Provincial Capitol, Pampanga – The Executive Department of the provincial government deplores Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s (SP) Resolution No. 1338 declaring the Gov. Macario Arnedo Park in the province of Pampanga as a freedom park.

Gov. Panlilio says that “Resolution No. 1338 is invalid, in view of its legal infirmities both substantially – for being an ultra vires act on the part of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and procedurally – such a legislative action being required to be passed through an ordinance”.

The governor further believes that the SP enacted such resolution to buoy up the motives of the rallying former provincial checkers in the quarry operations and their sympathizers.

Under Batas Pambansa Bilang 880, otherwise known as “The Public Assembly Act of 1985”, cities and municipalities were mandated to designate at least one suitable freedom park or mall in their respective jurisdictions.

Moreover, DILG Memorandum Circular Nos. 2006-42 and 2006-79 reiterated the mandates of the above-cited law and jurisprudence.  Notably, Memorandum Circular No. 2006-42 was addressed to “All City Mayors, Municipal Mayors, Sangguniang Panglunsod Members, Sangguniang Bayan Members, DILG Regional Directors and Others Concerned”, while Memorandum Circular No. 2006-79 was addressed to “All City/Municipal Mayors and Local Chiefs of Police”.

It is clear that only cities and municipalities are mandated by law to designate freedom parks. 

As to the manner by which the designation of a freedom park shall be made, Article 107 of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the Local Government Code of 1991, adopted in the New Internal Rules and Regulations of Procedure for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga provides that … Legislative actions of a general and permanent character shall be enacted in the form of ordinances, while those which are of temporary character shall be passed in the form of resolutions.

The designation of a freedom park is indisputably a legislative action of a permanent character.

This official statement is issued following recent events pertaining to the manner by which the protesting quarry checkers and their supporters conduct themselves at the Arnedo Park. 

The resolution declaring Arnedo as Freedom Park, which in the first place is invalid, does not give the picketers absolute right to say whatever they want to.  Although they have every right to express their grievances, the protesters have ignored the fact that they already transgressed on the rights of others more particularly the right to a peaceful working environment of the employees at the provincial capitol. 

“Their slogans are disrespectful and provocative”, Gov. Panlilio lamented.  “A mockery of the governor and the provincial administrator is uncalled for.  Let us work on a win-win resolution to this crisis through a level-headed exchange of opinions, not through character assassination”, the provincial chief executive challenged. /PIO

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Here is another e-mail I received from a youth leader. Again, I hope our friend Andoni Valencia won’t mind if I share this with you, my fellow advocates of good governance. Here it goes…

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Socrates once said that “Leadership is not a technical skill but depends on the quality of the mind and moral character of the leader”.

This great philosopher who describes himself as an “Intellectual Midwife” taught us the necessity for morality in a leader’s character to lead or govern his state righteously and justly for the common good. Many political analysts say that the problem of the Philippines is our leader’s lack of moral or ethical standards in governance. It seems that moral ascendancy in political leadership is lost in time also maybe because we are to blame. Because for the past years we have failed to act and elect leaders who will bring back morality and righteousness in government, bring back the essence of genuine public service and not lip service. Politics is beautiful; it is an art of governance and power. Politics is not bad or dirty as many would say but politics only became dirty or wicked because people running the government made it so. But if righteous men and women are given the baton of power to govern our country I believe that we can wipe out immorality, corruption, injustices and poverty in our government and society as well.

Every election since time immemorial, we hear and see candidates for office hypnotize us with their speeches prepared by their publicists and promises of a good life and emancipating our people from abject poverty and yet once elected all of those promises are gone and unfelt. The masses are left untouched; they are still confined in their own poverty. Still living in the streets, in cemeteries, under the bridges, children are still uneducated, forced into child labor and young women are forced into prostitution for survival in this degenerating and hopeless nation. While politicians are enjoying the good life, their mansion-like homes, luxurious cars, children are being educated in exclusive universities here and abroad. And not to mention the millions of pesos that go to their own pockets. And not to mention the fact that it is the money of those people who elected them to office with the promise of change and a good life.

Sometimes, I ask myself, does the inner moral force or conscience still exist in the hearts and minds of these people? I guess not. Why? Because if you truly fear God and you have that inner moral force called conscience within you, than why do you steal from the people’s money? Why do you allow injustice? Why can’t you stand up against corruption and poverty? Why can’t you keep your word and promises to the people? Why can’t you start and be the change? You profess to be a God fearing person but your life is a reflection of the exact opposite. Jesus Christ is the greatest example of a leader who served and led righteously and justly. He walked and ate with the poor; He loved the poor so much up to the point of performing a miracle to feed the multitudes of hungry people. Jesus Christ was said to be a social revolutionary because He vocally challenged the Roman Empire, He set up new laws, preached Truth, justice, righteousness and love for neighbor. He died on the cross for the love of humanity. As well as our very own, Dr. Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Frs. Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, Apolinario Mabini, Ninoy Aquino and many more who gave their lives for the sake of freedom. If only our leaders in government will wake up to their senses and see the suffering men, women and children of the land and start to do the change that we desperately need. But let us not leave the task of changing the system to government people alone because we may end up frustrated waiting for nothing. We as a people should unite, move into one direction and join in the crusade for genuine change.

Let us vote and support for leaders who are God fearing, principled, and incorruptible and those who walk their talk. Let us support leaders who do not buy votes or kill for the sake of power. Let us support leaders who inspire us to join him or her in rebuilding the walls of our suffering land. Let us support leaders who walks on the road less traveled, the road of honesty and righteousness. Let us support leaders who will emancipate our masses from poverty and empower them with a sound and lasting economic security. Let us support leaders who will remove little boys and girls from the streets and place them in schools to lead lives who will make a difference in our country and the world. Let us support leaders who will fight and die for their principles and convictions at all cost with the aim to effect lasting and genuine change in our country. Let me remind you that election is not a battle of wealth and fame but of honor and integrity. I know that such qualities of a leader are not hard to find amongst us because I do believe in the innate goodness of Filipinos. Let us arise from the pit of apathy because apathy will only lead to the destruction of our beloved country if we fail to move and change the current system. Let us together kill the social cancer that has been with the system since the time of Rizal and Bonifacio. I believe we can do it, if we act and do it together as one united Filipino nation. To my fellow political science students, Lasallians and Filipino youth, let us be like Ibarra, Tasio and Elias who are examples of intellectuals, patriots and freedom fighters. Let us be true to our calling as the hope and light of our nation and the world. Patriotism and social consciousness in the youth is very important because when you love your country you will not allow any harm or abuse to take place rather you will fight for it at all cost and do anything within your power to uplift our country to a higher place where we can all say that “I am a Filipino” with all pride. Let us be good stewards of our environment and natural resources. Let us care and love our less fortunate brothers and sisters because who will help them if not us? It is high time that we stand up and speak out against money politics, injustice, corruption, bribery, lies and deceit, immorality, exploitation and poverty and push for genuine change, political and social reforms, elect and support leaders with unquestionable moral and righteous character.  Let me highlight the leadership of unconventional political leaders who made history in Philippine politics today, they are, Gov. Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga, Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela and Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga. Let us continue to support them because we need people like them in government.

Together let us not stop the fight for change until we become today’s Ibarra’s, Tasios and Eliases  who are nationalists, freedom fighters, reformists and leaders who serve above self-interests. Let me end with a famous saying of Edmund Burke “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”.

A saying for the youth during the EDSA People Power Revolution reads:

 Kung hindi ako, sino?
Kung hindi dito, saan?
Kung hindi ngayon, kailan?

 Youth of today, I say, the time for freedom, justice and change is always now!

–
ANDONI L. VALENCIA
Junior VP, USLS Political Science Society
Secretary, Issues and Advocacy Committee
Youth Volunteer, Bangon Pilipinas Party
Youth Coordinator, Philippines for Jesus Movement

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My dear friends in America,

Thank you very much for the kind welcome and warm reception that you
have so graciously given to me. I did not feel like I was a guest in a
foreign land; rather, I felt like I was at home with close friends and
relatives who treated me with familiarity so overwhelming that it seemed
so undeserved.

If I am grateful for the openness I received, I am equally honored by
your presence in all the affairs I attended. Your kind attention showed
how much you wanted to weigh the issues surrounding our province, Pampanga, with
equanimity, while your incisive questions revealed the depth of your
knowledge and your thirst for the truth. Thank you very much for the
frank comments. It will be my delight if you will continue this search,
analyzing all sides of the matter, in the spirit of democratic dialogue
for which your adopted country, the United States of America is known
for.

This search therefore is my first response to those who have been
clamoring for a concrete plan of action that will result in an effective
move towards a lasting transformation in our country. Alex Lacson, a
simple fellow whose love for our nation of birth is undeniable, has
suggested ten basic deeds that expatriates can do to help: Spend your
vacation, your dollars and other foreign currencies, in our Philippines;
encourage and teach your relatives back home to be good citizens & good
Filipinos; do more during elections, in the next and all future
democratic exercises; buy Pilipino, wherever you are in the world; adopt
a poor child as a scholar back home; support a charitable organization;
teach your children about the Philippines, and to love it and its
people; speak positively about our Philippines and our people; teach
your friends and relatives to save 15% or 20% of the funds you remit;
and finally, invest in the Philippines .

Allow me to add other ways of engaging the issue of national
transformation: through the support of Kaya Natin, a movement of change
in the way our local institutions are governed, and the Gawad Kalinga, a
movement of humanity in the way we must uphold the dignity of the last,
the least and the lost.

The first emphasizes the goodness and ability of every Filipino to
positive change. Various local governments have shown best efforts in
implementing a more authentic democratic environment within their
spheres of influence. Kaya Natin aims to discover these best efforts
and put to the forefront a synthesized template that can be adopted by
everyone. The ease by which you have assimilated the American way of
self-discipline also illustrates the spirit of Kaya Natin: if you in the
US can fall in line, follow traffic rules, pay proper taxes, segregate
garbage and advocate moves against bad governance, what reason is there
for us here in the Philippines to keep us from following your example?
Kaya ninyo. Therefore, kaya nating lahat.

The second emphasizes the dignity of man, which is the foundation of all
ethical behavior. Gawad Kalinga believes in the right of every Filipino
to a humane environment that will foster humane revolution in thought
and action. It stresses the truth that the poorest of the poor deserves
to be treated as people of hope, and not as beggars to be given the
detritus of the rich. It is not just about building hopes. It is about
building a person to his fullest potential, or the fullness of life.
You, too began from so little here in the United States. But you
persevered with a work ethic that underscored your dignity in the midst
of skeptics. You made it through, and earned the respect of the very
people who challenged you every step of the way. We do not want to
promote a culture of patronage among our poor in the Philippines. We
want to promote a culture of challenge, but in an environment of equal
opportunity.

But all these will come to nothing unless every Fil-Am organization,
club and community agree that we have to engage good governance and
responsible citizenship in every town, city and province of our nation.
They will only look good in paper if there is no unifying spirit among
us: both the Fil-Ams and the Filipinos of good will coalescing,
supplementing and complementing the efforts of each other. The
discord among Filipinos in the United States is legendary. Therefore,
if there is one request that I would like to see realized, it is this:
that you begin by uniting, respecting your differences while promoting
the issues that unite you. You were able to do it recently, when our local
doctors were disparaged in an American television series. I am
confident that you can do it again.

I have been criticized so violently for having made a three-day visit to
the United States while so many issues in Pampanga remain unsettled.
There has been an equally virulent condemnation of the campaign for
accountability that I have been promoting in my speaking engagements
outside the province. We Kapampangans can solve our problems without
the meddling of outsiders, so they say. Such a myopic view of the issue
denies the undeniable truth that the problem of transparency,
accountability, efficiency and efficacy of governance is not a matter
for a single ethnic group to solve. The Pampanga problem is a
Philippine problem. And from your strident call to action, it is a
Fil-Am concern as well. We are all in this together. We all have a
stake in the realization of a Philippines that can stand proud among the
pantheon of nations.

Three days are so short, especially when spent with cabalens who made me
feel so blessed. Duty called, however, and I had to go back to Pampanga.
However, I returned with the gifts of your assurances, criticisms,
pieces of advice, evaluations and suggestions. Thank you for understanding
the fact that a little more than a year is not enough to implement a
far-reaching transformation in a culture of corruption that has become
inert with the indifference of the citizenry. And thank you very much
for offering to assist all people of hope in bringing light to our
blighted nation.

I hope to see you soon.

Among Ed

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As I was browsing through my mail, I came across this lovely prayer from Gilbert Rabuco - a fellow believer in good governance. I hope he doesn’t mind my sharing it with the public. It is too precious to be kept to myself. Thanks for this, Gilbert.

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Beloved Governor,

You hold the lighted candle of good of governance in the darkness of corruption, so that others may light from it.

You stand in the rain and help the helpless while we stand in the shade and watch.

You give hope to the hopeless, to many of us who have given up.

You stayed behind comforting the afflicted, the desperate while we run abroad not wanting to look back. You offered an alternative.

When Christ said “pick-up your cross and follow me”, you did.

The heavy cross of good governance that will free the Filipino people from the bondage of corruption. It is not an easy thing to do.

Making a difference in people’s lives is what you do best, that is God’s work.

We ask you to fight, to continue the struggle because we ourselves are too scared.

You know the danger of being an activist, of a non-violent struggle as Christ did.

Yet, like Ninoy you continue.

Following His footsteps, keeping the faith, unwavering.

Your purity of heart scares the people who feeds on the darkness of corruption.

I have but a prayer in my heart for your safety and perseverance.

May the Lord God hear my humble prayer and keep you in His hands.

Love and Prayers,

Gilbert Rabuco, UPLC, Los Angeles

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Provincial Capitol, Pampanga.  – After a whirlwind three-day speaking engagement in Los Angeles, California, Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio arrived in the Philippines Tuesday night, September 09, 2008.

“I am overwhelmed by how updated the Filipinos and Kapampangans are on the current events and issues surrounding our governance,” the Governor said.  “It not only stresses the fact that technology has made our world smaller, but also the fact that we must work double time in improving our service, for we are also under the scrutiny of our cabalens who are experiencing good governance in their adopted countries.”

Gov. Panlilio gave speeches of encouragement to the different Fil-Am groups, but the open fora that followed were marked mostly on questions regarding present Pampanga issues.

Filipino leaders were thankful for being given the opportunity to listen to the Governor amidst the various news they have been receiving for the past few months.

Among the groups who had a dialogue with the Governor were the Club Minalin, the United Pampanga Leaders Council, the Pampanga Day Celebration Commission USA, and the Pampangan Crusaders USA (PamagCUSA), which celebrated its first anniversary last Saturday, as well as other Fil-Am organizations who expressed solidarity with the crusade for good governance

“We have grown accustomed to the American way of giving everyone a chance to air their sides,” Alvin Ayusa, a  PamagCUSA convenor said, “we see Gov. Panlilio as the face of good governance, while we acknowledge the need for greater reform in the matter of governance”.

For his part, another PamagCUSA convenor, Ram Pineda remarked that “the
background of the current electoral process is a specific instance where we are afforded the chance to listen to everyone as we believe that this is the best way to reach an informed decision”.

“Our position will always be consistent, we are advocates of responsible citizenship in Pampanga, and this goes hand in hand with good governance,” Pineda added.  “Our experience of a healthy democracy, more specifically in the debate of issues we are witnessing in the current presidential race here in the US, is a paradigm that we hope our fellow Kapampangans will indigenize.”

Gov. Panlilio was briefed on the current activities of the different Filipino and Kapampangan organizations in California, specifically on their advocacies on health and education for the province.  “There must be a greater and tighter linkage between the Fil-Am organizations and civil society groups in Pampanga,” Gov. Panlilio said. “Each can learn and benefit from each other, so that ultimately, the interest of the Kapampangans will be promoted.”

His visit was capped by his attendance last September 7, 2008 to the Second Coronation of the Virgen de los Remedios and the homage to the Sto. Cristo Del Perdon in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, where 2,500 devotees came to celebrate the traditional occasion with him.  In his homily, Bishop Pablo David expounded on the forgiveness and charity that grows out of the devotion to the Lady. 

Before his flight back home, Gov. Panlilio gave a courtesy call to Consul General Mary Jo Aragon at the Philippine Consulate. /PIO

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