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The I Am Free Report 2013 is a collection of news, events, happenings of the Friedrich Naumann Founadtion for Freedom during the year 2013.

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  • 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

    con$dence.

    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 MAATENCountry 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 !eld 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 !eld, 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 GrowthTop 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

    "rst 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 "rst 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 dif"cult 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 de"ne us. What de"nes

    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 of"ces

    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 ElectionsDebated 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) !scal

    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 de!cit

    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 Of!ce 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 LeadersTo 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 #rst 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 "ght 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

    !ghting 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.

    RunningAcrossCountry

    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 #rst 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 $ight 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 Of!ces 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 on8 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 "ood 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 #nish 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 con#rmation 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 !rst 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 !rst, 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 identi"ed 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 "ve 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 bene!t 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.

    FreedomSpeechSENATOR 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 of$cials,

    friends, magandang gabi. Good

    evening everyone!

    Let me begin by telling everyone

    that it is through times of crisis

    and times of intense dif$culty

    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 dif$culties, it seems that

    Filipinos $rst of all, at least in

    my estimation, have four very

    distinct characteristics. One is that

    through all of these challenges

    and dif$culties, 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?

    De$nitely! 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 $rst 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

    $ght for our freedom. Many of our

    national heroes, if not all of our

    national heroes, were all freedom

    $ghters 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 $ghters

    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 $ghters 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 $ght 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 dif!cult 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 !ght 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 !nd 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 micro!nance 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 !ght for freedom, we !ght 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 bene!t 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 de!nitely !ght for our freedom from colonizers. We can !ght for our freedom

    from invasion. We can !ght for our freedom from dictators. And we can !ght 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.

    FreedomSparks

  • 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 bene"ts 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 "ghting 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 "elds, so the imperative for freedom ultimately comes from the people. But when you are able achieve political victories, it is important

    Freedom FlamesNo 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 !ghters 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 signi!cant 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

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    right photo in Page 9 to 9 (photos emailed by Nar-

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    W'-W'E&Z&&E

  • FNF Philippines 2013 | 25

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  • 26 | i am free

    Child Talk Four Child Rights Heroes EmergeA 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 !eld. 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 !nal 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 dif!cult to attract foreign investors. In the discussions, Asec. Geronimo Sy of the Department of Justice Of!ce 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 Bene"tshandles cases on monopolization and cartel, and Department of Trade and Industry Usec. Zenaida Maglaya expressed their agreement that a competition policy will be bene!cial 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 bene!ts 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.

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