness that is
deeply rooted. Globalization has
become more than an economic
phenomenon. Today, there is also
globalization of values like our
common desire for freedom that
makes people and nations come
together, said Westerwelle. It is
our responsibility to mobilize our
government, the civil society and
the international community to
help those who are suffering from
authoritarian regimes. Ignorance
and intolerance should not be
on the way of freedom, said FNF
President Wolfgang Gerhardt.
FNF has more than 800
development partners in over 60
project countries around the globe,
and provides a meeting point for
liberals.
The 40 years of FNFs domestic
program was also celebrated at
the Summer Fest on 26 June 2013
at the Foundations headquarters
in Potsdam. More FNF scholars
expressed their gratitude for
FNFs support in allowing them to
widen their horizon to more than
their feld of study. Students are
involved in political work through
committee memberships on issues
like education and culture.
Akoy Malaya (I am free), the
theme song of FNF Philippines
Its All About Freedom campaign
was performed live by Filipino
singer-song writer Noel Cabangon
on both occasions. Cabangon
with veteran journalist Marites
Vitug who also attended the
FNF events, later met with the
Filipino community in Berlin for a
panel discussion on the political
and economic situation in the
Philippines. The program entitled
The Philippines On The Rise
was organized by the Philippine
Embassy in Berlin headed by
Ambassador Cleofe Natividad.
Exporting Freedom
4 | i am free
We need to ensure that
there is vibrant competition
between our industries, and
this means a discussion of
the anti-trust legislation.
This is in line with the
commitment of our
government to pursue a
level playing feld, and
sustain economic growth
for inclusive development,
said Batanes Rep. Dina Abad
at a forum entitled Liberal
Challenges for 2013-2016 on
13 June 2013 in Greenhills,
San Juan.
Former House Deputy
Speaker and now
Zamboanga City Mayor
Beng Climaco stressed
that government has to
be relevant to the people.
We are starting to see a
paradigm shift because
campaigns like Kung walang
corrupt walang mahirap
(If there is no corruption,
there is no poverty) have
not merely become slogans,
but people feel their true
meaning, said Climaco.
Climaco successfully
fought the entry of the
Jaloslos political clan in the
Zamboanga Peninsula.
The forum highlighted how
the reforms in the liberal
government have brought
back pride to Filipinos.
Let us involve our local
communities in governance.
Give them a sense of
ownership and in turn, a
sense of pride, remarked
Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog.
Similarly, non-governmental
organizations should be
given space to contribute
to politics. Members of
the civil society should
continue their political
activism so that more open
discourse on politics and
development will take
root, said Liberal Party
Vice President for Women
Vicky Garchitorena. LP set
up Mamamayang Liberal
(Liberal Citizens) composed
of citizens from different
sectors of society (labor,
farmers, urban poor, women,
youth). Mamamayang
Liberal is a good innovation
to harness support for the
party and its program. Its
changing the face of politics
and transforming LP into a
peoples party, commented
Garchitorena. The discussion
was facilitated by journalist
Marites Vitug.
The event was also a farewell
to LP Director-General Gladys
Sta. Rita. Gladys excellent
managerial skills will be
missed, expressed Jules
Maaten, FNF Philippines
Country Director.
Competition,
Inclusive Growth
Top Liberal Agenda
The German elections on
22 September 2013 brought
together Germans and
Filipinos at the German
Club in Makati City, all keen
to see what would happen
to chancellor Merkels
government coalition and
to their favorite parties
and politicians. Around
twenty members of the
International Academy for
Leadership (IAF) Alumni
Group of the FNF in the
Philippines attended the
event, discussing the German
electoral system and the
way in which the elections
were administered, as well
as the political situation
in Germany. When the
frst results came in by 12
midnight that showed the
liberal party FDP losing,
Filipino liberals contained
their disappointment and
expressed hope for their
friends in the FDP to bounce
back.
It was the frst time since the
party was founded in 1949
that FDP did not win seats in
the Bundestag. It is time for
some soul-searching, I hope
that they are able to bounce
back. The liberal voice will
be missed in parliament this
governing cycle, said IAF
Alumnus and Undersecretary
Chito Gascon. While it may
be diffcult and painful for
the FDP and for us fellow
liberals to accept the last
election results, we have to
remember that electoral
defeats do not and should
not defne us. What defnes
us liberals, if I must say, is our
openness to recognize our
limitations and correct our
mistakes. With this outlook,
I have no doubt that the
FDP will come out of this
situation as better, wiser and
stronger party, expressed
Council of Asian Liberals
and Democrats Executive
Director Lito Arlegue.
The domestic and
international work of FNF
continues, in spite the
election setback. FNF offces
around the world will now
play a greater role as it
moves to the forefront in
pushing for liberal reforms
in the political, social
and economic spheres in
Germany and across the
globe. There is plenty of
modern liberal thinking
power, competence and
commitment in the FDP to
bounce back convincingly.
Simply pull up your sleeves
and get going. That will be
so good for Germany and
for international liberalism,
said FNF Philippines Country
Director Jules Maaten.
German Elections
Debated in Manila
FNF Philippines 2013 | 5
Seek political power not
for its own end, but as a
means to actualize your
plans for the community,
said Department of Interior
and Local Government
(DILG) Secretary MAR
Roxas to 25 newly elected
local executives. Provincial
governors and vice
governors, and city and
municipal mayors gathered
at the Liberal Party National
Headquarters for a seminar
on local governance on July
16-17, 2013.
Together with the National
Institute for Policy
Studies (NIPS), the Local
Government Authority
(LGA), and the FNF
Philippines, LP designed
the program to familiarize
local executives with
issues like urban planning,
resource management and
climate change adaptation.
Move by design rather
than by default. Your bid
for reelection started two
weeks ago. Make the right
investments and people will
reward you with their trust
because good governance
is good politics, advised
Roxas.
Roxas explained that the
DILG is continuing the
grant of the Seal of Good
Housekeeping that the
late Interior Secretary
Jesse Robredo initiated,
albeit with higher criteria.
Local governments will get
scores based their 1) fscal
administration and disaster
preparedness, 2) programs
for the marginalized, 3)
implementation of law
and order, and 4) business
friendliness. Roxas also
emphasized on the
bottoms-up budgeting
approach that allow for
more consultations between
LGUs and CSOs.
It pays to have a good
roadmap, said LP Secretary-
General Rep. Mel Sarmiento.
He stressed LPs efforts to
transform the party into
a peoples party as more
ordinary citizens start
to become involved in
political affairs through
Mamamayang Liberal. We
are in a position where we
can implement the Social
Contract and help achieve
inclusive growth, added
Sarmiento. Sarmiento was a
former mayor of Calbayog in
Western Samar, which used
to be one of the poorest
cities in the country. He
reversed the towns defcit
and won several awards for
the city when he became its
three-term mayor.
Sarmiento mentioned
that he learned a lot from
peer sharing when he was
mayor, which was the
objective of the seminar
that LP organized for the
new local executives.
Several provincial governors
and city mayors came
as resource speakers
including Albay Gov. Joey
Salceda, Oriental Mindoro
Gov. Boy Umali, Romblon
Gov. Eduardo Firmalo, Sta.
Rosa City Mayor Arlene
Arcillas, Malolos City Mayor
Christian Nativitidad, and
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor
Oscar Moreno. Focus group
discussions as well as
private meetings were also
held.
Good Governance
is Good Politics
In the run up to the
mid-term elections
in May 2013 where
12 senatorial seats
and more than 18,000
local posts were at
stake, FNF Philippines
and the National
Institute for Policy
Studies (NIPS), with
the Liberal Party co-
organized a number of
seminars on electoral
campaign procedures.
Part of the program
was a demonstration
of how the Precinct
Count Optical Scan
(PCOS) operates, which
was conducted by
representatives from
the Commission on
Elections (Comelec).
The activities were
held at the House
of Representatives
in cooperation with
the Liberal Caucus of
Congressional Staff
(LCCS), in Balay Expo
Centro, Cubao, in Cebu,
in Cagayan de Oro, and
in Zamboanga City
through the Offce of
Hon. Beng Climaco.
There were over
100 participants in
attendance in each of
the seminar.
FNF Philippines 2013 | 5
6 | i am free
Civil society groups called on the public to vote for
leaders who will sustain the reforms that the Aquino
Administration has started, particularly on eradicating
corruption. At a forum entitled Leadership & Citizenship
Against Corruption held at Marriott Hotel in Pasay City on
28 February 2013, 140 representatives from government,
NGOs, the academe, business sector, and media, and
opinion leaders talked about how citizens could be part of
anti-corruption initiatives through the power of their ballot.
Elections should be the primary accountability tool. Make
the candidates personally answerable to you as the voter,
said Vince Lazatin, Executive Director of Transparency
& Accountability Network (TAN). Lazatin was one of
the panelists in the forum along with Inquirer opinion
columnist John Nery, Atty. Angela Garcia of the Asian
Institute of Management (AIM) and Peter Perfecto of the
Makati Business Club (MBC). Both AIM and MBC have
programs in promoting integrity in businesses.
Nery shared how the May 2013 elections had also prompted
journalists like him to come together and come up with a
covenant between media practitioners and political parties
and candidates to shun envelopmental journalism. (See
Page --.) But there was resistance, even from independent,
well-meaning journalists. For them, driving out corruption
in media is such a massive effort that a simple step like
signing a covenant against corruption was inadequate
and therefore not desirable, told Nery. The discussion was
facilitated by Tanya Hamada of INCITEGov.
The book Citizens Primer Against Corruption authored by
political activist Concepcion Asis was also presented at the
forum. This will be a bible of ordinary people that is easy
to read and understand, and hopefully encourage them to
act against corruption, endorsed Rep. Erin Taada. It will
be an integral part of the arsenal in the citizenrys crusade
against graft and corruption in the country, wrote Dr. Julio
Teehankee of De La Salle University about the book. Copy of
the publication may be requested from FNF Philippines.
Vote for Leaders
To Sustain Reforms
In a visit to Manila, German foreign
minister Guido Westerwelle showed
himself impressed with the progress that
the Philippines made in combating the
problem of corruption. After an extensive
meeting with the liberal president of the
Philippines, Benigno Aquino, minister
Westerwelle described the ongoing
prosecution of former president Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo and the impeachment
of chief justice Renato Corona as signs
that real change is happening. Guido
Westerwelle was in Manila on February
7-8, 2013, the frst visit by a high-ranking
German minister in the country in more
than 12 years.
On 12 April 2013, a delegation of the
German Bundestag that included the
foreign affairs spokesman of the liberal
Free Democrat Party (FDP) Dr. Rainer
Stinner, visited the Philippines. Dr.
Stinner expressed his admiration for
the persistence with which so many the
Filipinos stuck to the path of reforms.
Seeing how they consistently oppose
corruption and work for good governance
makes me optimistic about the political
and economic future of the Philippines,
he said during an evening organized by
the German political foundations.
Impressed with fght
Against Corruption
FNF Philippines 2013 | 7
Political parties and candidates
pledge not to engage in
envelopmental journalism, and
media practitioners and principals
commit neither to accept nor
solicit payment or any form of
compensation for media favors.
This is the gist of the covenant
signed by nearly 20 journalists and
politicians as a step in rooting out
corruption, which always swell
during Philippine elections.
The media and political parties
saw the mid-term elections in May
2013 as an opportunity for this
initial effort towards self-cleansing
and renewing our commitment to
public service. The covenant was
signed on 22 January 2013 at EDSA
Shangri-La by ABS-CBN chief Ging
Reyes, BusinessWorld chairman
Vergel Santos, GMA News Online
editor-in-chief Howie Severino,
Philippine Daily Inquirer publisher
Raul Pagdanganan, Rappler
editor-at-large Marites Vitug, TV5
chief Luchi Cruz-Valdez, Liberal
Party secretary-general Rep. Mel
Sarmiento and UNA secretary-
general Rep. Toby Tiangco, among
others.
The Liberal Party is very
supportive of this initiative. Its
time to walk the talk, announced
Sarmiento. He emphasized that
LP has always been an advocate
of transparent, accountable and
participative governance.
The event was spearheaded
by Media Nation, a network of
journalists that hold regular
dialogues to address issues on
Philippine journalism. On 09
November 2013, Media Nation
held their annual conference with
Sir Graham Watson, President
of the Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats for Europe (ALDE) as
keynote speaker. In his speech,
Watson emphasized that
the most important thing in
fghting corruption anywhere is
transparency. Sunlight is the best
disinfectant.
Both activities were organized
with the support of the FNF
Philippines.
Political parties, journalists sign
covenant against corruption
8 | i am free
All landmarks of freedom, all
venues of FNFs Freedom Run
during the summer of 2013.
At Fort San Diego in Gumaca,
Quezon, in Butuan, Agusan
del Norte which was the
center for cultural, religious,
and commercial relations in
Southeast Asia as early as 800
years ago, and in the shores
of liberation in Palo, Leyte
up to 1,500 runners gathered
and celebrated freedom and
campaigned for environmental
protection.
Running
Across
Country
Freedom Run invades
Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao
On 17 March, 195 kilometers
south of Manila, the Freedom Run
attracted 1,524 participants who
lined up as early as two oclock
morning to get their kalikasan
= kalayaan shirt (environment
= freedom) and run 3K and
5K to promote awareness on
the effects of climate change.
Giving the people a sense of
greater stewardship towards the
environment, Atty. Toby Taada
articulated, This freedom run has
shown a great picture of solidarity
in our district. May this mark the
frst step towards greater leaps for
the protection of our environment.
We have seen and felt the damages
brought by climate change,
especially in a coastal area like our
own provincial district. Now we
are called to be more proactive in
mitigating its effects and we can do
this by simple acts of volunteerism.
Toby is the brother of Rep. Erin
Taada who helped FNF organize
the Freedom Run in Gumaca.
An hour and 25 minutes fight
from Manila on 22 April brought
the Freedom Run to Butuan City.
Nearly 1,200 runners comprised of
youth, local leaders, government
employees, athletes and non-
government organizations ran 5
kilometers traversing the heart of
FNF Philippines 2013 | 9
the city. With the power crisis and
erratic weather conditions in the
citys midst, then Vice Mayor and
now Rep. Lawrence Fortun took
advantage of the Freedom Run to
address climate change issues that
plague their city and Mindanao as
a whole. We are running not only
to keep our bodies in shape but
more so to channel our energies
in heading activities that would
protect our environment and bring
progress to our communities,
said Fortun. The event was co-
organized by the People Power
Volunteers for Reform CARAGA
(PPVR), and the Offces of Mayor
Jun Amante and Vice Mayor
Fortun.
Palo, a municipality in Leyte in
the Visayas region, famous for the
historical landing of the Americans
that marked the beginning of
Philippines liberation from the
Japanese during World War II,
embraced the Freedom Run on 28
April. Approximately 1,200 runners
Palo was among the
areas hardest hit by
super typhoon Yolanda
when it battered the
Philippines on
8 November 2013. The
strongest storm recorded
to make landfall left
more than 5,600 dead in
the Visayas region and
over PHP 30 billion in
damages.
FNF offered prayers to
the victims especially
for the people of Palo in
its Freedom Run on 10
November 2013. Senator
Bam Aquino called for a
moment of silence before
he delivered his Freedom
Speech (see Page --).
FNF also collected
donations and is now
organizing activities for
local executives in the
Visayas to help them
build climate change
resilient communities.
took off down a seven kilometer
path from the towns plaza to the
historical MacArthur Landing Park
by the beach and back to the town
plaza where a short program was
held. The Freedom Run means
running an extra mile for greater
reforms, voiced Palo Mayor Matin
Petilla. We are taking steps to paint
the development green in Palo.
Although the road to climate change
adaptation in Palo is long and rocky,
we are not giving up. We are driven
by the growing number of people
who join us in this advocacy, added
then councilor and now Vice Mayor
Ronan Bolingling Reposar.
i am free echoed throughout
the country. There was
resounding support for the
protection of the environment
when there was food of
people in yellow exclaiming
kalikasan = kalayaan.
10 | i am free
FNF Philippines 2013 | 11
Dingdong Dantes, Marian
Rivera, Noel Cabangon, Vice
Mayor Joy Belmonte, and Former
Congressman Erin Taada, along
with 40 parliamentarians from
the Council of Asian Liberals and
Democrats (CALD) and the Alliance
of Liberals and Democrats for
Europe (ALDE), and more than
3000 runners trooped to Quezon
Memorial Circle on 10 November
2013 for the Freedom Run, showing
their support for the campaign
freedom from corruption.
Everyone turned up in the bright
yellow singlet with the slogan i
am free from corruption. A brief
moment at the fnish line with
famous television and movie
couple Dantes and Rivera became
another reason to complete the 3K
and 10K race. Runners cherished
the opportunity to stand by their
idols and know that they share
one cause. Dantes also produced a
video for the Freedom Run where
he said: Freedom means being
able to achieve ones full potential
and dreams. Dont let anyone
limit your freedom. Dont let
corruption leave you powerless as
an individual.
Senator Bam Aquino, Rep. Leni
Robredo, Former Senator Kiko
Pangilinan, European Union
Ambassador Guy Ledoux, Swiss
Ambassador Ivo Sieber, Leah
Navarro, Vicky Garchitorena, and
Coach Jim Saret similarly posed
as endorsers of the Freedom Run
through their video message.
Quezon City is proud to host
this years Freedom Run. We are
happy to see that so many people
are one with us in pursuit of
good governance. This event is a
confrmation that regardless of our
stature, we can all work together
to eradicate corruption, said QC
Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.
The activity was held in
partnership with the Local
Government of Quezon City,
Kaya Natin! Movement for Good
Governance & Ethical Leadership,
Laguna Lake Development
Authority (LLDA), Integrity Nation
Now, and YesPinoy Foundation.
Sponsors include CALD-ALDE,
McDonalds, Brooks, Axeia, Macro
Asia Corporation, Curves, and
takbo.ph
Over 3,000
Celebrity
Endorsers
Freedom Run brings
together politicians,
showbiz personalities,
and civil society
12 | i am free
Waving the
Yellow-Green
Flags
Rights-Based Approach
Teresa, Rizal produces hollow
blocks from pulverized plastic
and cement, charcoal from
recycled paper, and fertilizer out
of compost from biodegradable
refuse. Their Material Recovery
Facility (MRF) was started more
as compliance to Solid Waste
Management Act, but in the
end, it also addressed other
problems in the community like
unemployment. Through the MRF,
we were able to provide more jobs.
Consequently, people no longer
depended on the government for
their livelihood, proudly stated
Former Mayor Rodel dela Cruz who
started the initiative. We need
to sustain this project, not only
because the law requires requires
it, but also because the times call
for it, added incumbent Teresa
Mayor Raul Palino.
Climate Change as an
Opportunity for Market-
Based Reforms
Iloilo City actively promotes
the use of alternative energy by
allowing tax breaks to individuals
and business entities that
use environmentally-friendly
equipment or machineries in their
residential houses or commercial
buildings. For Mayor Jed Mabilog,
the local government passed the
ordinance to ensure that programs
especially those that help preserve
the environment, are continuing
and sustainable. The Iloilo City
Hall is also the frst green building
in the Philippines, and to this
Mabilog explains that he is guided
by management by example as
this would have a trickling effect
on business establishments and
the communities.
Participation of the
community
San Francisco, Camotes Island
prioritizes awareness and
information campaigns to make
sure that its residents grasp the
importance of environmental
preservation. The local government
also invests on capacity-building
programs and community
organizing work to equip its
constituents with skills on disaster
response. With this changing
climate, you will never go wrong
by putting people frst, said
Former Mayor Alfred Arquillano
when asked why the town puts a
premium on conducting seminars
and trainings. While the residents
did not participate in activities that
concern the environment before,
they became actively involved
when they understood how climate
change directly impacts their
families.
FNF Philippines 2013 | 13
FNF Philippines recognized the Yellow-
Green Flag towns on 10 November 2013
at Quezon City Memorial Circle. San
Francisco, Camotes Island, Teresa, Rizal
and Calbayog, Samar were identifed
as outstanding communities for their
environmental programs during the
Climate Change Governance Priority
Summit in November 2012. Yellow-Green
represents new energy and climate-
smart innovations (yellow) in ecosystems
protection and waste management and
overall ecological security (green). The
three towns including Iloilo City and
Paombong, Bulacan that also exemplify
best practice in climate change adaptation
were documented in a video, which was
also presented on 10 November.
The fve local governments highlighted
how they raise awareness on climate
change issues and encourage members
of the community to take part in
environmental programs. The Yellow-
Green Flag symbolizes freedom, openness,
dialogue and the participation of as many
sectors as possible in the discussion
of issues that concern us especially on
climate change, said Presidential Adviser
for Environmental Protection Secretary
Neric Acosta.
Yellow-Green Flag towns embody good
ecological governance, and works for
inclusive growth while building a climate-
adaptive and resilient society.
Future Best Leaders
Learn Todays Best
Environmental
Practices
Representatives from the
Kabataang Liberal (KL) and
the Filipino Liberal Youth
(FLY) visited Teresa, Rizal
on 9 August and Paombong,
Bulacan on 16 August,
respectively. KL witnessed how
Teresas MRF operates while
FLY got a tour of Paombong
coastal area teeming with
mangroves. The exposure trips
were part of their Strategy
Planning Workshops where
they also discussed youth
engagement in climate change
issues. The groups highlighted
intergenerational equity and
sustainable development as
important topics, and areas
where they could step in as
future leaders.
Convergence of national
and local efforts
Paombong, Bulacan has 6,000
hectares of coastal waters
compared to 4,464 hectares
of land. It is famous for its
vinegar that comes from
the nipa mangroves that the
town cultivates together as a
community, and which is also
the source of their livelihood.
Former Mayor Donato Marcos
lobbies for the inclusion of water
area in the computation of local
governments internal revenue
allotment (IRA) because the budget
is necessary to maximize the
potential of water resource. At a
time when coastal barangays are
also at risk due to climate change,
funding is important to construct
dikes to eliminate hazards.
Marcos who also became the
national president of the League
of Municipal Mayors noted that
of the 1,419 municipalities in the
country, 832 are coastal, which will
beneft if water area is included in
the IRA.
Availability of
information
Calbayog City, Western Samar
effectively uses its telemetering
system as an early-warning
response. It successfully utilizes
the device to provide weather
forecasts, which it announces
to the townsfolk immediately.
There is no way of telling when
calamity will strike, cautions
Mayor Ronaldo Aquino. He quotes
a saying daig ng maagap ang
masipag, which is similar to the
adage the early bird catches the
worm. The primary approach
the city applies in disaster
management is risk mapping. The
local government is conscious
of its geo-hazard areas and this
information is shared to the
communities.
FNF Philippines 2013 | 13
14 | i am free
Magandang gabi po sa ating lahat. Good
evening, everyone. Thank you, Tita Lea, for that
introduction. Im very happy that she didnt
give the campaign introduction. It seems like 10
years ago already, but it was actually just last
May when a number of us competed in the last
elections and won. Id like to thank the organizers
for giving me this opportunity to say a few words
tonight and, of course, to give the so-called
Freedom Speech.
Today is a somber day because the Philippines
just had the worst typhoon in this century, the
worst typhoon in the last 33 years. Before that,
we actually had a very massive earthquake also
in the Visayas. Before that - Mayor Beng is here,
we had 20 days of siege in Zamboanga City, and
before that, so many more different disasters and
calamities. It seems to me that this year many
Filipinos, in Tagalog, are bugbog, beaten up in
English, but Im glad to know that at the end of
the day, Filipinos, not only love our freedom, but
are resilient, God-fearing and loving people. So
before we begin, Id like to ask everyone to please
stand up and maybe just in our own way, say
a few words, spend a few moments of silence
thinking of many our countrymen who currently
have lost all of their possessions, many of our
countrymen who at this point still have not been
able to reach their families. Maybe in our own
way we can just think about them, and send
them our love and our support. (Pause.) Thank
you, thank you very much.
Freedom
Speech
SENATOR BENIGNO BAM AQUINO
14 | i am free
FNF Philippines 2013 | 15
Magandang gabi po sa ating lahat!
Good evening everyone! I would
like to acknowledge, of course, our
FNF Board of Trustees Chairman
Prof. Dr. Jrgen Morlok, Mr. Jules
Maaten, FNF Country Director,
good evening. The president of
Liberal International, Mr. Hans van
Baalen, to all the parliamentarians
from the Philippines and other
countries, government offcials,
friends, magandang gabi. Good
evening everyone!
Let me begin by telling everyone
that it is through times of crisis
and times of intense diffculty
that we get to look at ourselves
and again see what type of
people we are. Through the last
months where the Philippines
had so many, so many challenges
and diffculties, it seems that
Filipinos frst of all, at least in
my estimation, have four very
distinct characteristics. One is that
through all of these challenges
and diffculties, we still remain a
very welcoming, a very tolerant
and a very kind people. I hope
that our guests from abroad have
experienced this kindness and
this hospitality, hospitability that
Filipinos are very very open to
provide for our friends. Second,
as the tagline says, Its more fun
in the Philippines and its true.
I think, at the end of the day,
what makes the Philippines fun
are the Filipinos. Do you agree?
Defnitely! Third, I think, is that
were a very resilient people.
Whatever happens to this country,
whatever challenges faces our
people, Im certain we will be able
to rise again and move forward.
Do you agree with me? Yes! We
have experienced a number
of challenges, although I have
to admit more than usual this
year, but I am certain that our
resilience will be able to carry
us through. And fourth, we are
a freedom-loving people. In fact,
when we were formulating the
talking points for this speech, Ill
say it frst in Tagalog: Mukha po
talaga na ang paglaban at ang
pagmamahal para sa kalayaan
nasa dugo at lahi na ng mga
Pilipino. It seems to be engrained
in each Filipino, the love for
freedom and the willingness to
fght for our freedom. Many of our
national heroes, if not all of our
national heroes, were all freedom
fghters who fought against the
colonial powers. They were all
quite young actually. If you look at
Jose Rizal, at the turn of the 19th
century, he was in his 30s and
in his late 20s when he started
the cause for freedom. Andres
Bonifacio and many other heroes
were also quite young, and many
of them were freedom fghters
that we look up to even now. In
my childhood, which was during
Martial Law, many of the heroes
we look up to, and of course I
would have to - I hope you dont
mind if I mention my uncle Ninoy
Aquino, who of course is one
of the people we look up to as
someone who fought for freedom
in our country.
It seems that many of our heroes
were freedom fghters and this
inspiration carries through all
of us even today. In the 80s, we
showed the world how much we
loved our freedom, how much
we were willing to fght for our
freedom, and how much we were
willing to die for the freedom that
was lost to us. During the 80s we
were known as a freedom-loving
16 | i am free
many Filipinos seemed to be over. But these days
when we look at the cost for freedom, we have
to move beyond freedom in terms of the political
sense and move towards another freedom - some
would say, an even more diffcult freedom that we
all need to work towards and that we all need to
work together for, and this of course is freedom
from poverty.
These days, the Philippines has the best growth
in South East Asia. We are the top country in the
ASEAN when it comes to growth. In fact, there are
even quarters when we outpace China, or when
we match China. The growth that we have GDP-
wise is the envy of many of our European friends,
and many of other North Asian neighbors here in
the region. And yet even with this immense and
phenomenal GDP growth, we still experience very
crippling poverty. It seems to me, and this is the
same for many of our leaders here, and especially
our president, that as we experience phenomenal
growth, we need to see that this growth reaches all
parts of the Philippines to truly make it inclusive
growth. If you look at the growth of the Philippines
in the last couple of quarters, many people will
say that we are now the Breakout Nation of South
East Asia from being the sick man of Asia just
three years earlier. Many people will say that with
the investment rating of the Philippines, we are
poised to enter the developing world, much like
our ASEAN neighbors. And yet dear friends, there is
one freedom that we still need to take care of as we
experience this growth. We need to make sure that
many of our countrymen are free from poverty, that
they experience this type of growth as much as the
upper socio-economic class is able to experience.
This, my dear friends, is the challenge our country
faces today.
If you look at the images of yesterday and the
other day of Typhoon Yolanda, when you look at
the devastation in Leyte as slowly the images start
coming to our TV screens and newspapers, you see
massive desolation. Of course, those that are most
devastated are the houses built out of wood, built
out of scrap material. The houses which are concrete
are damaged, but you can see clearly that just
maybe, with some help and some support they can
get back on their feet much quicker. In our country,
unfortunately, many of our countrymen have
experienced poverty, which has been with them
since they were young, which has been in their
family since their parents and their parents parents,
and we have to break this cycle in our country.
people, and it seems that at that point in time,
when we fought for our freedom, when we were
able to kick out the dictatorship, when we were able
to regain our democracy, the fght for freedom for
The good thing is there are
ways that we can actually
break this cycle of poverty.
FNF Philippines 2013 | 17
The good thing is there are ways that we can actually
break this cycle of poverty. We need to invest in
agriculture - Senator Kiko here is one of the advocates
of agriculture these days. We need to invest in our
farmers. Our farmers currently have an annual
income of P23,000. These are coconut farmers. P23,000
is less than $500 per year. We need to invest in our
farmers. We need to invest in the young because
many of our youth are jobless. It is this generation
that needs to be able to fnd jobs that can help
them move out of poverty and help them raise their
families. We need to invest in SMEs or Small and
Medium Enterprises. Currently many of our policies
are for big business but not enough are focusing on
Small and Medium Enterprises. We need to push for
more microfnance to be able to provide capital for
those who have no collateral. We need to be able to
push for more social enterprises, more community-
based enterprises, more ways for our people to be able
to earn, get better income, and at the end of the day,
be free from the poverty that shackles them today.
Yun po, ang pinakamalaking challenge sa atin
ngayon. This is the biggest challenge that we face.
Many people will say, The Philippines is destined to
be a poor country, but for me, dear friends, I think
thats not the truth. For many of you here, for all of us
here, I know that we dont believe that our country is
destined to be poor. In fact, and I used to say this a lot
in the campaign: If in the 80s we were able to do the
seemingly impossible, we were able to beat the most
powerful, the most armed, the one with the most
money, the one who controlled everything; if we were
able to take back our democracy and kick out a dictator
and do the seemingly impossible then, what makes us
think that we cant do the same? But this time, we have
to make sure that as we fght for freedom, we fght for
freedom from poverty that many of our countrymen
want, and many of our countrymen deserve.
We need to show ourselves and the world that the
Filipino can work together for something aside
from kicking out corrupt presidents. We need to
work together to show that we can work together
for the beneft of our countrymen who need it
the most. Kaya po natin yan! If I can quote the
name of the organization thats been helping me
these days: Kaya po natin yan! We can do it! We
have shown that the Filipino can do the seemingly
impossible. Were a resilient people. Were a
freedom-loving people, and I think its time that we
work together. Its time that we buckle down and
show that we can defnitely fght for our freedom
from colonizers. We can fght for our freedom
from invasion. We can fght for our freedom from
dictators. And we can fght for our freedom from
poverty. This is something I think, dear friends,
that if work together for, well be able to achieve
the Philippines that we want, that we deserve, and
that we owe to our countrymen who are still mired
in poverty.
Let me end with this thought. My uncle Ninoy
Aquino, who I would say, is one of the more
famous Liberal Party members, when he was
fighting for his freedom, when he was incarcerated
for a number of years, in some of his speeches
he would say, For the cost of freedom, we are all
expendable. For the cost of freedom, not just the
freedom from a dictator, but even from freedom
from poverty, we all have to do our share. We all
have to do what we can, and in that way, if all of us
do our share, we are all leaders who can push for
this cause faster. We can realize the country that
we wish to see at a much faster rate - the country
that we owe to our children.
Thank you very much. Maraming maraming salamat
po, at magandang gabi sa inyong lahat!
18 | i am free
Glitters of freedom and democracy
in Asia and Europe shone radiantly
during the freedom night on 10
November 2013. On the last evening
of their visit to Manila, liberal
stalwarts from the Council of Asian
Liberals and Democrats (CALD) and
the Alliance of Liberal Democrats
for Europe (ALDE) were awarded
with Freedom Sparks. Personalities
like CALD Chair Sam Rainsy who
heads the opposition in Cambodia,
and Liberal International President
Hans van Baalen who is the voice
of liberal organizations around
the world were surprised with
the recognition given by FNF
Philippines.
Maysing Yang, Wolfgang
Sachsenroeder, Ivan Doherty,Emil
Kirjas, Saumura Tioulong, Mu
Sochua, Huai-hui Hsieh, Willem
Vanden Broucke, Nant Thananan,
Siegfried Herzog, Maria Leissner,
Jrgen Morlok, Chee Soon Juan,
Antonyia Parvanova, and Rainer
Adam were also presented with
tokens. Their involvement in
politics, international relations,
the academe, development work
have sparked democracy in their
respective fields.
Freedom
Sparks
FNF Philippines 2013 | 19
20 | i am free
Rep. Dina Abad
I think what is important is when
you talk about development of the
country one cant be divorced on
the development of an individual.
And I think the development of an
individual really largely depends
upon individuals ability to make
choices. Choices, that will more or
less determine his path or his own,
where we want to lead his life or
direct his life to. So I think liberal
policies are important so that the
individual may be able to make those
informed choices for a better life not
only for himself or herself but for the
community as well.
Senator Bam Aquino
...the future belongs to the young
people, the present and the future
to the young. We are a very young
country, our average age is 23 years
old, so its just right that young
people take the cause of freedom.
Not just freedom politically but
more importantly, the freedom
from poverty. So these are freedoms
which young people need to work
towards, need to understand
because at the end of the day, the
country belongs to them, the future
belongs to young people.
Speaker Sonny Belmonte
Represented by Rep. Kit Belmonte
Para kay speaker who I am
representing tonight, I think ang
gusto niyang mapush talagang
batas ay yung anti-trust bill, kung
saan para magkaroon ng regulation
against monopolies para mas
makatulong sa investment climate
sa ating bansa and push the drive
against poverty and increase the
benefts para sa mga mamamayan
natin.
Mayor Beng Climaco
Freedom and peace really go hand
in hand particularly in Mindanao
because the rights of children have
been violated by rebels who came
in to our city that is why as early as
zero, we have to continue fghting
for the freedom of young people so
that they would have a better future.
Christians, muslims and humans all
going together, helping each other
for the betterment of the future
generation which is our children.
Patricia Evangelista
I think theres no nation that can
consider itself truly free without
the free media. Freedom for citizens
means they have choices that
they can make based on available
information and its the media that
provides that... even if media does
have its failings, for as long as it can
bring up the issues that is important
and it can tell people that their
voices matter, it can make any sort
of election free because the people
know what they have to know.
So media doesnt only propagate
freedom, its very freedom that
orments the freedom of the nation
that exist at the moment.
Vicky Garchitorena
Women play a very important
role in expanding freedom in any
society. As we have seen all over the
world, there is a tendency for men
to be more aggressive and women
are more nurturing, more consensus
builders. And so, even in corporate
boards, even in the NGO work, its
really the women who bring to the
table much greater compassion,
much greater need for collaboration
and coordination. And so I feel that
they can use this innate quality of
women.
Usec. Chito Gascon
Freedom is fought for, it is not given.
It is something that must proceed
from pursuit of freedom on the
ground in different context. In the
school, in the communities, in the
felds, so the imperative for freedom
ultimately comes from the people.
But when you are able achieve
political victories, it is important
Freedom Flames
No Monopoly of Good Governance
FNF Philippines 2013 | 21
14 individuals were awarded the Freedom Flames on 10 November 2013 for their
commitment to good governance and freedom. Leaders from government, civil society
organizations and media received the recognition for their inclusive leadership that re-
shapes communities and meets the needs of ordinary people.
to sustain those political victories
through liberal policies, policies that
will protect human rights, policies
that will advance education, policies
that will meet the needs of ordinary
people. So in that sense, policies
are the key to sustaining and
institutionalizing the imperative
for freedom that comes from the
people.
Bart Guingona
Media is essential in any democracy.
A democracy cannot function
without an informed citizenry and
media is instrumental in providing
that kind of information that
will make the citizenry better
citizens. Media that sticks to its own
mandate and its standard will serve
democracy in the most optimal way.
Harvey Keh
We have to be inclusive. I think the
most important thing here is that no
one has the monopoly about good
governance. No one can claim that
they are the only group governance
or that can promote or advocate
good governance in our country. We
have to be inclusive in terms inviting
other groups to work with us, invite
them to meetings, and invite them
to programs and projects, because
by synergy, we will be able to do
more. And by doing more, we can
easily create an environment of good
governance in our country that will
hopefully end corruption.
Atty. Carlos Medina, Jr.
Represented by his wife,
Judge Beatrice Medina
As a member of the judiciary and
also as a Filipino, I will have to make
sure that the rights of the people are
protected, both for the accused and
for the litigant. The best way to do
this is to educate the people of their
rights and to apply the rule of law.
Election Commissioner
Grace Padaca
Elections are most important. They
are the key towards good governance.
If only we can make the entry point
better, if only we can make electoral
processes saner and fairer. May
kasabihan... those who are too smart
to join government are doomed to be
governed by those who are not. We
have always fought for our freedom
from oppressive leaders, we are
now challenged to use the measure
of freedom that we now enjoy to
push the bar a little higher, to take
steps a little farther, from what we
are expected. After all, the risks are
lower. (Freedom Speech 2012)
Nonoy Oplas
Keyword liberal liberate, to free,
to free the economy, mainly to free
the economy from bureaucracy,
from criminals. Thats why the
main function of government is to
promulgate the rule of law. Its not so
much a function of government to
provide welfare here, and subsidies
there, no. As much as possible zero
bureaucracy!
Former Senator
Kiko Pangilinan
It is critical that we ensure effective
cooperation and coordination
between our leaders and
communities if we are to affect
real impacts in good governance.
Ultimately it is leaders with vision,
leaders with skill, leaders with
capacity, and citizens who are
willing to mobilize, to participate to
engage these leaders that will re-
shape our communities throughout
the nation.
Rep. Mel Sarmiento
Participatory governance is very
important. Participatory governance
actually is good governance. As the
party is trying its best to work for
the people, but we feel that working
with the people is a better option,
for us to be able to do more. To be
of service and for us to be able to
achieve our, whatever goals we have
for our beloved country.
22 | i am free
The Diskarte (strategy) was
to make the issue of corruption
personal and sustain awareness
and education efforts. This is the
same initiative that earned the
Cultural Center of the Philippines
(CCP) and Manila Broadcasting
Company the recognition as The
Freedom Project 2013 for their
radio show Diskarte.
Diskarte also means discussion
of social issues using the arts.
Anchoring CCPs vision-mission
of using the arts for social
transformation, drama, music,
and local poetry are used in the
program to trigger discussions
on issues on governance. Aside
from being a talk show, Diskarte
produces drama skits that reflect
true-to-life stories on corruption.
The show airs every Saturday,
2-3 p.m. on DZRH. It provides an
avenue for citizens to express
their sentiments and complaints
on government practices. The
program receives calls, letters
and SMS from all over the
country and refers grievance
cases to concerned government
agencies. One major contribution
of the program was when it
exposed the rigging of the May
2007 elections in Maguindanao
after verifying a text message it
received from one listener. This
turned into a big news when the
name of the countrys president
cropped up later in other media.
Radio remains an effective
source of information in spite
the proliferation of online media.
Diskarte brings relevant issues
to the grassroots and translates
them into language that ordinary
people can understand, said
Kaya Natin! Movement for Good
Governance & Ethical Leadership
Lead Convenor Harvey Keh, a
member of The Freedom Project
jury. Citizens Primer Against
Corruption book author Chit
Asis, and Council of Asian
Liberals and Democrats (CALD)
Executive Director Lito Arlegue
also sat as judges. Diskarte also
gathered the highest number of
online votes, 441 of 1087 votes,
besting eight other entries.
Storyline produced a video
documentation on Diskarte
which can be viewed on FNF
Philippines youtube channel.
This is the third year of The
Freedom Project organized by
FNF Philippines.
Diskarte
Broadcasting strategy
against corruption wins
Freedom Project 2013
FNF Philippines 2013 | 23
Freedom of speech,
access to justice, good
governance, market
economy and private
property should be free
for all. Yet we know
that freedom comes
with responsibility,
and that responsibility
is to ensure that
everyone, not just
you and me, can say
I am free, was the
closing line of Carlos
Celdran in a video
documentary about
freedom produced by
FNF Philippines.
Shot in the historic Intramuros in Manila, Celdran
relates the Philippine history of independence
to todays struggle for freedom. At the gates of
Fort Santiago, which served as prison during the
Spanish colonial period, he narrates the story
of Mary Grace, a young woman who is in prison
for a crime she is accused of. Were trying to do
everything to make the judge appreciate that
these people are innocent. To free others especially
for us who are priveleged enough in terms of
education, resources, opportunities, I think it
is also our responsibility as freedom fghters to
empower others, said Ateneo Human Rights
Center (AHRC) lawyer Arpee Santiago who is also
Mary Graces legal counsel. The video also features
the municipality of Taytay for good governance and
Quezons Sentrong Pamilihan for market economy
and private property.
The video becomes more signifcant as Celdran
talks about Freedom of Speech, a right he is
now in battle in with court. Barely two weeks
after the video was shot, Celdran was sentenced
to up to 13 months in prison for disrupting an
ecumenical service in protest of the Catholic
Churchs opposition to the then Reproductive
Health Bill. Celdran is currently out on bail. He
plans to appeal his case all the way to the Supreme
Court, which he hopes will declare the archaic
law unconstitutional and against the Freedom of
Speech.
The 13-minute video is available on FNF Philippines
youtube channel. A dvd copy may also be requested
from FNF.
Free for All
August is Jesse
Robredo month
in commeration
of the passing of
the Department
of Interior and
Local Government
(DILG) secretary
who was a good
governance hero
to a lot of Filipinos. Not so many people know about
how Secretary Jesses championed the interests of
the urban poor, how he believed in the capabilities
of the persons with disabilities (PWD), and how he
worked hard to improve our public schools. These
are what we want to highlight in the video aside
from providing glimpses of the simple man and
true leader that Jesse was, said Kaya Natin! Lead
Convenor Harvey Keh when he introduced the new
documentary on the late Secretary Robredo on 02
August 203 at Miriam College in Quezon City. Over
300 guests attended the premiere showing.
Robredo who also served as mayor of Naga City died
in plane on 18 August 2012. If at all, his death gave
a spark of hope to many - that there is hope for
better public service, said Leni Robredo, wife of Jesse,
who has recently been elected as congresswoman
of Camarines Sur. There was an outpour of praises
about Jesses governance style after his death.
Tsinelas Leadership was coined for his humility,
and people-centered governance. Jesse encouraged
participation in political affairs and he empowered
the marginalized, the focus of the video co-produced
by Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance &
Ethical Leadership (KN) and FNF Philippines.
Senators Kiko Pangilinan and TG Guingona also
appeared in the video and talked about how
Jesse became their model in terms of becoming a
transparent and accountable public servant. Jesse
is the type of guy who will not want you to grieve,
not want you to be disheartened. He is the type who
would not want you to lose inspiration. If we are to
ensure that his legacy lives on, that he did not die in
vain, then we have to carry on where he left off, and
continue this effort in reshaping our communities
and our nation, described Pangilinan.
The Jesse Robredo documentary is being shown in
universities around the country. A dvd copy may be
requested from Kaya Natin!
There is hope
for Better Public
Service
24 | i am free
Activities
> age 3-4: squeeze Lhe arucle enuLled Llberal-
lsm as ollucal lurnlLure ln Asla elLher ln Lhe ln-
side cover page with Jules message or the Page 3
(Lxporung lreedom). lL would be good lf you could
insert the 50th anniversary poster (saved in the ext
hd) ln elLher of Lhe Lwo pages, Loo.
> age 3: add phoLos (emalled by narwln)
> age 6: no blurb necessary for voLe for Lead-
ers Lo (lnsLead of Who) SusLaln 8eforms, lnclude
plcLure of WesLerwelle and noy ln Lhe boxed
arucle (phoLo emalled by narwln)
> age 7: make Lhe blurb Lhe uLle. no blurb nec-
> Page 8-9: pls change the two photos on the
le Lo 8 and 8b (auached here), and Lhe bouom
right photo in Page 9 to 9 (photos emailed by Nar-
wln)
> age 12 - no blurb necessary, phoLos here are
wlLh le name ?C
> age 14-17 (lreedom Speech): shall we use
Lhe phoLo wlLh Lhe lreedom Speech background
for Lhe cenLerfold? Lhe nexL pages should have
oLher plcLures from Lhe evenL (phoLos emalled by
narwln)
> age 18: no blurb necessary. change phoLos
(emalled by narwln)
> age20-21: change uLle Lo lreedom llames
(wlLh S), blurb ls no Monopoly of Cood Cover
nance, add lnLro, and Crace adaca's quoLe, and
lnclude saluLauon (see auached)
> age 22: uLle ls ulskarLe and blurb ls 8road-
casung sLraLegy agalnsL corrupuon wlns 1he lree-
> age 23-26: pls add Lhe auached arucle (Cer-
man Llecuons) elLher on age 23 or 26, wherever
you can make lL L. Lhe phoLo for Lhe Cerman
Llecuons arucle ls Lhe Lop rlghL mosL plcLure ln Lhe
Acuvlues phoLo. ln replacemenL, use phoLo 26 ln
Lhe baLch of phoLos senL by narwln
all posLers (lreedom 8un, lreedom llames, back
cover were revlsed. please use Lhe updaLed ones.
Lhe deslgn for Lhe lnslde back cover was also
emalled by narwln.
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Child Talk
Four Child Rights
Heroes Emerge
A female superhero named Super Lady
Strong who has the power to hear and
immediately come to the rescue of
children in trouble, with her sword and
shield to protect kids and defend them
from abuse, was introduced at the Child
Rights Teaching and Learning for Kids
(ChildTALK) seminar on May 8-10, 2013.
Super Lady Strong, 3P (Pagpapaunlad,
Pagpapahalaga at Pagproteksyon or
nurturing, valuing and protecting
children), KKK (Karapatan, Kalayaan
para sa Kabataan or Rights and
Freedom for Children) and Super Girl
add to the growing number of young
child rights advocates.
ChildTALK is a program of the Adhikain
para sa Karapatang Pambata (AKAP)
of the Ateneo Human Rights Center
(AHRC) that trains children ages 13 to
17 years old coming from economically
disadvantaged communities to
understand and defend their rights.
These children are guided to develop
teaching tools like presentation
techniques that will allow them to
impart their learning with other kids.
Graduates of previous ChildTALK
trainings become facilitators of
activities for new trainees. 14 and 15
year olds who already went through
the program will be among the
mentors when the seminar is brought
to provinces like Pampanga and Bicol.
ChildTALK provides an avenue for child
participation in an environment that is
child-friendly and fun because children
learn together with their peers.
The seminar on May 8-10 gathered
15 children from Barangay Valencia,
Quezon City. ChildTALKs fourth
batch of trainees decided to call
their group K3: Kilos ng Kabataan
para sa Komuninad (Youth Action
for the Community). K3 committed
to empowering other children to
We see the importance that the
present administration is giving
to leveling the playing feld. The
Philippines is an excellent candidate
to take the step towards a solid
competition law, said Guy Ledoux,
Head of the European Union
Delegation to the Philippines, in a
forum on Fair Competition: Key to
Economic Growth on 24 January 2012
in Makati City.
The activity became a platform for
a fnal push for House Bill 4835, an
anti-trust act prohibiting monopolies
and penalizing anti-competitive
agreements and mergers. According
to Rep. Tom Apacible, Vice Chair
of the House Committee on Trade
& Industry of the 15th Congress,
Without competition law as an
anchor, it will be diffcult to attract
foreign investors.
In the discussions, Asec. Geronimo
Sy of the Department of Justice
Offce for Competition that currently
advocate and protect child rights and
become responsible members of their
community. Teaching responsibility
and initiative are important elements
of ChildTALK, said Atty. Patty Sison-
Arroyo, Executive Director of AKAP-
AHRC.
The activity was sponsored by FNF
Philippines.
Competition
Do Not Deny Filipino
Consumers Its Benefts
handles cases on monopolization
and cartel, and Department of
Trade and Industry Usec. Zenaida
Maglaya expressed their agreement
that a competition policy will be
benefcial not only to invetors, but
also to consumers who could become
defenseless in the monopolistic
behavior of big businesses.
Competition provides consumers
with more choices and therefore is a
way to lower prices. It also gives small
and medium enterprises a chance to
grow, said Maglaya.
Stanley Wong, former Commissioner
of the Competition Authority in
Ireland who spoke at the forum,
when asked whether the Philippines
needs to establish a Fair Competition
Commission, stated that these were
details that could be dealt with later
on. Sometimes these are excuses
to not do anything. There is no
single model for competition law,
as it should take into regard the
business culture of a country. Keep it
general and open. What is important
is that a sense of institutional
structure is developed. The benefts
of a market economy should be
shared, explained Wong. While the
Philippines is seen as the sixth fastest
growing economy in the world, it was
said that it is still not moving fast
enough. Wong was interviewed by
business columnist Boo Chanco.
The event was co-organized by the EU
Delegation and FNF Philippines.
FNF Philippines 2013 | 27
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