Kaya Natin!

KAYA NATIN! BULLETIN #011

June 15-21, 2009

News and Updates
COMICS ON ROBREDO, PADACA, AND PANLILIO LAUNCHED
A little over a year after meeting each other for the first time, good governance advocates and public officials Grace Padaca and Ed Panlilio thanked the public for their continued support in their fight against corruption with the launch of “The Champions,” a comic book featuring the inspiring stories of Kaya Natin! Champions Padaca, Panlilio, and Jesse Robredo. The comics was launched last Saturday, June 13, at the Ortiz Hall, Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. Panlilio and Padaca were present during the event, as well as other Kaya Natin! Champions Mayor Fermin Mabulo from Camarines Sur and Mayor Jun Verzosa of Ilocos Sur. Robredo, upon the invitation of the Freidrich Naumann Foundation, was in Germany at the time. Also present to witness the launch were former Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Butch Abad, former DepEd Undersecretary Chito Gascon, Cavite Congressman Jun Abaya and running priest Fr. Robert Reyes.

The Asia Foundation, in cooperation with the Ateneo School of Government, has made possible the production of this comic book. The project aims to bring the three officials’ stories on good governance to the masses. Harvey Keh, lead convenor of Kaya Natin!, said that the comics will also be launched in Cotabato, Cebu, Palawan, and Iloilo in the latter part of June.

After the comics, the official Kaya Natin! song and shirt were also revealed. The song, an original composition by amateur student band Gracenote, was written especially for Kaya Natin! after the band members were inspired by the stories of the Kaya Natin! leaders. The shirt was also designed by youth leader Arriane Serafico for the group, highlighting the impact of the Champions’ stories to the Filipino youth.

Read the Philippine Star’s news feature on the launch.

KAYA NATIN! STANDS UP FOR DEMOCRACY

After releasing a statement against the passage of HR 1109, Kaya Natin! joined thousands of Filipinos in the rallies held last June 10 both in Makati and Quezon City to express their indignation on the questionable passage of the house bill that enables Congress to convene itself into a constituent assembly, against the approval of majority of the Filipinos.

“TindigNation” brought together tens of thousands of Filipinos around the Philippines, with the main event in Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Kaya Natin! Champion Ed Panlilio was present at that rally, while lead convenor Harvey Keh was among those who helped organize the Katipunan concert-rally and noise barrage.

The nationwide TindigNation rallies will become a regular event in the coming weeks, building up to the weekend before the President’s final State of the Nation Address on July 27.
In the Media
ABANTE

Parusahan si Congressman Con-Ass!

Ni Mayor Jesse Robredo

”Kasalukuyan nasa Germany ako ngayon sa imbitasyon ng Freidrich Naumann Foundation, kasama ng labingsiyam na political leaders na nanggaling sa labing-anim na bansa sa mundo. Isa sa mga paksang tinalakay ang pang­kasalukuyang katayuan ng pulitika at pamamahala sa kanya-kanyang bansa. Sa mga usaping ginaganap, dalawang pananaw ang nabuo sa isip ko. Sa isang banda, mapalad ang Pilipinas dahil binigyan na tayo ng kalayaan at istruktura ng gobyerno na kailangan na lang pangalagaan at pagyamanin. Sa Africa at Middle East, may mga bansa pang sinisiil ng pamahalaan ang kalayaan ng kanilang mamamayan.

Subalit sa kabilang banda, hindi tayo pinagpala dahil patuloy na inaaksaya ng ating pamunuan ang pagkakataon na gamitin ang demokrasya para maihango ang mamamayan sa kahirapan. Mabilis na nalimutan na pinagbuwisan ito ng buhay na mga nauna sa kanila.

Ito ang kuwento ng ‘ConAss’.”

Read full article

Hindi ConAss Kundi Kaunlaran

Ni Gov. Ed Panlilio

“Sila po ay tinatawag nating deputado. Sila ang bumubuo ng House of Representatives. Sila ang ating mga kinatawan sa Kongreso. Sila dapat ang kumakatawan sa atin, sa ating damdamin, dinadaing at tinitindigan.

Ngunit yaong ginawa ba ng ating mga kongresista na maka administrasyon noong Mayo 28, sa pagpasa nila sa resolusyon na gawing constituent assembly ang kanilang sarili ay kumakatawan sa ating damdamin?”

Read full article

ABANTE TONITE

“Sana Presidente Na Lang Kami”

Ni Gov. Grace Padaca

“Ito ang sabi ni Kai, isa sa mga kabataan ng Ateneo de Manila na nasa likod ng matagumpay na pagpapalabas noong May 28 ng documentary film ni Ditsi Carolino “Lupang Hinarang” tungkol sa mga Sumilao farmers at iba pa.

Umpisa pa lang ng palabas, madarama mo na ang hirap ng mga magsasakang lumalaban para sa kanilang munting bahagi sa lupain ng Pilipinas. Ganoon na lang siguro ang pagka-antig ng damdamin nina Kai at nasabi niyang “sana presidente na lang kami” - isang inosenteng paghahangad sa kapangyarihan na maari sanang magamit para mabilis na matugunan ang pa­nawagan ng mga magbubukid. Isa rin itong palatandaan ng pagkabigo nilang mga kabataan dahil ang kapangyarihang ito ay hindi naman nagagamit ngayon para makatugon sa mga nananawagan.”

Read full article

MANILA TIMES

Calling for Acts of Heroism in Congress

by Eirene Aguila

“Homestretch. It is usually at this time that we see acts of heroism in our athletes—their one big fight, as the Ateneo Blue Eagles would put it. While some would debate the idea of waiting till the last minute to perform crucial acts needed to win the game, still there is that final inning, those final two minutes, that final time-out. And I think, our politicians—our legislators in particular, may want to make use of these last session days to be real statesmen and women by enacting into law some of the things our country badly needs.”

Read full article

Going Light

by Eirene Aguila

“Two weeks ago, I had the chance to accompany Governors Teddy Baguilat Jr. of Ifugao and Among Ed Panlilio of Pampanga to a trip down south to Cagayan de Oro. They were invited to dialogue with several groups in the area as well as address youth leaders in the province on good governance.

It was to be my first time to join any of our Kaya Natin! Champions on a trip and I was very much looking forward to it. I was already psyching myself up to traveling with a whole entourage: security men and aides included. But when I got to the airport, the lone member of the entourage was me. I thought to myself that this was very much unlike the usual accounts we hear and see of other politicians who travel with herds of staff (official and unofficial at that!).”

Read full article

INQUIRER.NET

Villar Should Face the Music

By Harvey Keh

“…Which now goes back to the same question that many of us continue to ask, why doesn’t Villar subject himself to an investigation by his own peers at the Senate? His continuous non-appearance and refusal to cooperate in this current ethics investigation all the more leaves many of us to doubt his credibility as a leader.”

Read full article

Rejoinder to the Opinion of Mr. Harvey Keh

From the Office of Senator Manny Villar

A basic rule of law in a democratic society is that one who accuses any person of any wrongdoing should not act as judge at the same time.

This rule of justice and fair play is evidently missing in the present case of Senator Manny Villar. The Senate, constituting itself as a Committee on the Whole, seeks to pass judgment on allegations hurled against him regarding the C-5 issue.

It must be pointed out Senator Villar’s accusers, namely, Senators Jamby Madrigal and Panfilo Lacson, also sit as jury and judges, together with others members of the majority bloc, sans participation of the minority bloc, in his “Ethics Trial” before the COW.

In short, all of them —jurors, judges and accusers—have already prejudged Senator Villar’s case.

So, who in his right mind would consent to such a blatant travesty of justice?

Moreover, Senators Mar Roxas, Loren Legarda, Richard Gordon and Francis
Chiz Escudero have publicly expressed their desire to vie for the presidential election in 2010.

Decency, at least, requires that they inhibit themselves from the COW’s proceedings, if only to be fair to a fellow presidential aspirant, who happens to lead all of them in the latest nationwide surveys. But they have chosen to sit in judgment of their rival.

It’s very clear then that the most prudent move anybody in Senator Villar’s shoes to take is to go straight to the sovereign people to whom any nationally elected legislator is accountable. He is doing this.

Precisely, it is Senator Villar’s sense of transparency and accountability that leads him to bring his case directly to the people whose wisdom transcends the combined minds of all the Senators.

If Senator Villar has something to hide, he could have easily found comfort in silence. But he did not. He prefers to stand in the glare of public opinion and, yes, face the music.

Admittedly, Senator Villar is active in his public informational campaign. It is by this means that he registers very well in the public mind, and the substance of what he is saying and doing, and in the credibility of his message.

Incidentally, long before Senator Villar started his pro-OFW and “sipag at tiyaga” advocacy programs, he had already initiated a grassroots entrepreneurial development strategy with several projects on the ground.

He is a certified environmentalist, personally setting up tree nurseries and initiating tree planting activities.

He brought home quite a number of OFWs who were victims of abuses in their overseas work stations.

Senator Villar is a builder at heart.
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As Barack Obama, 44th president of the United Stated, so aptly put it, “…those who build, as opposed to those who destroy, I think leave a lasting legacy, not only for themselves but also for their nations.”

Jan Mata
Office of Senator Manny Villar

Announcements/ Members’ Corner
PILIPINAS KONG MAHAL

By Ben Panlilio

After “monitoring the rallies” GMA attempts to deceive us more with denials that she has nothing to do with Con-Ass, instructed her allies to put it “on hold” (probably pursue later) and denials that she will not extend her term but will run as a representative candidate in her hometown. Will she declare martial law or cheat in the next election to make sure her political party wins (after all, she believes she has control over the election results), change our constitution then and turn congress into a parliament and become the first prime minister? The people have given her more than enough time to prove herself and has let the country down.

We hold the destiny of our nation in our hands.

Read full article

”STOP CON-ASS!” FACEBOOK GROUP

If you feel strongly about the HR 1109 issue, feel free to join “Stop Con-Ass Now“ Facebook group, started by concerned citizen Noli Benavent, who is also a Kaya Natin! member. The online group is now close to 60,000 members and recruiting more and more members every day.

Join: http://apps. facebook. com/causes/ 293075/33094279? m=6d54c0aa

KN Champ Gov. Grace Padaca Radio Interview

Isabela Governor Grace Padaca will be interviewed by Joel Reyes-Zobel over DZBB 594 today, June 15 (Monday),  4pm to 5pm. This is part of Kaya Natin’s partnership with DZBB 594 in promoting good governance and ethical leadership. Kaya Natin! champions are featured every monday afternoon.

KN ON THE WEB

Keep yourselves updated about Kaya Natin!’s latest events and activities as they happen, in 140 characters or less. Follow us on http://twitter. com/kayanatin . We also have accounts in Friendster, Facebook, and Multiply. Just search kayanatin@yahoo. com .

If you have relevant announcements to share to the Kaya Natin! community, you may email kayanatin@yahoo. com with the subject, “For KN Bulletin”. Thank you!