Aquino Family Thank You Message for Tita Cory Mass

Change Politics Movement to hold Mass for Tita Cory

CPM-Albay
Mass for Cory at 3pm of Jan. 25 at St. Gregory ther Great Cathedral led by CPM. A motorcade follows with around 30-50 vehicles along Legazpi City and Daraga town main streets with various non-con groups with Yo Noy as point organization. There will be a program later which includes a tribute to cory, blessing of People Power Unity Camp, and launching of the Bantay Balota. A concert follows till midnight with local talents and Jay-R, the RNB talent of channel 7. Small yellow flags for Cory will be placed all around the Cathedral area.


CPM - Davao
CPM - Davao will sponsor the 12:00 noon mass on that day at the Ateneo de Davao University Chapel in honor of Cory. Fr. Albert Alejo will officiate the liturgy.
On January 22, Friday prior to this, CPM members will gather for at least an hour and put yellow ribbons at the Freedom Park which is right in front of Ateneo de Davao Campus. Let's paint the town... yellow!


CPM -Zamboanga del Norte
We will attend the 5:00 P.M. Mass at the Holy Rosary Cathedral- Dipolog city. members will come in yellow. Yellow ribbons are now tied all over the city by CPM volunteers. the yellow ribbons are supplied by the People Power Volunteer Center (Haydee Ong)- Dipolog Chapter;
CPM volunteers from Sindangan area will also attend the mass at St. Joseph Parish, Sindangan Zambo Norte on Jan. 25. likewise they started tying yellow ribbons from PPVC given to the CPM –ZN

ANG BINAN SA BUHAY NI GAT. JOSE RIZAL

Tuwing ika-30 ng Disyembre ay ipagdiriwang ang Araw ng Pambansang Bayani. Sa pagdiriwang nito hindi maaaring hindi gunitain at maihiwalay ang bayan ng Binan, Laguna sa buhay ng pambansang bayaning si Dr. Jose Rizal. Batid ng karamihan na sa Binan ang s’ya unang nag-aral subalit lingid sa kanilang kaalaman, sa bayan ng Binan din mismo nagmula ang kanyang mga magulang.
Sa paanyaya ng mga kaibigang Dominicano, nagdesisyon si Dominigo Lamco na lumipat sa bayan ng Binan, Laguna noong Hunyo 1697. S`ya ay nanirahan sa Hacienda de San Isidro Labrador na noon ay inaari ng mga Kastila. Naging bahagi s`ya sa pagpapaunlad ng barrio na sa bandang huli ay tinawag na Tubigan. Si Lamco din ang nagpasimula ng sistema ng pagpapatubig sa buong Hacienda. Mabilis na lumago ang kanyang pamumuhay at kinilala s`ya bilang pinuno ng mga Tsino sa Binyang.
1740, nagpatuloy ang pangangamkam ng mga lupain ng mga Kastila. Minabuti ng Tsino na ilipat ang pamamahala ng mga lupain sa mga Filipino upang makaiwas sa mga mahirap at magastos na usaping legal, subali’t sila ay nagkamali. Nagpatuloy pa rin ang pangangamkam ng mga Kastila.
Nagpakasal si Domingo Lamco kay Inez de la Rosa, anak ni Agustin Chinco na isa ding sangley (Chino). Naging anak nila si Francisco. Dahilan sa kainitan ng sitwasyon sa pagitan ng mga Kastila at Tsino, minabuti ni Domingo na palitan ang kanyang apelyido ng “Mercado” nagangahulugang palengke.
Taong 1771 nang magpakasal si Francisco Mercado kay Bernarda Monica ng Hacienda de San Pedro –Tunasan. Sila ay nagkaanak, sina Juan at Clemente. Sila ay nanirahan nang maikling panahon sa “Hacienda de San Juan Bautista” sa Kalamba. Lalong naging mainit ang sitwasyon ng mga Tsino sa mata ng mga Kastila dahilan sa pagtulong ng mga ito nang lumusob ang mga Briton kaya’t muling bumalik sa Binan ang mga Mercado (dating Lamco) kung saan si Francisco ang may pinakamaraming alagang kalabaw sa Binan.
Dahilan sa pagiging mabuting tao si Francisco Mercado ay nahalal bilang Capitan del Pueblo sa Binan noong 1783. May mga tala sa mga kasulatan ng simbahan na malimit mag-anak sa binyag at sa kasal si Francisco noong mga panahong iyon.
Pumanaw si Francisco Mercado noong 1801. Katulad ng kanyang ama, si Juan Mercado ay naging capitan del pueblo din sa Binan noong 1808, 1813, at 1823. “Capitan Juan” ang tawag sa kanya ng kanyang mga kababayan.
Si Juan Mercado ay nahalal bilang kinatawan ng Pilipinas sa Parliamento ng Espana noong 1812. Si Juan Mercado ay nagpakasal kay Cirila Alejandra, anak ng inaananak ni Domingo (Lamco) Mercado na taga barangay Tubigan. Sila ay may 13 anak at nanirahan sa malaking bahay na bato na ipinagawa ni Juan ( anak ni Francisco Mercado) sa gitna ng bayan ng Binan. Isa si Francisco Engracio sa mga ito na ipinanganak noong Abril 18,1818.

1826 nang pumanaw si Juan Mercado, 8 taon pa lamang si Francisco Engracio. Bilang pagsunod sa kautusan ni Gobernador Claveria na nag-atas sa mga Pilipino na magdagdag ng apelyidong Kastila ang mga Pilipino, di umano’y upang maging madali para sa mga ito ang pagsasaayos ng kanilang mga documento. Kaya’t noong ding taong iyon, 1849 ay nagdagdag sila ng apelyidong “Rizal’ na nagangahulugang ‘damuhan”.

Ika- 19 ng Hunyo 1861 ipinanganak sa mag-asawang Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado ng Binan, Laguna at Teodora Quintos Alonzo ( anak nina Brigida de Quintos ng Pangasinan at Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo na nagdagdag din ng apelyidong Reolanda ng Binan, Laguna) ang ika-7 anak at s`ya ay pinangalanang Jose Rizal.
Sa kabila ng maraming pangalang minana ni Rizal sa kanyang mga magulang marami ang nagtataka kung saan kinuha ang “P” sa Jose P. Rizal. Ang “P” ay nangangahulugang Protasio na kasama sa kanyang pangalang Jose Protasio. Ang Protasio ay bahagi ng panglan ni Rizal na Jose Protasio. Ang ikalawang pangalang ito ay buhat sa pangalan ng Santong si St. Protase ng Italya ng naging santo noong June 19 (ang petsa ng kapanganakan ng pambansang bayani).
Walong (8) taong gulang pa lamang si Jose Rizal noong Hunyo 1869 ng s`ya ay ipadala sa bayan ng Binan upang mag-aral sa pamamahala ni Maestro Justiniano Cruz. Si Jose ay nanirahan sa bahay ng kanyang tiyahin sa gitna ng bayan ng Binan mga 400 metro ang layo sa bahay ni Maestro Cruz kung san siya nag-aral.
Makalipas ang isang taon at kalahati, pinayuhan ni Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz si Jose Rizal na magpatuloy ng mataas na pag-aaral sa Maynila.
Malawak ang kaalaman ni Jose Rizal sa bayan ng Binan. Katunayan, sa isang liham ni Jose Rizal kay sa kaibigan n`yang si Ferdinand Blumentrit noong ika-10 ng Hunyo 1887 noong s`ya ay nasa Geneva, Switzerland, sinabi nya na:

“ I have seen the proofs and it seems to me they have turned out well. Neither do I forget you. I earnestly beg you to send me your photograph each time you have one taken so that I can contemplate the image of my friend. I am reading with increasing amazement the last pamphlet you have kindly sent me. Your knowledge of my country and your critical observations surpass everything I have seen or read until this date. You speak of things as if you have seen them personally; e.g., your account of the town of Biñang (=Biñan, Laguna) where I lived for a year and a half and which is not far from my home town. In Biñang Spanish is not spoken, as the anonymous author says, but a bad Tagalog mixed with many Chinese words, a large part of its inhabitants being Chinese mestizos, and hence its people's industry, avarice and fair skin.”


Hindi madaling limutin ang panahon ng kabataan ni Dr. Rizal sa Binan sapagkat marami syang naging karanasan dito kasama na ang pakikisalamuha nya sa mga kabataang taga Binan kung saan maraming pagsubok ang kanyang pinagdaanan.

Matapos ang pag-aaral niya sa Binan, iminungkahi ni Maestro Cruz na ipadala na sa Maynila ang batang Jose Protasio Mercado. Subali’t minabuti niyang gamitin ang apelyidong “Rizal” sapagkat ayaw s`yang tanggapin sa paaralan dahilan sa pagkakakilala kay Paciano “Mercado” bilang aktibista. Doon s`ya nagpakadalubhasa sa iba’t-ibang larangan. Hindi nakuntento ang pamilya Mercado kaya’t ipinadala pa si Jose Protasio sa Europa upang magpakadalubhasa.

Malaki ang naitulong ng mga nobelang Noli Me Tangere at El Filibusterismo na sinulat ni Dr.Rizal sa adhikain ng kanyang kapatid na si Paciano sa layuning matamo ng bansa ang minimithing kalayaan at makaalis sa kuko ng mga mapagmalabis na mga Kastila.

Ang mga panulat na ito din ang naging dahilan upang itapon si Rizal sa Dapitan hanggang sa s`ya ay bitayin sa pamamaitan ng pagbaril sa Bagumbayan (Luneta) noong Disyembre 30, 1896. Mahihinuha mo ang lakas ng dating ng mga panulat ni Rizal batay sa ulat na ipinadala ni Fr. Del Manzano, Superior Provincial ng mga Dominicano sa Overseas Ministers ng Pamahalaang Espana tungkol sa mga usapin sa lupa ng Kaparian noong ika-4 ng Agosto 1897.

“The supposed abuses and extortions against tenant farmers being spread about us come from the same source. From Rizal in his Noli Me Tangere and his Filibusterismo to what garrulous reporters write, these are openly lacking in truth or they are victims of the same stupid ignorance. The administration of our plantations cannot be more benign and patriarchal. The properties and lands pass from father to son, from generation to generation, in practice as though they were the true owners and without the dangers or losses experienced by native landowners who, because of gambling, quarrels and other mundane reasons, pawn their properties in the end of losing them. . .

Examples of these are the towns of Sta. Rosa, and Binan in Laguna, as well as Calamba itself, before Rizal preached his socialist theories sui generis to his compatriots. . . All those exaggerated increases in the canon and the violence so empathically underlined by the rebels are pure fiction. Ask the old tenant framers. Check our tariffs. Investigate the census of the plantation masters. We have yet to resort to the first eviction in our inherited lands in Lolomboy, Pandi, Sta. Cruz, naic, Sta. Rosa and Binan. . .”


Ang bisa ng panulat ni Dr. Jose Rizal ang nagbigay ng lakas ng loob sa mga Filipino upang bumangon at lumaban sa pang aabuso ng mga Kastila nang mga panahong iyon.

Dahilan sa mga katunayang ito, dapat lang na magbunyi ang mga taga- Binan sa pagkakaroon ng isang anak na kinilalang Pambansang Bayani. . .

Sa pagsasaliksik ni Kon. GAT ALATIIT
24 Disyembre 2009, Biñan, Laguna

Sa ating paggunita sa kaarawan ni Hesu Kristo na ipinanganak sa gitna ng matinding hirap, atin ding isapuso ang mensahe ng Kanyang kapanganakan.

Dumaan tayo sa matinding sigalot sa taong ito: ang pagsalanta ng mga bagyo, ang pagpatay sa mga inosenteng sibilyan, ang pagkawala ng moral bilang mamamayan dahil sa tiwaling pamamahala.

Sa kabila nito, tuloy pa rin tayong umaasa, tulad ng pag-asa natin sa pangako ng Panginoon. Bilang mamamayan, nasa ating kamay ang pagbangon ng ating bayan.

Isabuhay natin ang pinakadakilang utos ng Diyos: “Mahalin ang kapwa gaya ng pagmamahal Ko sa inyo.”

Ang pagmamahal nang walang kapalit tulad ng sa Panginoon ang magsisilbing gabay upang malampasan natin ang ating mga pagsubok.

Salamat po sa inyong patuloy na pagtataguyod at pagmamahal. Kayo po ang lakas namin.

Maligayang Pasko po at mapayapang bagong taon sa inyong lahat.


Sumasainyo,

Noynoy Aquino



NGOs set agenda for next President

By Jerry E. Esplanada

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:31:00 12/17/2009
Filed Under: civil society, Governance, Elections, Politics, Eleksyon 2010

MANILA, Philippines—Citing disregard for the principles of
separation of powers, checks and balances and transparency arising from
President Macapagal-Arroyo' s alleged determination to hold on to power
beyond 2010, civil society has presented a 40-point "development and reform agenda" for the next administration.

The proposed reforms would help the next President address the most
serious problems the country is facing: "mal-governance, global
economic crisis and climate change."

Preferably, the agenda should be implemented by Ms Arroyo's
successor during the first three years of his or her term, said the
Caucus of Development NGO Networks (Code-NGO), which groups the
country's 12 biggest social development networks.

In a paper furnished the Inquirer, Code-NGO said its development and
reform agenda was "organized along four basic pillars—ensuring
empowerment and democratization, reducing poverty and inequality,
building peace and promoting a sustainable economy."

The network's policy recommendations include the following:
• Limit the President's appointive powers in the Executive branch;

• Ensure that Cabinet appointments, as well as those in
Constitutional bodies, the judiciary and state-owned firms are
transparent;

• Appoint a competent and credible Ombudsman;

• Regulate the roles of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police during elections;

• Certify as urgent the Freedom of Information bill in Congress;

• Push for the election of delegates to a Constitutional Convention during the next midterm elections;

• Ensure that the National Anti-Poverty Commission has genuine NGO and people's organization representatives;

• Implement CARP extension with reforms and respect the rights of women farmers and fisherfolk;

• Set aside 15 kilometers of municipal coastal waters for the exclusive use of marginalized fisherfolk;

• Fast-track delineation and titling of indigenous people's lands;

• Increase PhilHealth coverage among the poorest and most vulnerable sectors;

• Institute a clear and rational population policy;

• Pursue and sustain the peace process with the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, Communist Party of the Philippines/ New People's Army,
and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Mindanao ;

• Stop the proliferation of small firearms;

• Certify as urgent the Disaster Risk Management Act;

• Work toward the speedy implementation of the Climate Change Act of 2009;

• Bring back mining within the framework of national sustainable development;

• Supplement the Internal Revenue Allotment of LGUs with the President's Social Fund and other discretionary funds of the Office of the President;

• Impose more "sin" and higher luxury taxes, simplify the income tax system and ensure effective tax collection; and

• Form a Debt Audit Commission that will scrutinize all public debts and contingent liabilities.
According to Code-NGO, "the new administration is faced with the
challenge of taking the country out of one of the darkest periods in
our history."

"The current President has been consistently marked by low approval
and trust ratings in the last four years by Filipinos in all
geographical areas and social classes. This is not at all surprising
given that she has been hounded by a string of high-level scandals,"
noted Code-NGO.

Other top government officials "have not fared better in the court
of public opinion. Constitutional bodies such as the Commission on
Elections and crucial agencies for accountability such as the Ombudsman
have been weakened."

"The country's new set of leaders must be at the helm of the renewal
of our political institutions. The new administration must commit
itself to the cause of upholding transparency, civil service and
constitutional reforms, as well as genuine people's participation, "
said Code-NGO.

In the political arena, "we are in a democratic recession
characterized by widespread corruption, abuse of power in the
appointment of government executives, lack of transparency and
accountability, inefficiency, and constricting space for people
participation. "

"This crisis in mal-governance stems from our profound lack of sense
of naional culture that has impeded our progress as a nation since time
immemorial," Code-NGO said.

The global economic crisis, on the other hand, "is affecting our exports, foreign investments, overseas Filipino workers' remittances, and ultimately, the jobs and
incomes of Filipinos. This is the worst economic crisis since the 1930s
and recovery from it will take several years."

Climate change and other environmental problems "have now combined
to worsen our natural disasters brought about by typhoons and drought."
"The next administration must clearly address these problems," said
Code-NGO, which is chaired by Anna Marie Karaos of the Partnership of
Philippine Support Service Agencies.

Other Code-NGO officials include Patricia Calilong of Philippine
Business for Social Progress, vice chair; Felicitas Rixhon of
Association of Foundations, treasurer; and Sixto Donato Macasaet,
executive director.

The other signatories of the reform agenda include the National
Movement for Free Elections, Black and White Movement, Ateneo School of
Government, Procurement Watch, National Council on Social Development,
Coalition for Bicol Development NGOs, Cordillera Network of NGOs,
Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks, Akbayan Citizens'
Action Party, NGOs for Fisheries Reform , Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan,
and Koalisyon ng Katutubo at Samahan ng Pilipinas, among others.

In a statement, Code-NGO said it would "strive to make the
presidential and other candidates in the coming polls study and adopt
its policy recommendations. "

Last week, the network held the "Civil Society Forum with 2010
Presidential Candidates" at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati
City .

However, only Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Jesus is Lord Fellowship head,
and civil society leader Nicanor Perlas took part in the dialogue.




Dear Noy Supporter,

As you might have noticed, both Gibo and Villar are investing heavily on online advertising to boost their FB presence. Gibo is even claiming to be leader in the Internet community based on a poll in an obscure FB fan page (with about 1,200 fans) where he purportedly won twice by as much as 58% of the votes, and projecting this to conventional media as the overall sentiment on the Internet in general, and on FB, in particular. We all know it's a farce.

While we have plans to advertise, we want to reserve this at a time when the campaign heats up, given the limited funding that we have.

True, we don't have as much money as the other candidates. But there is one thing that we have which they don't have - YOU. Yes, we have volunteers, like you, who are passionate for change and who see in Noynoy Aquino the hope we have all been longing for. And if we can pool our network of friends together, we will have more impact than their expensive ad campaigns will ever have.

So here's the deal. LET'S PAINT FB YELLOW THIS CHRISTMAS. Let's target to increase our subscribed fans to 201000 at the start of 2010. Right now, there are over 116,000 fans. So, if we only bring in one new fan each, then we should easily surpass that target. If we can make this happen, this would be the perfect Christmas gift to Noynoy.


Here's what you need to do:

1. Suggest the Noynoy's official FB page to friends (there's a clickable text at the fan page that lets you easily do this)

2. Post on your status update "We want to Paint FB Yellow as our Christmas gift to Noynoy. Please sign up as a fan on Facebook

3. Send a personalized message to people in your mailbox asking them the same. You can even forward this mail, if you want to.

5 to 10 minutes of your time can be the start of a Yellow Christmas for all of us. Let's show Gibo and Villar the power of yellow.

Merry Yellow Christmas to all of you.

God bless,

Enteng Romano III
New Media Bureau - Noynoy Aquino Campaign

STATEMENT OF SENATOR NOYNOY AQUINO AND SENATOR MAR ROXAS ON THE DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW IN MAGUINDANAO

We are alarmed at President Arroyo’s declaration of martial law in Maguindanao and other parts of Mindanao ostensibly to enforce law and order in the area in the aftermath of the massacre of 57 innocent civilians by ardent supporters of this Administration.

The declaration of martial law does not make sense to us:

a. The recent government pronouncements have been that everything is under control:
i. The AFP, through its spokesperson Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, declared no more than four days ago that there is no need for the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao or elsewhere in the country because the AFP and PNP are on top of the situation.
ii. Acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales declared no more than three days ago that the government’s effort to contain the tension in the province is holding ground.
iii. Ronaldo Puno, DILG secretary, said as late as last night that “no decision had been made” on the declaration of martial law, and suggested that queries be directed to Norberto Gonzales, acting DND secretary. What has changed since then?

b. There is no additional advantage to having a martial law regime – legally and militarily.
i. It does not strengthen the position of government to serve justice to the victims of the massacre. The declaration of martial law can even lead to changing the character of the crimes committed in Maguindanao:
1. The crimes allegedly committed are murder, rape, kidnapping and more. These capital crimes are non-bailable. In a state of martial law, these common crimes may be absorbed into the single crime of rebellion.
2. Except for its leaders, supporters of the rebellion are bailable …and worse all those charged with rebellion may be subject to amnesty. Are they laying the basis for a political solution to the crimes committed?
3. The other offenses of rape and mutilation are aggravating for a case of multiple murders (results in maximum penalties). These would be overtaken by the absorption into rebellion.
4. The only difference is 36 hours – presently an accused must be charged with capital offenses within 1 ½ days. Under martial law the accused must be charged within 3 days but only with the lesser crime of rebellion. Will this 36-hour difference provide sufficient substantial advantage to justify the imposing of martial law?
ii. Militarily, the forces are already on the ground. Martial law is not needed to call in additional troops as may be necessary.

So given no improvement in the position of the State, we ask WHY?
1. Is it to cover up the discovery of DND/PNP arms and ammunition in the Ampatuan compound proving government support for the warlords that have delivered questionable election victories to this administration in the past?
2. Is it to impose such overwhelming control so that there can be no leaks of information and suppress evidence of electoral fraud and other crimes?
3. Is it meant to re-establish control of the alleged massive electoral fraud machinery in time for the 2010 elections?
4. Is this a test case for implementing martial law rule in the entire country in order to perpetuate this administration in power indefinitely?

These are only some of the questions that beg answers.

The Constitution is clear: Martial law can only be declared upon the existence of an actual invasion or rebellion, and when public safety requires it.

Such grounds do not exist to justify the proclamation of martial law in the Province of Maguindanao.

What happened in Maguindanao was not a rebellion. There was no public uprising and taking-up of arms against the government.

There was no invasion or unlawful foreign military interference in Maguindanao.

Who has rebelled against whom? The Ampatuans are still considered allies of the Arroyo Administration. The arms found in their compound were government-issued. Given this relationship, how can there be rebellion?

We acknowledge that the gravity of the situation in Maguindanao required measures that would guarantee public safety.

We support the full enforcement of the law to restore and maintain order and give justice to the victims of the horrendous act that claimed the lives of innocent civilians, women and members of the media.

The President need not declare martial law.

She could have swiftly ordered that charges be filed against all those who carried out the lawless orders allegedly of Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr.

She could have directed that all those charged be preventively suspended.

She could have ensured the filing of non-bailable charges like multiple murder and allowed the succession of local officials under the Local Government Code take effect.

The people must demand an explanation of the circumstances that led the administration to resort to this action, how the President intends to use its vast powers, and for how long.

The rule of law must prevail; constitutional processes must prevail. The courts cannot be abolished there or elsewhere. The President of the Philippines remains accountable not only to the Congress of the Philippines, but to the People of the Philippines for taking this course.

We must also demand that both houses of Congress meet, as required by the Constitution, within 24 hours of a martial law declaration, without need of the President making a call for Congress to convene.

We appeal to our colleagues in Congress to come together immediately and ascertain the validity of this imposition.
Congress must muster a quorum. Congress must not be a rubber stamp. Congress must ask the right questions, and it must act now.

This is a time for all our people to be sober, discerning, vigilant and unafraid.

Kasali Ka, Sumali Ka! Social Development Celebration 2009 CODE-NGO annually holds the Social Development Celebration to promote public awareness of the roles of Non-Government Organizations and their contributions to national development. This year's theme is "Rebuilding Resilient Communities, Reconstructing Democratic Institutions (Hope for Change after Ondoy, Pepeng and GMA)." Join us in public forums on "Civil Society's Response Towards Rehabilitation and Reconstruction" with Dr. Lory Tan of the private sector Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation on December 10. Listen to leaders of Task Force 2010 and Change Politics Movement in the forum "Civil Society Engagement in 2010 Elections" on December 11. Dialogue with the Presidentiables in the "Civil Society Forum with 2010 Presidential Candidates" also on December 11. Visit the Development Trade Fair on December 14 to 16, 2009 at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City. Kasali Ka, Sumali Ka! Social Development Celebration 2009 December 10 to 16, 2009 "Rebuilding Resilient Communities, Reconstructing Democratic Institutions (Hope for Change after Ondoy, Pepeng and GMA)." Date Event Dec 10, Thursday 9:00am to 12:00nn Makati Sports Club L.P. Leviste Street Salcedo Village Makati City After Ondoy and Pepeng: Civil Society's Response Towards Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. Open to the public but prior confirmation is required. The recent calamities showed the lack of preparedness and coordination by government in responding to disaster relief and rehabilitation. Learn from Mr. Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan of the private sector Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation about their plans towards reconstruction of communities affected by recent typhoons and how civil society groups can work together to help reduce our vulnerabilities to disaster risks and impact of climate change. Randy Tuano of the Civil Society Index (CSI)-Philippines Project will share updates on the research being conducted to assess the state of Philippine civil society. WEVNet's Emmanuel Areno, contributor to the book "From Political Won't to Political Will", will also give updates about this latest publication by Civicus, which is being launched world wide. Dec 10, Thursday 1:30pm to 5:00pm Makati Sports Club L.P. Leviste Street Salcedo Village Makat City CODE-NGO 13TH National Assembly. By invitation only. Registration Fee of P500. This is the annual gathering of the 12 CODE-NGO member networks from all over the country to review and confirm its accomplishments for the past year and approve its next year’s plans and programs. New Board members will be elected and this year's CODE-NGO Best Performing Member Network will be named. Dec 11, Friday 8:45am to 12:30pm E-Library, AIM Acceed Conference Center Benavidez corner Trasiera Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City Civil Society Engagement in the 2010 Elections. Open to the public, but prior confirmation is required. Subsidized registration fee of P500 only for those who will avail of lunch. Civil society groups have started preparing early for engagement in the 2010 elections through partisan and non-partisan means. But the automated elections require new strategies for electoral participation altogether. Hear from COMELEC Public Relations Chief Ma. Victoria Dulcero how the automated elections will proceed. Get updates from Bro. Joseph Raymund Sanchez, SJ of Task Force 2010 Secretariat and Ms. Dinky Soliman of Change Politics Movement on the initiatives that have been undertaken for non-partisan and partisan civil society electoral engagement. Dec 11, Friday 1:30pm to 6:30pm SGV Hall, AIM Acceed Conference Center Benavidez corner Trasiera Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City Civil Society Dialogue with 2010 Presidential Candidates. Open to the public, but prior confirmation is required. Representatives from the basic sector groups - farmers, fishers, urban poor, women, youth, labor and indigenous peoples - will throw questions to the Presidentiables about their positions on burning issues concerning agrarian reform, climate change, housing, ancestral domain, mining, health, population, education, peace, people's participation and debt audit. Dec 14 to 16 Monday to Wednesday Mall Hours Ayala Trinoma Mall EDSA corner North Avenue, Quezon City Development Trade Fair @ Ayala Trinoma Mall. Organized by AF and PEF, in partnership with FPE, FSSI and PTFCF. Open to the public during mall hours. Do your Christmas shopping with this annual trade fair that features the unique products and services of enterprising non-profit organizations from all over the country. The fair formally opens on December 14 at 5PM with a colorful mini-concert featuring local artists. Dec 15 8:30am to 5:00pm Rm. 3, Institute of Social Order (ISO) Ateneo de Manila Loyola Heights, Quezon City Capacity Building for Local Initiatives in Disaster Risk Reduction. Organized by PHILSSA. Prior confirmation required. To confirm, contact PHILSSA at (02)4264327 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it on or before Dec 10. This capacity-building activity was designed to help PHILSSA members understand and plan for local actions that will address increasing needs for measures to prevent or mitigate disasters. Dec 16 8:30am to 5:00pm Rm. 3, Institute of Social Order (ISO) Ateneo de Manila Loyola Heights, Quezon City Learning Public Forum on Civil Society's Response in the Post-Ondoy Disaster Relief Operations. Organized by PHILSSA and PEF. Prior confirmation required. To confirm, contact PHILSSA at (02)4264327 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it on or before Dec 10. The learning forum will present a number of civil society experiences, assessment and recommendations for effective disaster management for civil society. Download a PDF copy of the program here. To confirm for any of these events, download and fill-out the confirmation slip. The Social Development Celebration 2009 is being brought to you by: Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), Peace & Equity Foundation (PEF) and Association of Foundations (AF) in partnership with: Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF) and Foundation for Sustainable Societies (FSSI) Source - http://code-ngo.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=186:sdw2009&catid=43:front CPM Launches Boto Ko Sagrado Hindi Produkto Press Release/November 30, 2009 Manila We, the Change Politics Movement, comprised of over four thousand members in 50 provinces who are engaged in active citizenship in the electoral process, is embarking upon a campaign to establish Vote-Buying-Free-Zones in different communities this 30th day of November 2009. Taking advantage of the need and vulnerabilities of majority of the Filipino people, many politicians engage in vote buying to help ensure their victory in elections. Once these politicians win, they use their power and position to promote their self-interest rather than the greater public good. Vote buying has become so rampant in our electoral process that is has become a major obstacle in the emergence of reform candidates who are committed to the betterment of our communities and of our nation. As a response to this situation, the Change Politics Movement, together with the Urban Poor Alliance (UP-ALL), the biggest network of urban poor and informal settlers in Mega-Manila is launching the Vote-Buying-Free-Zones campaign. Our members will begin convincing individuals, families, communities and the general electorate in Metro Manila, and later in other regions. Those who believe in “Boto ko sagrado, hindi produkto” will be asked to display vote-buying-free-zone stickers in their homes, pedicab, tricycle, or vendors cart as a symbol of their commitment to this campaign. To launch this campaign, 50 urban poor leaders will undergo training to become advocates against vote-buying in their communities. Ms. Emy Boncodin will discuss available local government resources that could be put to better use by electing reform oriented politicians. Ms. Dinky Soliman will facilitate the training on Vote-Buying-Free-Zone. Reformist group pledges support for Aquino presidential bid Written by Maria Althea Teves NEWSBREAK Wednesday, 09 September 2009 A citizens-reform group announced their support to campaign for the presidential bid of Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. This was shortly after the son of the late former President Corazon Aquino and the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. declared his decision to run for the post Club Filipino, Wednesday. “We declare our support for Senator Aquino’s candidacy for the presidency,” Remy Ringen of Change Politics Movement (CPM) said, reading their press statement. “We believe that Senator Aquino’s integrity and commitment to good governance; his track record as a legislator in human rights and social reform especially in local governance will provide the needed leadership for change that the country needs.” The CPM describes itself as a reform group composed of 4,602 members who are leaders of non-government and people’s organizations in 47 provinces and 13 cities, including the National Capital Region. The support for Aquino is based on the results of an election done by CPM through text and on-line voting among all its members. Aquino garnered 82% of the votes done Monday, September 7. Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar followed with 6% of the votes. Two percent of the members abstained. The rest voted for either Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Loren Legarda and Chief Justice Reynato Puno. Rikken said many voted for Aquino because he is honest, has integrity, a good track record and has the capacity to “win power for reform,” consistend with the CPM criteria in choosing a candidate. Read more (http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6741&Itemid=88889384) CPM Volunteer-Organizers' Training San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Oct 29-30 Development and Reform Agenda for 2010-13 Summary This Development and Reform Agenda is organized along four basic pillars -- (a) Ensuring Empowerment and Democratization, (b) Reducing Poverty and Inequality, (c) Building Peace and (d) Promoting a Sustainable Economy. This Agenda builds on existing policy positions being pursued by Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) member networks and base organizations, and by other civil society networks/organizations on key electoral, political, and socio-economic issues. However, this Agenda does not aim to integrate all the positions and recommendations of the different sectoral and cause-oriented organizations, ending up with a long list of policy recommendations. Instead, it crafts a development and reform framework (the four pillars mentioned above) and identifies a few vital actions that the next Administration should implement in its first three years in office (2010-13) in order to decisively move the country towards democratization and development. In selecting these actions, emphasis was placed on the positions and concerns of the basic sectors, a bias of development non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs). Also, these proposed actions address the most urgent concerns that affect most, if not all, sectors of our society and lay the foundation for other much needed reforms. This Development and Reform Agenda is the product of a 6-month process (May – October 2009) that included discussions by a 7-person multi-sectoral committee and by a focus group composed of leaders of national PO/NGO networks and other civil society organizations (CSOs) and by seven (7) regional multi-sectoral consultations. It was also discussed and finalized at a national conference on October 2-3, 2009 in Manila. I. Context: Triple Crisis - Governance, Economic, and Climate/Environmental Crisis The Philippines currently faces the triple crisis of mal-governance, global economic crisis, and climate and environment change. In the political arena, we are in a “democratic recession” characterized by widespread corruption, abuse of power (appointment, budget/fund release, etc.), lack of transparency and accountability, inefficiency, constricting space for people participation, and weakening of democratic institutions (Commission on Elections or COMELEC, Ombudsman, Judiciary, check and balance between the Executive and the Legislative, etc). This crisis in mal-governance stems from our profound lack of sense of national culture that has impeded our progress as a nation since time immemorial. The global economic crisis is affecting our exports, foreign investments, overseas Filipino worker (OFW) remittances, and ultimately, the jobs and incomes of Filipinos. This is the worst economic crisis since the 1930s and recovery from it will take several years. Climate change and other environmental problems (forest denudation, coastal degradation, etc.) have now combined to worsen our “natural disasters” brought about by typhoons, heavy rains, and drought. The program of the next Administration must clearly address these three crises. II. Ensuring Empowerment, Democratization, and Good Governance The people are the primary force of development. Development cannot be separated from empowerment and democratization. At the most basic level, this means that development is founded on the respect for human rights and the promotion of human security. It also includes the practice of good governance through the strengthening of institutions and processes for transparency and accountability, as well as meaningful people’s participation in decision-making, implementation, monitoring and evaluation with regard to development policies, programs, and projects. The new Administration is faced with the challenge of taking the country out of one of the darkest periods in our history. The current President has been consistently marked by low approval and trust ratings in the last four years, by Filipinos in all geographical areas and social classes. This is not at all surprising given that the President has been hounded by a string of high-level scandals. Other top government officials have not fared better in the court of public opinion. Constitutional bodies such as the COMELEC and crucial agencies for accountability such as the Ombudsman have been weakened. The principles of separation of powers, check and balance and government transparency have been damaged by a President determined to hold on to power thru whatever means. The country’s new leaders must be at the helm of the renewal of our political institutions. The new Administration must commit itself to the cause of upholding transparency, civil service reform, constitutional reform and genuine people’s participation. A. Transparent and Merit-based Appointments and Civil Service Reform:  Professionalize and depoliticize the civil service by limiting the presidential power of appointment with respect to the Executive branch only to the positions of Cabinet Secretary and Undersecretary.  Ensure that the appointments to the Cabinet, government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), the Constitutional Commissions and the Judiciary are done in a transparent manner and are based on a set of clear criteria which stress integrity and competence.  Promote women’s participation in governance by monitoring and decisively implementing equal representation of women and men in the civil service. B. Transparency, Anti-Corruption, and Government Accountability:  Appoint a competent and credible Ombudsman who will pursue unresolved cases of corruption and human rights abuses committed by public officers.  Certify as urgent the Freedom of Information Bill which gives life to the constitutional mandate for transparency in government (or, if this will be passed into law by May 2010, ensure the effective implementation of the Freedom of Information Act).  Institute and/or strengthen existing citizens’ charters in all national and local government offices.  Clearly identify and strictly regulate the role of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the elections. C. Constitutional Reform and Federalism:  Push for the election of delegates to a constitutional convention during the next midterm elections. D. People's Participation:  Ensure that the National Anti-Poverty Commission, local development councils, and other special bodies are functional and have genuine NGO/PO representatives, at least forty percent (40%) of whom should be women.  Revoke Administrative Order No. 187 and reinstate the previous AO on the basic sectors of NAPC. II. Reducing Poverty and Inequality Poverty continues to hound our people and is a major concern for development NGOs and POs as it affects the well-being and limits the potentials of the people. Government data show that at least 30% of Filipinos continue to be mired in poverty. Studies on self-rated poverty would show much higher poverty rates. Also, even with continued economic growth from 2003 to 2006, government poverty statistics prove that poverty incidence has been increasing. The situation would expectedly be worse now with the global economic crisis and its effects on Philippine society, especially the loss of jobs, decreased incomes, and increased government budget deficit. Poverty in the Philippines is closely linked to inequality. Inequality in the country, as indicated by the Gini ratio (0.4822 at the start of the 2004-10 Medium Term Philippine Development Plan or MTPDP), is one of the highest in the region. Inequality is marked between socio-economic classes and also between geographical regions. The Human Development Index (HDI) of the bottom province (Sulu, 0.35) is less than half of that of the top province (Bulacan, 0.76). Eight of the 10 provinces with the lowest HDI are in Mindanao while all the 10 provinces with the highest HDI are in Luzon, including seven in the two regions nearest Metro Manila. Based on the 2006 figures of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), the fisherfolk, farmers, children and women comprised the poorest sectors with poverty incidence of 50%, 44%, 41% and 30%, respectively. It is imperative that the new Administration address the issue of poverty by immediately and adequately implementing the four existing asset reform laws in our country – the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, the Fisheries Code, the Urban Development and Housing Act, and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act. Implementing these asset reform measures will also help expand the domestic demand as more people will get to own production and other assets, and increase their income. The new Administration should also provide safety nets for and facilitate access to social services by the people, particularly the poorest of the poor, and ensure effective coordination of the anti-poverty programs of government, the business sector, and civil society. A. Asset Reform 1) Agrarian Reform:  Decisively Implement the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Extension with Reforms.  Recognize, respect, and support the rights of women farmers and fishers. 2) Fisheries:  Issue a new Department Administrative Order (DAO) based on the total adoption of DAO No. 2001-17 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, setting aside 15 kilometers of municipal coastal waters for the exclusive use of marginalized fisherfolk, and ensure the immediate delineation of municipal waters.  Adopt a Joint Administrative Order on fisherfolk settlement (with the various national government agencies concerned) and clearly identify the government agency to implement it.  Institute policies that will clearly define “women in fisheries”, recognize their contributions to the sector and industry, and require at least 40% women’s representation in all special bodies related to fisheries.  Have an empowered body with a clearly defined function to ensure the effective implementation of the Fisheries Code. 3) Housing:  Decisively create and implement a comprehensive shelter plan that will explore and study other alternative mechanisms for delivery of housing services and products.  Ensure transparency and accountability in housing, from budget preparation to project implementation, by implementing regular performance review of the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and the National Housing Authority (NHA), and by instituting other relevant safeguards.  Institute mechanisms for the strengthened implementation of the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA).  Work towards the creation of a Department of Housing that would integrate all of the GOCCs, offices and other agencies working for housing concerns.  Increase the budget for housing from 0.5 to 2% of the total budget, prioritize socialized housing and ensure the efficient utilization of these funds. 4) Indigenous Peoples (IPs):  Fast-track delineation and titling under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act.  Enforce the a priori right of IPs within the lands covered by Certificates of Ancestral Land Title (CALTs) over state security and economic development. B. Social Safety Nets for the Poorest of the Poor:  Implement an expanded conditional cash transfer (CCT) program for the poorest of the poor and integrate this with supply-side reforms in health care and education, in order to avoid policy inconsistency and resource wastage, ensure that all policies, including monetary, fiscal, trade, as well as industrial and agricultural policies, are cohesively geared towards increased employment. C. Social Services 1) Health:  Increase PhilHealth coverage among the poorest and most vulnerable sectors, work towards universal PhilHealth coverage, and institute reforms to ensure affordable and quality health care. 2) Education:  Institute measures to strengthen local school boards, promote a culture-sensitive education system, and community involvement in and improved access to basic education. D. Population Policy:  Institute a clear and rational population policy that prevents abortions and unwanted pregnancies, fosters the sustainable growth of our economy, alleviates the chronic poverty that besets our people and promotes gender equality and the rights of women. E. Effective Coordination of Anti-Poverty Programs:  Take an active role in the National Anti-Poverty Commission and ensure that it functions effectively in coordinating and overseeing the anti-poverty programs of government and in partnering with business and civil society organizations. III. Building Peace  Clearly define the national peace agenda which capsulizes the local peace agenda and ensures CSO representation in the peace process.  Pursue and sustain the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF), and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Mindanao (RPMM), and fully implement previous agreements, including the peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).  Continue to develop and promote paradigms and frameworks for the peaceful settlement and transformation of conflicts among the Bangsangmoro, the Lumads, settlers and other IPs, through consultation, dialogue, and massive information campaigns.  Address the issue of unregulated proliferation of small arms especially in Mindanao as a peace and security concern. IV. Promoting a Sustainable Economy A sustainable economy means a cleaner and environmentally friendly production and distribution of goods and services. Economic growth cannot be single-mindedly pursued regardless of its cost to the environment even in times of great need such as the present economic crisis. The new Administration must strike a delicate balance between the needs of our people and the demands of an environment that is rapidly losing its capacity to renew itself. It must enact measures, both legislative and executive, that will protect the environment and conserve our natural resources while ensuring that the gains of a sustainable development also benefit the most vulnerable of our people. A sustainable economy also requires an integrated, balanced and sustainable industrialized economy. We need to do more with less by the efficient use of resources, increased investments, stronger stability, and greater socially responsive competition. We also need to strengthen the domestic economy through the promotion of industrialization while at the same time maximizing the international markets. Our country has become dependent on OFW remittances to keep our economy afloat. We believe that we should aim to generate the needed jobs locally so that Filipinos are not forced to be away from their families to better (economically speaking) their lives. At the same time, we recognize the freedom of Filipinos to seek a better life here or abroad, and that we should ensure that our OFWs are adequately supported and protected wherever they are. Most importantly, we must stress the development of skills and human capital. A sustainable economy requires us to take a long-term view of the economy, rather than adopting short-term fixes. A. Environment 1) Climate Change:  Certify as urgent the Disaster Risk Management Bill, strengthening Philippine disaster management capability by institutionalizing the National Disaster Risk Management Framework to decrease disaster vulnerability, increase capability for recovery, and enhance over-all resilience to disasters.  Certify as urgent the Climate Change Bill, mandating the creation of a Climate Change Commission which will spearhead the formulation and implementation of a national climate action plan based on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and related international agreements. 2) Mining:  Bring back mining within the framework of national sustainable development, and in the context of prudent respect, protection and fulfilment of indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination and human rights, and sustainable environment.  Revoke EO 270-A (Revitalization of the Philippine Mining Industry), reject the National Minerals Action Plan (NMAP), implement of a nationwide moratorium on the approval of new large-scale mining operations and certify of the Alternative Mining Bill (AMB) as an urgent legislative proposal. B. Strengthen the Local Economy:  Support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to improve the competitiveness of domestic firms and spur job generation  Promote regular employment and protect the right to security of tenure of workers by pushing for the enactment of the Security of Tenure Bill (HB2453) and by directing the Secretary of Labor to ensure the effective enforcement of existing labor laws and compliance with labor standards. C. Sustainable Agriculture and Agri-processing:  Adopt sustainable agriculture and organic agriculture and natural farming systems as the framework for the Department of Agriculture’s commodity programs.  Hasten the shift of support services to farmers from subsidy on fertilizers and hybrid seeds, to market support such as information dissemination, organic certification, linkaging, and capacity building.  Promote agri-processing through various means including strengthening halal certification in the country. D. Investments in and Regulation of Public Utilities:  Provide for effective and appropriate regulation with multi-sectoral representation of public utilities, including power and water.  Conduct a comprehensive study of the transportation industry to address issues like monopoly-control/ownership, public safety, among others.  Invest in and support alternative energy sources. E. Fiscal and Tax Reform 1) Discretionary Funds and Internal Revenue Allotment:  Direct the funds that would otherwise be allocated to the President's and legislators’ “discretionary funds” (Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF, President's Social Fund, etc.), to local governments to supplement the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and at the same time instituting measures that would pave the way for the proper use of discretionary funds.  Support measures that propose the inclusion of magnitude and incidence of poverty in the determination of the IRA. 2) Increasing Government Revenues:  Increase and index “sin” taxes, impose luxury taxes, simplify the income tax system to minimize loopholes and leakages, and ensure effective collection of taxes and other fees, including an effective program to go after “big time” tax evaders. 3) Budget Impoundment:  Support the enactment of the Budget Impoundment Control Act, and not resort to the practice of budget impoundment, i.e., withholding the release of fund allocations for political and other reasons, including the generation of savings that the President can use at her/his discretion. 4) Debt Audit:  Form a Congressional Debt Audit Commission that will scrutinize all public debt and contingent liabilities. This Development and Reform Agenda is the product of numerous consultations with a broad range of NGOs and POs working in different sectors, both in the national and the provincial level. We subscribe to this Agenda and we will strive to make the Presidential and other candidates in the upcoming 2010 elections study this agenda and adopt its policy recommendations into their platforms of government. We will use this Development and Reform agenda in our various advocacy work and voters’ education programs from now until the May 2010 elections, and even after, as we critically and creatively engage the new Administration. We invite other NGOs and POs and other citizens to join us in this endeavor. Nong Usting Article about CPM that appeared in the Leyte Samar Daily Express PINOY POWER ROCKS THE VOTE! Louie Bryan Mirafuentes Lapat's Photos - Noynoy and Mar in Tagum Tataya tayo! Tumawag sa: 0939-456-2013 Email: noymar.volunteer@gmail.com noymar_volunteer@yahoo.com Dear All: I am so happy today. Thanks to Louise Lampon. While looking at the picture as attached nakita ko na ang pagbabago. Nakita ko ang bagong Presidente ng Pilipinas na mangunguna sa inaasamasam natin na pagbabago. Wala na itong iwanan. Nong kinausap ko ang katabi niya sa picture sabi niya: handa na siya sa lahat ng hamon. Kahit yong hamon na mamuno sa isang bayan o kahit saan upang matulungan natin ang mabuting hangarin ng namulat na mga kababayang pinoy at Sen. Noynoy na magtulungan tayo upang makamit natin ang tunay na pagbabago sa ating bansa. To you Mr. President Benigno Simeon Aquino: I am with you. Ituloy natin ang laban ng iyong ama at ina. Marami tayo. Hindi ka nag-iisan. Padamihin namin ang mga tao na magtulak nito upang 7 mos. from now we will be one in celebrating the victory of our people. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Makikilala tayo hindi lang sa larangan ng Boxing kundi sa ating pagkakaisa at being together and united we will rise! The filipino can! We will maintain the power within us. Hindi tayo papayag na mawala ito muli. jun 'dr, moringa' mabaso From Meeting with Noynoy Aquino View all Get your own Mar Roxas gets endorsement for VP Mga kasama at kaibigan, In the midst of the canvassing, the rains steadily poured until our volunteer canvassers converted themselves and became relief workers in the area. The remaining items for the tinagge were given out to the residents of the small barangay where a creek exists in the Esteban Abada area. Salamat sa lahat ng tumulong at patuloy na tumutulong…..lumabas muli ang sigla at diwa ng bayani han – bawat isa bayani at nakikipagbayanihan para makatulong sa kapwa…… Nais kong ipagbigay alam na mayroon na tayong Vice presidential candidate sa pagkatao ni Mar Roxas.He garnered 80% + votes which is way above the 50 % + 1 rule that CPM agreed upon. We also have three senatorial candidates who all got 60% + votes – Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Grace Padaca and Frank Drilon. On October 4 the provincial coordinators and the national council will meet to plan for the campaign and the coordination with the chosen candidates of the Movement. Ang pagbabago na hinahanap natin ay nasa ating kamay…nasa ating pagkilos….nasa ating pakikipag-bayanhian!!! Padayon ang pagbago ng pulitika tungo sa pulitika ng pagbabago! sunflower wishes, dinky Help for Victims of Typhoon Ondoy Dear CODE-NGO Member Networks, Below is AF's announcement re the FUND they are setting up specifically to support NGO workers and their families affected by Typhoon Ondoy, as well as drop-off centers for in-kind donations below. We'll appreciate your help. Thanks, CODE-NGO Secretariat -------- Forwarded Message -------- From: AF Secretariat To: af@afonline.org Subject: Help for Victims of Typhoon Ondoy Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:07:00 +0800 Dear AF Members, Partners & Colleagues, We encourage everyone to participate in and/or support activities in helping the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. For AF, we are setting up a FUND to help specifically the affected NGO WORKERS and their families. Contributions to this Fund may either be brought to the AF office at Room 1102, 11/F Aurora Tower, Aurora Boulevard, Cubao Quezon City or deposited in the AF bank account with the following details: Account Name: ASSOCIATION OF FOUNDATIONS Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Cubao-Aurora Branch Account No.: 0121-0354-48 For proper accounting and to facilitate the issuance of official receipts, please fax a copy of your deposit slip and indicate therein the name of the donor and contact details. For IN-KIND DONATIONS, there are many drop-off centers, among them are the following: ABS-CBN SAGIP KAPAMILYA WAREHOUSE at 13 Examiner St., West Triangle QC or at ABS-CBN Center along Mother Ignacia QC/Scout Bayoran corner Tomas Morato, beside Alex III, Quezon City. Tel 413-2667 / 416-0387. GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION, INC. - 2nd Floor GMA Kapuso Center, GMA Network Drive cor. Samar Streets, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel 982.7777 loc. 9901 & 9905. ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY – drop-off at MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan Building) Lobby. Also at Cervini Hall Lobby at 12nn. For details, please contact 0917 631 2423 or 0917 703 5357. DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY - proceed to South Gate, Taft Avenue, Manila (gate nearest to McDonalds). LA SALLE GREEN HILLS- go to Gate 2 along Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong. CARITAS MANILA OFFICE at Jesus St., Pandacan Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (tel.no.5639298/5639308) or Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Corner EDSA (tel no. 9257931-40). NOYNOY AQUINO AND MAR ROXAS DISASTER RELIEF: Drop off for relief donations at Balay Expo across Farmers Market, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. Contact Jana Vicente: +63 928 520 5499 or Clare Amador: +63 928 520 5508. Please go to any relief drop-off center nearest you. Please check this site also: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tAyGMVpnzlSwFKMXRMe5hxQ&output=html Let us also continue praying for the safety and success of the missions of all the rescue and relief missions, and for comfort and strength for all the victims. God bless us all. AF SECRETARIAT -------------------------------------------------- Association of Foundations Room 1102, 11/F Aurora Tower Aurora Boulevard, Cubao Quezon City 1109 PHILIPPINES Telefax Nos. +63 (2) 9119792, 9137231 Email: afonline@info.com.ph Website: www.afonline.org Building Foundations, Building a Better Future! Tiangge for Change (garage sale)! WE need to raise funds for the continuing change politics movement building process. WE need volunteers and support for a Tiangge for Change (garage sale)! this September 11 and 12, 2009. Proceeds will go to the CPM fund. WE need: 1/ Products a. mga bagay bagay hindi na ninyo kailangan na puwedeng gamitin ng iba (your donation to CPM, your nationalistic way of getting rid of excesses in your cabinets/shelves) b. mga bagong bagay (na di ninyo magamit) na ok nang maibenta sa murang halaga (para may mabalik man lang sa puhunan). set your minimum price on consignment basis. ang tianggehan ang magbibigay ng final price para naman kumita. siyempre, most welcome din na donasyon na lang ang mga ito! 2/ Volunteer Time a. "shopping experts" as sorters of donated or consigned goods; putting price tags b. engaging storekeepers on designated shifts c. over-all super store managers on shifts d. setting up of Tiangge Store in the most creative/appealing way e. hard working marketing agents --- magbabaybay (word of mouth, online, texting) about the tianggehan to both givers and buyers 3/ Tiangge props (on loan only -- will be returned after) a. Tolda to protect goods and buyers from rain and sun (like what you use on picnics, all saints day --- pahiram!) b. shelves, boxes, strings/hangers, etc. WE plan to have the opening Tiangge launch in the garage of CODE-NGO, extending to the back side, on September 11, Friday thru Saturday, September 12. WE are also on the look out for other volunteer venues -- where there's good buyer traffic; or alongside CSO gatherings/events. The "Tiangge for Change" will also be a place where people can get information about the Change Politics Movement or hear in general why we need active citizenry to change our country for good! 2010 is practice, 2016 is a continuing build up, for 2022 where we hope to see that reformed politics is the norm. Halina na mga kabayan! Baguhin natin ang pulitika, tungo sa isang pulitika ng pagbabago! Salamat po. email lang sa asiadhrra@asiadhrra.org; caucus@codengo.org o tawag sa AsiaDHRRA 4266739, 4364706; or 09189289454 / 09189238698 CODE-NGO 920.2595, 926.8131 and 435.6616 Drop off points will be at AsiaDHRRA Office , 59 C. Salvador St. Loyola Hts. QC (look Lorna David, Josie Dalino, Rey Encarnacion) or CODE-NGO Office, 69 Esteban Abada St. Loyola Hts. QC (look for Pete Rahon, Cecille and Dimple) PAKI-PASA PO! Change Politics Movement Vows Support for Noynoy Aquino for President, Asserts Need to Change Politics Now We are leaders and members of NGOs and people's organizations (POs) and citizens from all walks of life, coming from 47 provinces and 13 cities including NCR, who have come together to re-claim politics from the hands of politicians who betrayed the people’s trust. We have united and are acting to change politics from a “dirty word” into a badge of honor – marked by integrity and simplicity, commitment and service, people centered development and justice. We are the Change Politics Movement, now numbering 4,602 members. Since our establishment on May 10, 2009, one year before the 2010 elections, we have been actively engaged in searching for “change politics” candidates whom we will actively support and campaign for in the 2010 elections. We believe that in order to change politics in our country, citizens must engage in “change politics” and actively support reform candidates. We began with agreeing on the criteria for such candidates, which centered on their integrity and track record, immediate and strategic agenda to restore the Philippines in the track of good governance and democratic reform, and capacity to win power for reform. Then, we had nominations from our members, deliberating in groups of 10 or more, and choosing whom they believed passed the criteria among the emerging national candidates. We then strove to get to know these nominees, sponsoring candidates forums, preparing profiles and deliberating and discussing among ourselves. Last August 28, 2009, we started our 2-round voting process involving all our members to democratically select the national candidates that our movement would support. In the middle of counting the votes Sen. Mar Roxas made his historic announcement last September 1, 2009, regarding his withdrawal of his candidacy for President, and his support for Sen. Noynoy Aquino. We were inspired and encouraged that a long-time politician could rise above his personal interests and ambition, and put country and the public good first. Sen. Roxas' declaration of support for Sen. Aquino was swiftly followed by similarly laudable statements from Gov. “Among” Ed Panlilio and Gov. Grace Padaca. Sen. Roxas, and Gov. Padaca were among the leading nominees for our movement's candidate for the Presidency. Soon after, what had been a growing support for Sen. Aquino among our members, developed into an overwhelming clamor. _82% of our members, voting through text or on-line last Monday, September 7, 2009, manifested their support for Sen. Aquino to take up the challenge of running for the highest position in the land during this difficult period. We thus declare our support for Sen. Noynoy Aquino's candidacy for the presidency. We believe that Sen. Aquino's integrity and commitment to good governance; his track record as a legislator in human rights and social reform especially in local governance will provide the needed leadership for change that the country needs. We believe that we need to change politics in our country now. We cannot allow our country to continue to suffer from politics devoid of integrity, transparency, justice and concern for the poor. We need change. For change to happen, ordinary citizens – non-politicians - must be actively engaged in politics and governance, including supporting reform politicians during their candidacy and when they are in power. For change to happen, “change politics” politicians need to step up and demonstrate true public service and leadership for reform in their words and deeds. We are happy and hopeful now that we are able to see the beginnings of the change we aspire for. Huge challenges lie ahead of us. But we are united and resolute in our efforts; we have faith in the Filipino capacity to stand up for what is good , for what is right, for what is just. Inspired by Ninoy and Cory Aquino, together with Sen. Noynoy Aquino we shall overcome and change politics to Politics for Change. INDEED, TITA CORY IS NOT ALONE! Statement of the Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO) 19 August 2009 We, former senior government officials, express our solidarity with the Filipino people who condoled with the Aquino family, celebrated President Cory’s life of service to our nation, and affirmed their support for the democracy and good government for which Cory and Ninoy lived and died. We believe the power of Tita Cory’s legacy lies not only on the fact that it has helped us win and defend our democracy before, but also that it remains alive and relevant to our fight against abusive leaders and bad government today and in the future. The death, wake and funeral of Tita Cory were occasions for new heroism and various events around the first week of August showed our nation and its many heroes at their best. We wish to commend their fine examples and point out what we regard as their lessons for all of us. We wish to cite the following: · The Aquino daughters and son, who, by their words and actions and despite their grief, embraced the masses of our people wishing to express their thanks and say goodbye to their mother, who was also our dear President Cory. We thank the Aquino family particularly for deciding on a funeral that was truly from the people, by the people and of the people. · The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for showing what an institution, tasked by our Constitution to be a true “protector of the people,” does in the people’s funeral for Pres. Aquino. The services rendered and honors bestowed by our uniformed men and women for their former commander-in- chief not only affirmed their adherence to the democracy she stood for but also showed their unity with the Filipino people. · The Judicial and Bar Council for deciding to follow their own rules and deny GMA’s desire to include other names to the list of nominees already submitted for two vacancies in the Supreme Court. By refusing to follow Malacanang’s bidding, the JBC stops the further erosion of checks and balance established by the Constitution in making appointments to the judiciary. · The Senate of the Republic for continuing to refuse participation in any attempt by the House of Representatives to tamper with the Constitution before the 2010 elections. We also commend those honorable members of the House who have wisely and courageously opposed, or withdrawn their support for, the House resolution seeking to convene a Constituent Assembly to revise the Constitution. · Former Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and former Philippine Ambassador to the USA, Albert del Rosario, who have each spoken publicly and authoritatively to expose past attempts by the Arroyo administration to impose emergency rule as a ploy to extend its hold on power. These witnesses have helped alert many more Filipinos to be less complacent and more vigilant in guarding against future attempts. · The enterprising and courageous members of our media for continuing to bring the truth to our people about the depths and extent of corruption and lavish waste that mark the current GMA administration, in contrast to the example of integrity and simplicity shown by President Cory. The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism is commended for its careful, comprehensive and detailed report revealing how GMA’s wealth grew at scandalous rates as she rose higher and stayed longer in power. The foreign media and our internet-based journalists are also commended for bringing to our ordinary people’s attention such casual callousness of GMA as enjoying P1 million-peso dinners abroad while hungry Filipinos mourned the death of Tita Cory at home. We are gratified that Tita Cory’s funeral was not only a commemoration of a great leader’s life but also a re-commitment to that leader’s higher purposes: democracy, good government, greater good of the nation. As we admired Tita Cory’s faithful service to the nation through pain and sacrifice, we have also grown to admire all others similarly doing faithful service to the nation despite pain and sacrifice. In the words of President Cory, “All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It’s always the people who make things happen.” CHANGE OF DATE OF THE FIRST VOTE AND FINAL VOTE Greetings Comrades and Colleagues! The national council of the Change Politics Movement met today and reviewed the progress of our work. As of August 17, 2009 we have 4, 151 registered members in the national secretariat! !! Pagbati sa lahat!!! Congratulations! this is sheer commitment, hardwork and creative mobilization! The National Council deliberated on the current context and political developments. It also assessed our capacity to conduct the first vote on August 21 and 22 as well as the final vote of September 5……after much debate and discussion, we decided to move the first vote by one week. We wanted to give the secretariat and the provincial coordinators the time to disseminate the information on the candidates and prepare for the special precincts for those who do not have access to mobile phones and internet. The new dates are: FIRST VOTE – AUGUST 28 – 29 FINAL VOTE – SEPTEMBER 11 WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS IN A PRESS CONFERENCE ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2009. LET US DISCERN, DELIBERATE, DEBATE, DISCUSS….AND THEN DECIDE! WE ARE TAKING THE FIRST STEP TO CHANGE POLITICS BY APPLYING THE CRITERIA WE AGREED UPON TO CHOOSE AN ACCOUNTABLE AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP.. ..A LEADERSHIP WITH INTEGRITY AND PRINCIPLES.. …BALANCING OUR IDEALISM WITH REALISM….. …LIVING OUT OUR ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP …. CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF TITA CORY … DEFENDING DEMOCRACY AND PROSPERITY FOR THE POOR! SUNFLOWER WISHES, dinky