Nov 10, 2009

SALU-SALO Para sa Pagbabago Series2 -- The Green Agenda: Understanding the Urgent Challenge of Climate Change in the Phils


From Nick:
The second of the Salu-Salo Para sa Pagbabago series will be on Nov. 17, Tues. 7pm at OCCI Learning Center. I will focus on Climate Change and a GREEN PRESIDENCY. Reserve your tickets now with Mary Carl at 4669520 or 09286250388.

Hope to see you there.

Tayong lahat perlas!

Oct 2, 2009

ABSCBNnews: RP floods a wake-up call for climate change

Date Originally Posted:  September 29, 2009
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/29/09/rp-must-prepare-climate-change-environmentalist

Post content: ABS-CBN news article quotes various environmental experts, among them Nick Perlas, on their thoughts about climate change in the Philippines, especially in the Ondoy aftermath. Excerpt below:
MANILA - Extreme weather disturbances similar to tropical storm Ondoy (international codename Ketsana) will happen more frequently because of climate change, according to environmentalist and global expert on integral sustainable development Nicanor Perlas.

In an interview with ABS-CBN's "The Big Picture", Perlas said the Philippine government should prepare for more major storms by improving telecommunications systems, identifying strategic evacuation areas, stocking up on rubber boats and amphibious vehicles and relocating people living near waterways.

"Something similar happened last year in June with Typhoon Frank. It slammed into Panay and that was the worst weather experienced in memory in Panay. And that typhoon caused damages of P17 billion, which was the largest damage of a single typhoon. Normally, all the 22 typhoons that hit the country, they total to P15 billion to P16 billion a year and I was saying that was a warning that we're entering the global age of climate change and the government should be preparing for this," he said.

Sep 30, 2009

SALO-SALO PARA SA PAGBABAGO, A Fundraising Dinner

What is your vision for the Philippines in 2010 and beyond? Share, listen and dine with Nick and others like you who are for a new Philippines.

SALO-SALO PARA SA PAGBABAGO, A Fundraising Dinner 
October 7, 2009 Wednesday
7:00pm
OCCI Center for Learning, 6F Emerald Bldg, F. Ortigas Rd. (formerly Emerald Ave.), Ortigas Center
P500/seat




















Tayong lahat Perlas!

Sep 29, 2009

Response to Nick's TV appearance about Ondoy and Climate Change

Below is a tweet in response to Nick's TV interview on Climate Change and Tropical Storm Ondoy with Ricky Carandang, shown on "The Big Picture", ANC, 9pm September 28, Monday.

Date Originally Posted: September 28, 11pm

Source: http://twitter.com/ekisjoson
Post content:
@InaNickofTime So inspired by ur ANC talk tonite on disaster relief, how can I be of help? Willing to start NOW. Just turned 18 last Sat.


Tweets on "Nick Perlas"
Tweets on "Nicanor Perlas"

Sep 17, 2009

Volunteer-created videos for Nicky

1. "Nicanor Perlas for President 2010: Tayong Lahat ay PERLAS!" created by NP volunteer broodshen
2. "Nicanor Perlas For President, Philippines 2010" created by NP volunteer edmbin
3. "Who is Nicanor Perlas?" picture slideshow created by NP volunteer bellaesp2010

4. "Sino si Nicanor Perlas?" picture slideshow created by NP volunteer Emmanfer2010



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfRC-LO1hEs

Date Originally Posted:  August 13, 2009
About the Video:  "Nicanor Perlas for President 2010: Tayong Lahat ay PERLAS!" created by NP volunteer broodshen who says: "Jesus Nicanor "Nick" Perlas has finally declared his intentions to become the next President of the Philippines come 2010. Nick Perlas is the first presidentiable who can truly say that he loves the environment and had truly done something about it. He was instrumental in stopping the creation of at least 19 nuclear plants in the country way back during the Marcos era. He is also instrumental in banning poisonous and dangerous pesticides that affect farmers. Nicanor Perlas is also one of the inspirations to the United Nations Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). He is a personality well recognized not only in the Philippines but arount the world and finally he declared himself as an alternative choice for 2010."
Content summary:  Dakilang lider videos of Ninoy, Fernando Poe Jr.,Raul Roco
Hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataong mamuno sa ating bansa...Sayang!Hahayaan ba nating MANGYARI ULI ITO?  Ang manakawan tayo ng isang lider na matino? Huwag na natin muling palampasin!

Tayo ay nasa kalagitnaan ng isang tunggalian.  Ito ay nagaganap sa pook-digmaan ng ating kaluluwa at mahahalagang institusyon ng ating lipunan.  Walang gitnang katwiran.  Dapat nang pumili kung tayo ay papanig sa pinakamabuti, pinakamatayog, at pinakamarangal...sa ating mga sarili, o isusuko ang ating diwa at kaluluwa sa kadilimang nais lumamon sa atin sa pamamagitan ng ating kawalang-pakialam at di pagkilos. / Ang liwanag ng panibagong Pilipinas ay narito na.  Kinakailangan lamang na gumising tayo upang makita ang ningning ng pangako nito.

Sapagkat sa pamamagitan lamang ng sama-sama at nagkakaisang pagkilos maisasakatuparan ang pagpapabago at pagpapainam ng ating bayan. / Sa pamamagitan lamang ng sama-sama at nagkakaisang pagkilos natin maaaring likhain ang panibagong Pilipinas, isang bayang positibong makaaambag sa pinamakatayog na pangarap at hangarin ng sangkatauhan.

Batay sa namulat nating pagkato, tayong lahat ang magbabago ng Pilipinas! Ngayon! / Nicanor "Nick" Perlas

"The true Philippines wants to be born.  We are called to have courage and to act out of our highest ideals and deepest sources of conviction.  Then the impossible can happen.  Then our true Philippines will emerge." - Nicanor Perlas

HUWAG NA NATIN MULING PALAMPASIN!
"I am publicly announcing my intention to run as President in the 2010 national elections.  Like many of you, I am yearning to create a better Philippines.  Together, we can create a better world."

Tayong lahat ang magbibigay liwanag sa kalagayan ng ating bayan. / Tayong lahat ang gagamot ng mga sakit ng ating lipunan. / Tayong lahat ang magbibigay ng solusyon sa kahirapan ng ating mga kapatid. / Tayong lahat ang tatanggal ng korupsyon. / Tayong lahat ang aayos ng ating hukuman. / Tayong lahat ang magbibigay ng sapat na edukasyon sa ating mga kabataan. / Tayong lahat ang magbabalik ng ating moralidad. / Tayong lahat ang magbibigay ng kahulugan sa buhay natin. / Tayong lahat ang magbibigay ng pag-asa sa bayan. / Hindi na natin kailangan maghintay pa sa mga pangako ng mga pulitiko. / TAYONG LAHAT ANG SAGOT!

----Six Pillars-----
 Why vote for Nick Perlas? Nicanor Perlas is often praised as a globally renowned environmentalist.  But he is not a one-issue person.  He has made significant and outstanding contributions in other issue areaas important to the future of the country. / These include: poverty reduction, anti-corruption, education, peace building, sustainable agriculture, trade policy, globalization, ledership formation, science and technology, among others. / Systemic challenges require sysemic responses, an approach Perlas is comfortable with.  He can place his wide-ranging talents and track record in the systemic and structural renewal of the Philippines.

Let us join hands and make Nicanor "Nick" Perlas our president. / Nicanor Perlas is already my president! / Si Perlas ang aking Pangulo! / WHAT ABOUT YOU? ...IKAW BA KAIBIGAN?  Let us join hands for a BETTER PHILIPPINES! PERLAS Tayong Lahat!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4yZEkkkfi0

Date Originally Posted:  August 24, 2009
About the Video:  Montage of pictures created by NP volunteer edmbin
Content summary:  Nicanor Perlas, Candidate, President 2010.  Community Activist, Environmentalist
For 40 years making a difference in Filipino lives./ Qualified to be the next president of the Phils? yes!
Experience include: anti-corruption work, moral renewal,  poverty reduction, participatory governance, globalization, fair trade, philippine agenda 21, microfinance, genetic engineering, pest-management programs, APEC, KOMPIL II, Peace and Development, Sustainable Agriculture, Multiple Intelligent Education, Safe Energy, nuclear free Phils
Nicanor Perlas, not a Politician. /40 years of public service helping Filipinos.
A New Leader, A New Vision / Real Choice, Real change/ For a New Philippines / The TIME is now!
Video clip of Nicky: St. Scholastica's forum with alternative contenders
---Six Pillars---
Be part of the change and renewal.  Volunteer.  Perlas tayong lahat.





Date Originally Posted:  September 15, 2009
About the Video:  "Who is Nicanor Perlas?" picture slideshow created by NP volunteer bellaesp2010
Content summary:  Nicanor Perlas, the New Filipino Leader: farmer, environmentalist, makatao, microfinance expert, Alternative Nobel Prize awardee, activista, matapang, civil society leader, author, educator, matapat. Tayong Lahat ang Sagot. Perlas Tayong Lahat 2010



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj5OhzL_W8c


Date Originally Posted:  September 15, 2009
About the Video:  "Sino si Nicanor Perlas?" picture slideshow created by NP volunteer Emmanfer2010
Content summary:  Nicanor Perlas, the New Filipino Leader: farmer, environmentalist, makatao, microfinance expert, Alternative Nobel Prize awardee, activista, matapang, civil society leader, author, educator, matapat. Tayong Lahat ang Sagot. Perlas Tayong Lahat 2010

Nicky on video

Various videos featuring Nicky:
1. Qtv news report on a "pre-elections conversation" with alternative candidates at St. Scholastica's College
2.  Nicky announces his 2010 presidential bid
3. Nicky meets with the Partido Kalikasan Group re his plans for the presidency, held at the Environmental Studies Institute in Miriam College.
4.  Nicky facilitates a Pag-asa workshop, discussing the role of art and culture in transforming society



Date Originally Posted:  July 19, 2009
About the Video:  Qtv news report on a "pre-elections conversation" at St. Scholastica's College, featuring three alternative contenders for the presidency: Nicky Perlas, JC de los Reyes, and Gov. Grace Padaca
Content summary:  Reporter says "Nicanor Perlas was introduced as a man from the academe, a consultant to many organizations including agencies of the United Nations. Perlas says that just because a candidate is part of the Opposition or against the Arroyo administration, it doesn't mean the person can make a difference. So he urges the people to discern and consider alternative candidates." Nicky is shown saying that a traditional politician gives us an idea of what it will take to create a different national elections process and change this country.



Date Originally Posted:  June 22, 2009
About the Video:  Nicky announces his 2010 presidential bid
Content summary:  Nicky talks about the principle of subsidiarity as a new sense of governance to empower Filipinos in the barangay level to create their own vision.
We don't have a party system based on principle in the Phils; we need a political system na hindi nakabatay sa isang tao, kung hindi sa ating lahat, sama-sama, tayo ang babago sa Pilipinas.



Date Originally Posted:  September 9, 2009
About the Video: Last Aug. 28, 2009 the Partido Kalikasan Group met with Jesus Nicanor 'Nicky' Perlas III on his plans for the presidency. It was held at the Environmental Studies Institute in Miriam College.
Content summary:  Nicky discusses his six pillars in brief.




v
Date Originally Posted:  May 29, 2008
About the Video:  Shows Nicky facilitating a Pag-asa workshop, discussing the role of art and culture in transforming society
Content summary:  Nicky talks about people as the basis of structure or systems of society.  To change systems, we need to change the identities that give form to these systems.  Best way? Through art, which is usually trivialized as pure entertainment, but it has a revolutionary power! It's the source of the new!  A person as not just IQ--logical, mathematical, linguistic intelligence.  But modern research shows that a human being has 11 intelligences-- --art activates these different intelligences.  We can't change the system using past methods--we need to use deeper methods.  Through art, we can trigger the release of these suppressed creative energies.  Rizal was a person of multiple intelligences--Individual Filipinos have the potential to be renaissance men!

Nicky on Mindanao

Philippines Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas discusses the following during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG), an organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City:

1. Six Pillars of his Platform
2. Leadership for Mindanao
3. Economic Development and the Environment
4. Farm Land Conversion and Low Agricultural Productivity
5. Agriculture and Food Security
6. Philippine Education
7. Not Being Corrupt When Elected into Office
8. Indigenous Peoples Act of 1997
9. Indigenous Peoples Education
10. Business Investments in Mindanao
11. Future of the Youth in Mindanao
12. Bangsamoro Juridical Entity
13. Laws to Protect the Environment
14. Three Women's Rights to Protect and Promote
15. On Another Woman to Become President
16. Peace Agreement with the MILF

All videos uploaded in youtube by NP Volunteer geejayarriola (thank you!). 




Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Philippines Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on the Six Pillars of his Platform during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City
Content summary:  Nicky says we have won the battle for frameworks, but have lost the battle for implementation. We know the processes, we have proposed solutions, but the situation is getting worse. A lot of this has to do with governance. Example: ADB study showed fiscal management, infrastructure and electricity are key constraints to economic development--all these are affected by governance.
Six perspectives in terms of what will work in Mindanao and the rest of the country:
1. eradicating poverty & enhancing the life of all-- in Mindanao: mainstreaming a more sustainable agricultural process and continuing with peace process
2. moral and effective governance
3. integrity of creation -- environmental protection in the wider natural and spiritual context, with which Lumads, ethnic groups (Christians and Muslims) view the environmental situation
4. effective partnerships of social justice -- massive involvement of civil society and business in governance. Governance is not about government. It's about social processes that are put in place to address social objectives.
5. mainstreaming promising initiatives -- that address promising solutions but are ignored
6. holistic education and inner change -- cultural empowerment on the broadest level

2010 is not a normal elections. A lot is at stake in 2010. If we don't get our act together, we will have "trapo" all over again. We have seen where traditional politics takes us. We have to take the risk to move into unchartered waters. If we do this, we will all get the country that we deserve.





Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on Leadership for Mindanao during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City
Content summary:  Nicky enumerates the traits needed for a leader in Mindanao:
1. passion for social justice - many issues are results of inequitable development, inequitable access to fruits of development, including struggle for peace
2. political will - ex. challenging the basic political systems that produce poverty, conflict and unsustainable development
3. empowering and consultative leader -- collective intelligence: no one leader can possible provide all the answers. emerges when leader authentically listens, and has a pol will to act on what emerges
4. broad, lofty vision about our possibilities as a nation + practical experience and will to realize that vision



Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on Economic Devt and the Environment during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City
Content summary:  In 1992, there was a debate between environment and development. Example:
1. Organic agriculture works! North Cotabato farmers we helped are now yielding twice the national outtage. The fastest trade growth globally is in sustainable organic foods.
2. Water- create a measurable recharge-discharge rate. Green technologies, desalination plants, community-based approach to fisheries
3. Mining - no one is against mining, but what is important is we address the diff impacts: ecological, watershed, ancestral domains, ownership, equity

This is where governance comes in because in this process, in almost every aspect of the way, bad governance results in an unnecessary conflict between development and environment. It can be done. It's being done all over the place. There is a huge opportunity for green economy.



Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on Farm Land Conversion and Low Agricultural Productivity during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City
Content summary:  There are tremendous political barriers. Governance creating all kinds of conflicts. Suggestions:
1. Land uses of existing farming ecosystems which are highly productive.
Example: Land Use Code that would allow for indigenous practices to be preserved in the Cavite multi-storey planting systems are being lost as a result of rel estate speculation in Tagaytay and surrounding cities. These practices could become the future best practices out of indigenous knowledge and science that can benefit agriculture in general.

2. Small farmer productivity -- redefine "productivity" not just as labor productivity (biased to the use of machinery) but in terms of total productivity- ecological, human, ecosystem.  Example: multiple cropping systems are more productive than monoculture systems. Redefine the total biomass of useful harvest per unit hectare of land.

3. People in the uplands -- create post-harvest facilities in the village and municipal levels to address wastage and low prices. 70% of vegetables in Baguio are wasted by the time they reach Manila because of lack of proper refrigeration facilities in the transport system

4. The farmer him/herself-- the real factor in agri productivity. Need a total approach to reeducate farmers to respect indigenous knowledge and at the same time converge with modern agricultural, ecological technologies so that we have tremendous productivity even at small scale levels




Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on Agriculture and Food Security during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary:  Agricultural mobilization is a perfect example of a complex nature of addressing a problem. Has been an issue since the 1960s. The AFMA, which was enacted based on WTO agreement and contained what to do in agriculture in the context of globalization, unfortunately was never really acted upoon. The billions promised never came. We are in a weak position vis-a-vis our own food security as well as the globalization process. We are importing close to 2M metric tonnes--we're not supposed to do that. It's very difficult to reconstruct agri land that has been laid to waste--it's not a factory, it's a biological process.

2. We can't just rely on increasing land frontiers of production??
Methodology of farming is also important because we're wasting soil productivity. IRRI for example showed that nitrogen resulted in dramatic decline of fields.
If we don't take care of the ecological aspects of our farming, we can't achieve food security.

3. Food security should be in the context of eradicating poverty. 70% in rural areas. therefore we should have a program that addresses not only food but livelihood.  This is why microfinancing is increasing in such tremendous scale.  I would promote agri-microfinance, which many don't want to touch, but is one of the keys to get productivity up.  Research all over the world has shown that small farm productivity is much higher than plantation productivity if the proper inputs are there.  We should empower small farmers to the degree that we have not done before, and we should do this in the context of a local and globalist economy.

The whole thing is connected to corruption and governance. The solutions are so well known, yet the funds are not there, they end up in fertilizer and irrigation funds in Metro Manila.



Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on Philippine Education during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary:  There are three aspects to the education question:
1. Infrastructure support: number of teachers, schools, outreach
2. Quality of education: we need define what quality is
3. Social justice that involves both

Education is to draw out the full human potential. Modern educ science has shown there are 11 intelligences that the human being has, among them IQ..there are others! including existential,naturalistic, moral
These are neglected in mainstream education. So if you want equitable access...
question should be reframed, to what kind of quality education do you want equitable access? Modern education is based on a 19th century model that's totally outdated, and it does not prepare us for education in the 20th century. The global economy is moving to a knowledge economy. Robotics, artificial intelligence are going to mechanize IQ-related capacities. So if you're a lawyer, doctor, accountant--IQ based--these are going to be mechanized in the next 10-15 years. If we dont prepare for creativity and the other stuff that make us whole human beings, then we'll be continuing on a path where we'll be the marginalized of the world.






Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on Not Being Corrupt When Elected into Office during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary:  The best gauge is the character of the person. I have a passion for fighting against corruption. Since 18. What triggered my passion: my father was a public servant, after 40 years was charged with corruption by Marcos because he refused to be corrupted. The injustice of the system that would reward 40 years of professional service with a bribery charge was soemthing I wanted to transform in my life. So a few years later I had a chance to do this with the corruption involving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, with a 40M bribery. The construction was so problematic, all the subcontractors were corrupt. We managed through an international mobilization to stop the Bataan Nuclear Plant. An accident from a defective plant would cause 1/3 of the Phils to be radioactive.

The next journey to stopping corruption came when we fought against corruption the the Department of Agriculture. Top government officials were being paid hundreds of millions in commissions to distribute pesticides that were banned in other countries, but were being dumped in the Philippines. We stopped this corruption and saved the lives of millions of farmers from pesticide impact.

We were active in getting Estrada out of office.
We were active trying to get Arroyo out of office.

Re character, if 40 years of one's existence has really been geared towards getting rid of corruption, I think it's so deep that the overwhelming bribery in office will not happen. I've been offered Cabinet positions which I've rejected because I did not believe in the integrity of the person that offered those positions.






Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on Indigenous Peoples Act of 1997 during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary:  It all begins in learning to respect the dignity and capacities of indigenous people. It's not too well-known a fact that one of the founding fathers of the new science of indigenous knowledge and systems, a new field of anthropology, was sent to the Philippines by the UN's FAO to give advice to the indigenous peoples in Mindoro. After 3 years, he said he had nothing to advice them, we have a lot to learn from them.
We have forgotten the profound wisdom that lies among indigenous people, not only in agriculture, medicine, ethno-veterinary aspects, art-- there's a whole wealth of indigenous knowledge that's there. This is a foundation modern society has lost, therefore we have a kind of society that doesn't appreciate what indigenous peoples can do. We look at them as indigents, marginalized to be reached out to instead of as co-partners in a developmental process, where we have a lot to learn. I've experienced this is the field--every time we install an ecological-agricultural process with indigenous people, we always start with their knowledge, and maybe add another 15-20% when the whole thing is finished. That is the foundation. Without this, all the technical approaches that have been done will become victimized to the same kind of political maneuvering that has victimized the Autonomous Regions.

This is the foundation. Then we can produce all the productivity, social health, education and all other appraoches that respect the culture of indigenous people, and then take it from there.





Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on Indigenous Peoples Education during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary:  Dapat baguhin ang edukasyon upang hindi one-way ang process of interaction. Kultura ng mga katutubo ay angkop. Hindi magagawa ang mga programa kung walang sariling pagtiwala sa sariling kakayanan at sariling pananaw. Nangyayari sa eco-tourism, halimbawa, karamihan ng mga katutubo ay nagiging cultural artifacts, one of the worst forms of commodification. Nakikita sa Luzon, increasing in Mindanao. Pagtingin sa katutubo ay wala silang sariling kultura, wala tayong matutunan sa kanila, spectacle yung musika, yung artistic way of living. Ito ay dapat mawala dahil yan ang preparasyon ng tunay na partisipasyon ng mg akattuob sa proseso ng pag-uunland, sa proseso ng councils. Kadalasang nangyayari for political purposes, yung mga liderato ay hindi tunay na representatives ng mga katutubo. Marami sa kanila pumupunta sa civil society para humingi ng tulong para makapasok talaga sa mga councils na para kanila. Only after that, na yung mga concrete programs para sa pag-unlad ay magagawa. Good news: there are billions of dollars of social responsible or sustainable development investments na sensitive sa kultura at mga karapatan ng mga katutubo. Naghahanap sila ng partnerships. Example: Norway nag-release ng billions of dollars para tulungan ang mga katutubo sa Brazilian forest para ma-maintain yung forest ecosystem nila sa pamamaraan na hindi yung dignidad ng mga katutubo ay hindi apektado. Pwede rin itong mangyari sa atin, kapag ginawa natin yung true empowerment, yung kultura in tact, may respeto on both sides, malawak ang pananaw.




Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on Business Investments in Mindanao during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary:  Nicky

Importance of the perception of the Business climate of the Phils. Surveys have shown that if a country is viewed as politically unstable--which is is being viewed now--and also the massive corrution in the country--we are perceived as the most corrupt in Asia, and on top of that we have increasing amount of fiscal deficit spending per government which in the past triggered macroeconomic instability, especially withdrawal of portfolio investments in the country-- if we cannot solve that problem, we will not be encouraging business people. You cannot encourage business people to come in unless you solve the business climate.
Therefore one has to have good governance, fiscal management,all the key infrastructure has to be in place to encourage business people--we have the highest electrical prices in Asia. It's a set of factors that have now been identified as the critical points for economic development in the country.
In the microeconomic or regional level in Mindanao, if the same factors prevail at the global/national level, then we'll experience the same thing. There's also the added perception in Manila, (and also outside) which may not be true, that the peace condition in Mindanao is not conducive for long term investment. This is the perception because of the ongoing conflict. I dont necessarily believe that this is widespread in Mindanao, it's located in specific areas.
So in addition to the challenges of the national level, there is the challenge of peace in Mindanao.
The new government has to set up policies that deal with changing the business climate and at the same time ensuring the equitable, participatory, transparent peace process in Mindanao is done and implemented.





Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on the Future of the Youth in Mindanao during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary:  Ang imagined future ko for the young people of Mindanao is a Mindanao
where the young people truly understand ano yung kahalagahan at kahulugan ng buhay nila within the Mindanao, national, and global context. Sa age ng globalalization, ang tama sa kabataan ay dalawa:
All over the world, ang globalization process sinisira ang base ng ating cultural identity. Tumatama ito at the time na yung mga kabataan ay naghahanap ng identity nila. Natural tendency ng mga kabataan is to reexamine, to reflect upon the present and past reality na naharapan nila. It's very important na yung mga proseso in society bukas sa deeper question of identity and culture ng kabataan. Mga proseso that have to do kung anong klaseng trabaho ang aking makakamtan, kung ano ang industriya. Ang kahulugan ng stage ng kabataan--lahat tayo dumaan dito--ay hanapin kung ano yung sapat na kahulugan at kabuluhan ng ating buhay. Pag hindi natin nahanap yon, mawalala tawa sa complex system ng pamahalaan at lipunan.
Ang question of identity ay mahalaga sa question of globalization process. Kapag hindi klaro kung sino tayo bilang isang bansa, ang globalization process ang mag-dedefine ng identity natin. Ito ang nangyayari sa karamihan ng kabataan dahil hindi sapat yung proseso sa edukasyon.

Lahat ito ang tinatalakay ay kung anong yung identity natin sa Pilipinas at sa mundo. Ang nangyari, we are formed from the outside, hindi sa loob. Hindi natin dini-define.

So nakikita ko isang youth dignified, klaro, may vision, multiple intelligent yung skills--hindi lang science, technology, logic, linguistics. Merong emotionally smart, socially smart, naturally smart, may moral integrity, merong existential intelligence, at merong spiritual intelligence, na ito yung magiging batay para pagtransporma ng lipunan. Wala tayong inner power kung hindi natin alam kung sino ba talaga tayo, ano yung mga kakayahan natin para baguhin and isang lipunan na ang daming problema t grabe ang korupsiyon.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXwiQz1VDSY

Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary:  Nicky

The Bangsamoro Juridical Entity can be reconsidered in a totally new renegotiotaion, with greater transparency,clarity, participation and decision-making, including its relationship with MILF and ARMM. We need to have among the Muslims their own process where they can agree to a larger situation. One of the things they have to agree upon, also on the Christian side, is what is the relaitonship of the BJE to the central government. This was one of the key issues that wasn't framed, and how do we resolve the strong sense of self-determination within the context of our own destiny as a nation.
I am open for constitutional amendments if necessary but not in the context of ConAss, never in the context of ConAss, but in a properly constituted Constitutional Convention, with the proper consultation of our Moro borthers and sisters.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA6PX0RP_G0

Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on Laws to Protect the Environment during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary:  The whole problem is actually the political will to implement our laws. Clean Air Act, Solid Waste Act--we have the whole range of legislation, but it's not being implemented. This is one of the areas where it's very clear that we have a governance problem. There's no political will to carry this out. That why there has to be real dramatic change in 2010.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfsrdXPO_nE


Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on the top 3 women's rights to protect and promote during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary: Ang base ng universal human rights, na ang batayan rin ng Magna Carta of Women, ay ang ating universal divine, dignified nature.
Ang number 1 right na susuportohan ko ay ang right of participation ng mga babae. Dahil sa right of participation, lahat ng mga polisiya, mga batas, proseso, resolusiyon at executive orders ng lahat ng government agencies ay magiging sapat sa pananaw ng babae, hindi lang ng lalaki, kasi equal na. Usually nagdadala ng ibang perspektibo ang mga kababaihan sa proseso ng paggawa ng batas at mga programa. Itong participation na ito ay hindi nangyayari, especially sa operational level. Ang daming hadlang, ang daming hindi nasusunod.

Number 2: economic rights ng babae
Usually grabe ang discrimination sa workplace-- sa plantation, labor conditions. Mahalagang ang mga babae ay may karapatang pumewesto kung ano ang kakayahan nila. Hindi lang sa worker process, kundi sa decision-making process, head of business. Kadugtong ito ng participation.

Number 3: social rights ng babae
Ang definition kung ano ang Social services, kasama dito reproductive health, nutrition, education, para magawa ang equitable sustainable development sa Mindanao na gender-sensitive. Ang batayan nitong lahat ay kung yung babae kasama sa proseso, participatory, siya mismo ang nagde-define kung ano ang mabuti para sa kanya.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X97gdtqtzmE

Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on Another Woman to Become President
during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary:  Re Gender issue sa politics, mas importante ang qualifications. Gusto kong banggitin yung aking binahagi sa isang pagpupulong ng mga delegato sa Beijing Women's Summit. Tiningnan nila kung ano ang nangyari/accomplishments 10 years after the Beijing Summit. Hindi natin dapat ipagkamali ang difference ng male-female vs. masculine-feminine. Ang masculine-feminine traits ay nandiyan whether you're a male or a female. I'm partial for a woman leader for this country, but not Arroyo. Importante na dapat mangibabaw ang quality of the feminine sa ating pulitika. Ang feminine consciousness is more inclusive, mas nakakikita ng kabuuan, therefore mas mahalaga para sa problemang hinaharap natin ngayon. Meron tayong tinatawag na dynamic complexity dahil hindi na nagkakaugnay yung cause and effect relationships through time. May social complexity, na may iba't-ibang klaseng mga factors na aktibo sa political system natin. Meron rin tayong power complexity. The nation state, historically was constructed by masculine force, which is focused on one aspect to the detriment of the whole.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO0cGiD7uyg

Date Originally Posted:  September 3, 2009
About the Video:  Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas on a Peace Agreement with the MILF during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent and Accountable Governance (MCTAG)-organized Forum with the Presidentiables, August 27, 2009, Davao City 
Content summary:  I've been involved in several peace processes. I participated in some of the Muslim-Jewish peace process in Israel. At the same time also here in Mindanao I was involved from a techinical perspective in the MILF-GRP Peace Agreement of 1996. From my perspective, I would be supportive of a continuation and a rehabilitiation of the peace process. But we should learn from the mistakes and achievements--both sides-- of the process. How are we going to allow the larger christian population to understand the importance of a peace process? Look at the statistics of ARMM--50-70% poor, least number of roads, least number of electrical connections, least number of health facilities and hospitals as compared to the rest of the country. Then we can see that there is a real social injustice that's being done not only by the larger government, but by elements within the Moro leadership that do not allow the funds to reach the people in the countryside in the barangays. It's clear we need to address the historical and social justice issues that have been ongoing in this country for a long time. My understanding from conservations with both the Christian and the Moro side, that that MOA will go a long way towards something meaningful. The process should be totally transparent, there should be consultations on both sides. They have to also resolve or connect the relationship with ARMM, MILF and MNLF, which is something really important, and also the Christian side, for those christians who see this as a threat to them. If properly construed, there should be no conflict between the right to self-determination and the right of the nation-state. This is part of the process that would need to be clarified. If we want to have peace in Mindanao, we have to resolve this historical, long-term social justice issue.

Sep 10, 2009

Suggested reading for political neophytes

http://getrealphilippines.com/legacy/agr-disagr/18-elections2004.html
Fiesta Elections 2004 will surely come to pass. Whatever the outcome, our brush with or opting for an FPJ presidency will be a passage in our history books that will be highlighted by generations of students of Philippine history to come.

THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
by Peter Wallace
February 5, 2004

Quad erat demonstratum (translation: what you see, is what you get more or less). In this case it's about President Arroyo. And even though the economy did respectably well last year (4.5% GDP growth) businessmen continue to struggle. The mood is distinctly negative, with few in business making much money and many looking at a not so promising market prospect in the near term. It's a time of belt-tightening, not expansion. And there's a general concern that somehow the country is not moving forward.

This perception is driving future reality: Businessmen are not optimistic, not spending. Investors are deferring with the foreign ones going elsewhere (last year saw about half the investment of the previous year) to the permanent loss of the Philippines. I put it down to the image the President has projected. What is it? And that's the problem, no one seems to know. She's everywhere, in everything and, consequently, in nothing. She tries to please everyone (to curry votes is the widespread belief) and thereby pleases no one. This is a dedicated woman, determined to make her mark in history but being diverted by short-term exigencies. She's allowing herself to be positioned as a populist president. Waylaid by the sad belief in the Philippines that popularity is everything. And it's true, in the present, distorted system popularity can win elections.

Look at Estrada. Look at the widespread belief that Fernando Poe will win. What kind of society is that? It's one where the thinking class are not thinking. They have not, it seems, recognised the seriousness of the situation. They can influence the masses but they aren't - at least as actively as they must. In fact, in a recent meeting several leading Filipino businessmen were "charmed by Fernando Poe" and felt he could be a good president. A man with no, I repeat: no experience relevant to running a country. They wouldn't hire someone who was inexperienced to lead their business. Yet they pander to him, instead of denouncing him. I can give you names of business leaders (some of them these same ones) who fawned on Estrada because they thought that would be good for their business. Well it wasn't good for the country. It's time businessmen took a stand for what is right for the country, not just their own business. This is their country. It's a country down the tubes (just look at the statistics on Asia and where the Philippines lies if you don't believe me). Their businesses will thrive best not by being protected, or close to the powers that be, but by being in a dynamic, growing, open economy, where personal relationships are not necessary to get business. Just good performance.

The country needs a strong, determined, focused leader who is supported by the elite. Actively supported. But for the national good, not for their own vested interests. Just look at the U.S. The world's greatest economy because of its openness and fairness to all. With strong institutions and minimal political favouritism. Also, minimal corruption 20-30% of the economy is not being stolen. It's also a country with roads and railroads, phone lines and power. Public utilities that work.

It's no good arguing that the U.S. is an advanced economy, so we can't compare. The U.S. wasn't an advanced economy a hundred years ago. But it did the right things. If Americans can do it, so can Filipinos. In more recent times Koreans did it, so too did the Taiwanese. Even Malaysia and Thailand have moved more rapidly than the Philippines. And now Vietnam is beginning to move ahead.

And it's leadership that has done it. Marcos had it, but corrupted it. Mrs. Aquino didn't want it. Mr.Ramos had it but for only 6 years. Mr. Estrada couldn't spell it. The general consensus is that Mrs. Arroyo has had difficulty in taking that leadership role. At least this is so in the business community, where they believe that the qualities of a leader have escaped her.

The clearest example of this, they say, is her inability to have firm convictions and sense of direction and stick to them. She has swayed too often into populism, clearly intent on having a longer term. This has dominated her actions. So the question is: if given a fixed, 6-year term, with no chance of re-election will she change? It is, of course, a possibility. There's no question but that her overwhelming ambition has greatly coloured her decisions. Once there can be no more ambition (unless she does a Marcos) does she then decide her course, and stick to it? There are those who know her who say she will. But if that's the case why didn't she exert that single-mindedness and make the tough decisions she'd promised when she said she wasn't going to run. To this there's been no satisfactory answer unless, even then, she knew she didn't mean it. And that's possible too.

Even if we assume she is prepared to be tough minded the question still remains: will she have the leadership ability to get others to follow and bring the nation together - something it's certainly not now. In fact, the disaffection today is as bad as we've ever seen it. And an attempted coup is a most glaring example of that disaffection. Coups are not attempted against strong leaders. Nor does anyone take over a control tower to complain of the high level of corruption in government if there's a strong, respected leader. It's that simple.

Without that leadership quality the major, societal reforms needed can't happen. And the divisive environment (that the President admitted she was a contributor to)we've witnessed for the past 3 years is likely to be repeated. Particularly, as seems increasingly likely, the elections are chaotic1 and the results questionable But if not her, who? That is another question. And the answer is not particularly reassuring.

The opposition in its infinite (lack of) wisdom has chosen Fernando Poe, Jr. Nothing wrong with the man, they say, he's a decent sort, not the drunkard, womaniser that Estrada was (but are they aware he does drink quite heavily, and he does have at least one illegitimate son?). Their rationalizations border on the ridiculous. They are trying to project that a man with no political experience, no leadership history, no educational background can competently lead 82 million people. The fundamental assessment must be that he's not cut out to be president of a fractious struggling, failed economy. Yet that is what is being sold to the public.

And he knows it. In an interview with THE AUSTRALIAN newspaper (December 15)the newspaper asked "what do you consider to be the most significant event in recent Philippine history?" The quote from the paper: "He pauses for more than a minute before saying: "That's tough. I wasn't aware of what's really happening . . . My younger days it was all movies. Politics just passed you by'" Is this truly what the Philippines wants? Will he win? "All of us will vote for him" says a Manila street vendor. Why does she say so? "He is good-looking. He has no bad history. He helps people wi thout publicity, and his wife is very pretty and looks like a first lady (yes, that's what she said)." That he has no experience (of any relevant kind), no expertise in politics (He admits he's never even visited Congress or the Senate. And the palace only for parties.), or in management (running a limited film company, successful as it may have been, doesn't prepare one to run a country) or, in economics surely can't be qualification for running a country. Can it? His so-far cited priorities are: peace and security, agricultural reform and, education. Fine, but why? "because of his experience of visiting the rural provinces where his movies are shot." Hardly a professional way of determining a country's future. What is even more incredible is that he (according to the interview) admits he privately fears victory "I am terrified. And how."

So why on earth is he running? And if he does win, what then? The opposition claims (although they seem to have retreated from this stance recently) it will only be a transition presidency, there for long enough to effect a change in the constitution to a parliamentary system wherein a prime minister chosen by parliament would manage the country. The presidency becoming a mainly titular position. But President Arroyo also supported that shift, so they don't need to put up Fernando Poe to effect that change. They could just support Ms. Arroyo on an assurance she will lead into that transition. There's little likelihood they'd do so. So the real reason is something else. That something else is that they want the power. And the chief architect behind the move to draft Fernando Poe for the presidency was Senator Angara. So it must be logically assumed that Mr. Angara believes he can be the real power. Certainly he's a more formidable person than Mr. Poe. Well-educated, a long career in academic management (president of the University of the Philippines), a corporate lawyer, banker, legislator and former executive secretary and agriculture secretary under deposed president Joseph Estrada.

And now leader of the opposition. There are others, too, mostly from the Marcos era or who were close to Mr. Estrada (hardly the best recommendations for a leadership job in the Philippines). But they've overlooked one thing, as was clearly demonstrated in the Estrada regime. Once you are president you are president. This society forces the role onto the president whether he wants it, or not. Whether he's capable or not. And he takes it - whether he wants it, or not; whether he's capable, or not. So Mr. Angara, et al may think they'll be running the country, but they won't. The system won't allow it.

Where then are the alternatives? Mr. Roco and Mr. Lacson have some intriguing attributes - and could (or, of course, could not) be the leader this country needs. But in the reality of Philippine elections they have little chance of winning - unless a major upset occurs (e.g. Mr. Poe being declared a non-Filipino, something the evidence seems to point to. Although this won't necessarily be the final outcome).

Mr. Roco certainly gets a lot of support from the youth where he appeals to their idealism and has a loyal, volunteer staff working for him. But his egotism and unwillingness (according to his peers) to listen would put his ability to make the right decisions in serious doubt. And how will he get the cooperation of congress if they refuse to work with him because they don't like him in this personalistic society, which is what many of them have said? Not that that matters, leaders don't have to be liked, but they do have to be respected. But even there, there is some doubt. Teachers were openly antagonistic to him when he was secretary of education. But in fairness, this could have been, in part, because of the reforms he introduced and the crackdown on corruption he initiated. But it's not only a matter of doing it, but how you do it that matters. Maybe this is something he needs to learn. He is also hamstrung by limited funds and an inability to protect his vote. Unless hecan get enough volunteers trained in fraud detection, and tough enough to blow the whistle (a dangerous task given the ruthlessness of many politicians), he can't win. Particularly now a manual, manipulative system is back in place. Although, if Mr. Poe is eliminated and the opposition picks up Mr. Roco (which would be a smart move in their place, if they want to win) he'd stand a good chance. He could also swallow his ambition as Doy Laurel manfully did (when he stepped aside from a presidential bid in favor of Cory Aquino) and withdraw from the competition - and support Ms. Arroyo. She'd be much strengthened.

Then there's Mr. Lacson. He will have difficulty winning the presidency without the major opposition parties supporting him. He appears to be well-funded (certainly many in the Filipino-Chinese community are actively supporting him financially) and organised. But the massive party machine strength of Ms. Arroyo,and Mr. Poe could undo him. And he doesn't have the popularity, as Mr. Estrada did, to overcome those machines. He'd need Mr. Poe to be declared non-Filipino, and the opposition to fully support him for him to have a chance. Outside of Ms. Arroyo whose policies are now generally known, he's the only one those come out with some concrete statements of policies he'd adopt. And he's prepared to address the population bomb, which none of the others have, as yet, faced up to. As to the kind of leader he'd be he's an enigma. People either love him (well not love exactly, but respect and loyalty which, in this context, is better) or hate him, claiming he's ruthless and vindictive. Certainly he'd be a tough leader. The risk might be worth taking, because the country so desperately needs fundamental change. He could do it, but in which direction?

Then there are the others COMELEC agreed to include out of the 79 crackpots (yes, 79) who registered to run for the presidency:

- Bro. Eddie Villanueva ? a charlatan posinng as an evangelist
- Eddie Gil ? a businessman no one's ever hheard of

We will continue not to hear of them.

So it would seem the choice comes down to a woman who is intelligent, well-educated, obsessively hard working and determined to do well - but unable to gain the support needed to do so. She has just lacked that ephemeral thing called "leadership" so necessary to pull the Philippines out of the quagmire it has sunk into. Without it, (can she develop it?) the social instability we've seen over the past 3 years will inevitably continue as power-hungry losers attack her.

Or, a man who has admitted his unreadiness for the job - but still is prepared to do it. His naivet� �ould cost the country dearly.

These are the two with the party, with the machine, with the money and public awareness to make them the front runners. Sadly, while each of the primary four candidates has strengths and could (or, at least, three of them could) lead the country with some competence they do not at this stage seem to be of a sufficient whole as to be that leader the country needs to make the massive, unpopular reform it must make. The message I want to get across is that none of them seems to have that combination of leadership qualities, single-minded vision and passion that could project the country's growth into the 7%+ bracket on a sustained basis. Without it the Philippines will remain trailing the rest of Asia. All indications are that Vietnam (now growing at 7%+ per annum) will be the next country to leave the Philippines in its dust. It's truly amazing that a country with so many natural advantages and such lovely people can squander them so wantonly. But it does. When, one wonders, will it sink into the collective leadership mind that they must truly act for the nation - not just mouth the platitudes that say they will.

Until they do act truly in the national interest, and work together, the Philippines will repeat its recent history - and just muddle along. At best.