The Battle of 229

The Battle of 229
By: Edwin J. Piano

For weeks, the volunteers were gallantly holding their position, but on this particular Sunday, the 26th of July 1998, while people are preparing themselves to hear the morning Mass, Building 229 was attacked!

Upon orders from Payumo and the Magsaysays, men who are supposed to protect and serve the people mercilessly attacked the volunteers, many of whom at the time were women and children.

Within minutes after the siege, we were at the scene, battle hardened personnel with guns, truncheons and riot shields have taken control of the battlefield and barricaded the streets leading to Building 229. The volunteers remaining in the area were being forcibly removed in a degrading manner.

I vividly remembered an old lady who was trying to pass over this barricade and trying to explain to Payumo’s men that she need to return to look for her necklace, Magsaysays men did not allow her and when she insisted, she was hit in the back by a riffle butt.

We told them that they don’t have to do that, and inform them that we ourselves need to enter Building 229 to assist those injured volunteers who are still trapped inside the building. We were ordered to leave.

As we look into the building from a distance, we could see brave volunteers who are still fighting it out, holding their positions to the death.

We really can’t just stand there and watch our comrades in the heat of battle.

Jimmy Mendoza, Joey Magrata, Leo Besas, Angie Layug, myself and few other volunteers who were negotiating with the oppressors realized that the situation can never be resolved by talking, the oppressors are firmly holding their line and armed-to-the- teeth. A counter attack has to be the solution in order to defend our rights and fight for the principles we hold dear.

We are about a dozen volunteers in that face-off with Magsaysays men, the rest of the battle weary volunteers were about twenty meters away waiting for whatever is going to happen next.

Joey and the group returned with a wooden plank about ten feet long, the volunteers agreed that we are all going to grab that wood and use it as create an opening in that rigid line of the oppressors.

As soon as we motioned to attack, Magsaysay’s ground commander ordered the firemen to shoot us with the water canon. This move by the oppressors triggered all the volunteers in the area to fight back with whatever material they could use . . . bricks . . . bottles , , , wood . . . stones are being thrown into the direction of Payumo and Magsaysay’s abusive men.

The battle was bloody but quick . . . the outcome clear . . . . .

The power of the volunteers, the righteous and the principled, who have sacrificed to make Subic a Success have again proven that the Sprit of the Volunteers can overcome even the most daunting challenge. . . . That the good will reign over evil. . . . And the resolve to “Fight On” will forever be in our hearths.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!!

Mabuhay ang Bagumbayan!! !

Isang paala-ala po sa kabayanihan ng Subic Volunteers!! ! Happy Volunteers’ Day

FOUR SUBIC VOLUNTEER STORIES

FOUR SUBIC VOLUNTEER STORIES
By: Jimmy L. Mendoza


Story #1

In my sixth month as volunteer Administrative Officer of the SBMA Public Works Group, I came home one night to find my wife in a bad mood. She confronted me with: “I have been packing your lunch and giving you transportation money for the past six months, including weekends. Ano ba ang pinakain ni Chairman Gordon sa iyo at ayaw mong tumigil? Dati-rati nung kalaban mo si Gordon ganoon na lang kung atakihin mo siya, ngayon lahat ng panahon mo ibinigay mo na sa kanya at wala namang bayad.”

I somehow already sensed this confrontation coming. My wife’s earnings as a market vendor have considerably diminished after the closure of the U.S. naval base, and with two kids going to college, she was having a hard time making both ends meet.

But having been married to her for twenty years, I knew exactly what would appease her. So I said, “You know the story of life. I have spent more than two decades as an activist, trying to ‘Serve the People’; and what have I accomplished in terms of improving their lives? Some of the people I recruited to our cause have even perished in it….. But Chairman Gordon, has given us another opportunity to ‘serve the people’; this time, with concrete results. ….We have already provided jobs to many people in the first few companies that have located in the Freeport. Their blessings should be enough consolation for our temporary sacrifices……. You should see the dedication and determination of all the other volunteers in trying to resuscitate our city’s dying economy. It is unbelievable the way Chairman Gordon has persuaded all these people to take a leap of faith and dedicate themselves to this great undertaking. This is history in the making and I have to be a part of it.”

Then the clincher: “At the pace things are going with the SBMA, and with so many investors set to start operations, our local economy will perk up sooner than later, and your earnings shall increase again. Besides, unlike in my previous activities, you don’t have to worry about my personal safety and security anymore.”

That did it! With my wife’s support, I was able to complete one year of volunteer work, and I stayed with the SBMA for as long as Richard Gordon was its Chairman and Administrator, a total of six years. It was a period of difficult challenges, extreme pressures, tension and aggravation. But yet, it was such a thrilling and productive six years that I felt I have done more in that period than in the past two decades of my life. And, more importantly to me, I know it was then that I have truly, selflessly served the people.

By the way, in the last few weeks when we were holding nightly vigils around Building 229 to resist President Estrada’s efforts to oust Chairman Gordon, my wife would bring us food in the evenings and join our group at the barricades. She would often catch some sleep on the couch in my office and leave us at four o’clock in the morning, just in time to open her store in the market. One particular evening, she sensed from my group’s conversations that the prospects of Gordon being retained were not good. With a worried look on her face, and talking to no one in particular, my wife sighed, “Dios ko, ano na kaya ang mangyayari sa SBMA kapag nawala si Gordon?”




Story #2

The phenomenon that has come to be widely known as “The Subic Miracle” is made up of countless, various miracles: big and small; some awesome, some funny, some inspiring, while others were just downright silly.

It seemed that in the SBMA under Chairman Dick Gordon, the order of the day was for everyone to perform his or her own miracle. The completion of the Subic International Airport in record, no make that “miracle” time, was one of them. The phenomenon of reckless drivers and traffic violators instantly converting into disciplined, safety-conscious citizens as soon as they enter the Freeport gates was considered a miracle, although some thought it was magic that did that.

But to me, one miracle stands out for the lessons in leadership that it had taught me. It is one that Chairman Gordon himself performed, and I privately think of it as “The Miracle of the Youth Volunteers’:

One of the things that first struck me when I joined the SBMA was the predominance of the young volunteers. I saw very few of Mayor Gordon’s (he was then both City Mayor and SBMA Chairman-Administrator) usual political leaders and they were assigned only minor tasks. Except for some former U.S. Naval Base workers, most of the more responsible positions in the organization were occupied by young volunteers – most of them fresh college graduates, many with very little or no job experience at all.

The SBMA was bubbling with youthful energy and idealistic enthusiasm. The demeanor and the look on the faces of those young people left no doubt as to their sincerity and determination. But to me then, that was no cause for comfort as I watched many of them fumble in their jobs, with their ‘hit-and-miss’ methods of work.

My concerns were aggravated when the young people who were handling the privatization of the water utility told me that they knew nothing about utility operations. I was particularly irked by this one young volunteer who could only answer, “Because that’s what Chairman Gordon wants”, every time I asked him why we should be doing this or that. Based on my experience, I thought most of the positions these “upstarts” were occupying required at least a couple of years on-the-job experience.

The question in my mind then was: ‘Does Dick Gordon know for certain that these are the guys that could help realize his vision for Subic, or is he just taking a gamble on them?’

As weeks and months passed, things started to become clearer me. I realized that the Chairman had opted for the education, youthful energy, dedication and enthusiasm of the young volunteers, rather than experience. Much was being said about Gordon’s micro-managing style then, but I thought he had to, given the inexperience of his staff.

The frequent meetings at the Command Center were most revealing of the Chairman’s style of leadership. They often consisted of a motivational speech – sometimes a reiteration of the common vision - then a scolding and criticism session, and then a detailed discussion of each Department’s tasks. The Chairman relentlessly exhorted every one to deliver more, better, and faster results, and anyone’s best effort was never enough.

“You don’t walk on the halls of this building; you strut!!,” he once barked at the flabbergasted youth.

It was as if the Chairman was trying to squeeze out to the very last bit, everything that was good and noble in all of us. I concluded then that Chairman Gordon hated mediocrity so much that he decided to wage an all out war against it.

What was amazing was that the volunteers took the scolding and criticism like a badge of honor. They so loved and respected the Chairman that they seemed to savor anything that the Chairman dished out to them, be it praise or criticism. Those who were not scolded actually felt they were less important to the Chairman.

At the Chairman’s constant prodding, more things did happen better and faster at the SBMA. Within a year, the “miracle” began to unravel. The airport and other important infrastructure were built; more investors located and more jobs were created; and the conversion of the former military base into a world class industrial and tourism complex was almost complete. Almost all of these major developments bore the imprint of the young volunteers.

But to me, the more interesting “miracle” was the professional maturity shown by the young volunteers by this time. The enthusiasm and determination was still there, but an added aura of confidence was obvious. The transformation from ‘bumbling greehorns’ to matured professionals in so short a time, was, to me, really amazing. I literally watched Pierre Ordonia grow from a clueless Head of Labor Disputes Office to a confident and effective Manager of the Labor Department. I marveled, as an initially confused Jasmine Santos successfully coordinated the smooth privatization of the water utility; and so with all the rest of the young volunteers – from negotiating with the big investors, to the drawing up of major contracts.

All of these was due to the dynamic and effective leadership of Chairman Gordon, with whom one year of association is worth ten years of experience.

I was left with nothing but a deep sense of gratitude, respect and admiration for those young volunteers, as I continue to marvel at the “miracle” that I’m sure deeply touched their lives, as it did mine.




Story #3


Malamig ang hangin sa gabing iyon noong Pebrero, 1996, subalit sa loob ng pabrika ay wala akong nararamdaman kundi init na nakakahilo. Magsasara ang Subic Star, ang pabrikang gumagawa ng sapatos na Reebok, at kami nila Atty. Manny Quijano at Pierre Ordona ay alalay kay Chairman Gordon habang siya’y nakikipag-negosasyon sa management upang mabigyan ng malaki-laking separation pay ang mga manggagawang mawawalan ng trabaho.

Tensiyonado at mahirap ang negosasyon. Natagalan bago napapayag ni Chairman Gordon ang management na dagdagan ang separation pay ng doble sa itinatakda ng batas.

Matapos naming pulungin ang mga manggagawa ay niyakag kami ni Chairman Gordon sa kanyang opisina upang pag-usapan ang pangkalahatang kalagayan ng paggawa sa Freeport. “Ano ba talaga ang mga problema natin sa labor?”, bungad kaagad ni Chairman pagkaupo namin sa paligid ng conference table.

Sumagot ako, “May mga kumpanya na minimum wage lang ay di yata kaya, o ayaw bayaran. Karamihan sa kanila ay tinuturing pa naman nating “pioneer investors”. Ako’y nagugulat at ngayon ko lang nalaman na mayroon palang foreign investors na ganyan.

Nagpaliwanag naman si Chairman: “Sino ba naman sa atin ang may karanasan sa ganitong gawain? Ako nga noong umpisa, sa kagustuhan kong magkaroon kaagad ng trabaho ang ating mga kababayan, ang tinatanong ko lang sa mga prospective investors ay kung ilan ang mabibigyan nila ng trabaho. Kapag halimbawa’y sinabing dalawang daan, pinapipili ko na kaagad kung saan gustong pumwesto. Kaya siguro may nakalusot na mga ganyang kumpanya.”

Nagpatuloy siya, “Pero tayo namang lahat ay natututo sa karanasan. Napansin niyo ba na simula nang pumasok ang Acer at Thompson Audio ay puro medyo malalaki na ang mga bagong investors? Di na kasi katulad noon na halos nagmamakaawa tayo para lang pumunta sila dito. Ngayon kilala na ang Subic. Marami na ang dumarating at pwede na tayong maging mapili sa mga investors.”

Si Manny Quijano naman ang bumulong sa akin, “Sabihin mo kay Chairman yung lagi mong sina-suggest sa akin.”

Nagsimula na naman ako, “Boss, ang isang problema natin, may pekeng union organizers at leaders sa labas na sinasamantala ang kalagayan sa ilang pabrika at sinusulsulan ang mga manggagawa na mag-unyon at labanan ang kanilang employers. Puspos at masugid ang kanilang pagtatangkang kontrolin ang mga manggagawa, at medyo nahihirapan kami sa pagkontra sa kanila. Iniisip ko Boss na unahan na lang natin sila sa pag-oorganisa ng mga unyon upang maiwas sa kapahamakan ang mga manggagawa, tutal ang pag-uunyon naman ay constitutional right ng mga manggagawa at palagay ko……..”

Biglag pinutol ni Chairman ang aking salita, “Don’t lecture me about workers’ rights, I’m a lawyer and I know all of that! Let me tell you about our predicament: When investors come here, one of their main concerns, next only to the costs of rentals, utilities, etc., is industrial peace. They are afraid of labor unions. So we have to guarantee that there will be industrial peace, otherwise the investors won’t locate here and all our efforts to create jobs will be wasted.”

Nag-isip sandali bago nagpatuloy si Chairman: “Alam naman natin Jimmy, na kaya nag-uunyon ang mga manggagawa ay mayroon silang mga problema at ang tingin nila ay ito ang solusyon. So the challenge is for us to create a situation where workers won’t feel the need to organize unions. Your office should act like a big brother to the workers, an office they can always rely on when they have problems. Just always maintain a proper balance between the interest of the workers and that of their employers.”

Medyo nag-isip ako ng malalim sa huling sinabi ni Chairman. Tumanda ako na naniniwalang ang tunggalian sa pagitan kapital at paggawa ay likas sa kanilang relasyon at irreconcilable. “Napagabigat na hamon,” naiusal ko sa aking sarili. Subali’t para sa amin noon, ang utos ni Chairman ay batas na dapat sundin kahit parang imposible.

Pagkatapos noon, talagang pinilit naming gawin ang gusto ni Chairman na panatilihin ang industrial peace habang sabay na pinangangahalagahan ang kapakanan ng mga manggagawa at ng kanilang mga employers. Iyon na yata ang pinakamahirap na balancing act na ginawa namin nina Pierre at Manny Q. Nandiyan yung palawigin namin ang mga gawain sa labor disputes conciliation- mediation, nandiyan yung mag-organisa kami ng mga Labor-Management Committees, masinsin na monitoring, at kung anu-ano pa.

Hindi madali ngunit nagawa naming panatilihin ang kapayapaan sa paggawa, sa buong panahong nandoon kami sa SBMA.

Ngayon, kapag nagkikita-kita kami nila Manny Q at Pierre, di namin maiwasan na masayang gunitain ang “six years of uninterrupted industrial peace” sa Freeport, at ang mga samut-saring naranasan namin mapairal lamang ito sa utos ni Chairman Gordon.




Story #4

“Langya kayo, bakit kayo lang ang di nasermunan ni Chairman”, ang pa-galit na kantyaw ni Delia Santiago ng Ecology Center sa aming dalawa ni Pierre Ordona, pagkatapos ng staff meeting habang palabas kami ng Command Center sa Building 229.

“Secret”, ang pilyong sagot naman ni Pierre.

Ang hindi alam ni Delia, kapag may mga tasks kami na pumapalpak, o kaya’y hindi namin magawa, kami na mismo ang nagrereport kay Chairman bago pa bago mag meeting at bago niya matuklasan ito, o mabalitaan sa iba. Pangkaraniwang ginagawa namin ito sa hatinggabi kapag patapos na ang araw ni Chairman at wala ng maraming tao sa sa kanyang opisina. Kung boboldyakin niya man kami, at least kami-kami na lang ang nandoon, at hindi sa meeting.

Kaya nga minsan, bandang alas dose ng hatinggabi ay nandoon na naman kami’t nakapila para kausapin si Chairman tungkol sa isang problema. Buhay na buhay ang paligid na para bang alas nuwebe pa lang ng umga. Mula sa aking kinauupuan ay natatanaw ko sa hallway ang mga young volunteers na mabilis na naglalakad, habang ay iba naman ay labas-masok sa mga opisinang nasa gawing kaliwa. Sa mismong harapan ko ay subsob sa trabaho sa kani-kanilang computers ang tatlo pang volunteers.

Alam kong wala namang graveyard shift dito, ngunit bakit ganoon na lang ka-busy at buhay na buhay ang lugar. Ang tingin ko tuloy ay napaka surreal ng eksena o kaya’y nalipat ako sa ibang dimension.

Kinalabit ko si Pierre, sabay tanong ko sa kanya, “Pierre, sa palagay mo kaya, mayroong iba pang opisina ng gobyerno sa buong Pilipinas sa oras na ito na kasing busy at buhay na buhay gaya dito?”

Lumabas na naman ang pilyong ngiti ni Pierre at ang sagot: “Tata Jim, sa palagay mo kaya, mayroon pang ibang Dick Gordon saan mang lugar sa Pilipinas sa oras na ito?”

Dick for president?

RICHARD GORDON has never been shy about his ambition to be one day President of the Philippine republic. Last week the brilliant, brash senator from Olongapo was in San Francisco to check out California’s automated voting system. He wants a similar system in the Philippines to preclude, among others, the possibility of another Hello Garci scandal in the future.

(I don’t know anything about automated voting because I have opted for the absentee ballot, which I find more convenient.)

Apparently Gordon was pleased with what he saw because he would occasionally interrupt our conversation to do a phone interview on the issue with radio shows in the Philippines. He was voluble about the merits of the automated voting system and wondered why there is so much opposition to it.

I wanted to butt in and say that it was not the technology that was being opposed, but rather the cynicism that is triggered among Filipinos whenever confronted with such ambitious and expensive projects. Putting it crudely, the first question that comes to mind of most Filipinos whenever such high-profile, cash-rich projects are brought up is whose pockets are going to be fattened with the purchase of this technology.

Dick Gordon has been in politics longer than I have been a journalist. He is known for his out-of-the-box thinking, the kind that made the former U.S. naval base in Subic, along with the city of Olongapo which has been ruled by his family since the Jurassic period, a paragon for economic planning and development in the Philippines. His courage is almost legend, and he brooks no nonsense. He could not have made it to where he is now had he neither the savvy nor the intestinal fortitude for politics as practiced in the Philippines. He is a gladhander, but won’t hesitate to bark in your face if you say something he thinks is wrong.

Which is why I can’t believe my ears when he says he does not understand the opposition to automated voting in the Philippines. Is he being naïve (what is the price of democracy? he asks) or is his idealism clouding his reality?

To me it seemed the latter. There were about half a dozen of us, community leaders kuno, around the table at the San Francisco consulate. Consul Anton Mandap organized the tete-a-tete to get Gordon more acquainted with the community. I understand a similar meeting had been organized with other FilAm folks earlier. Before our meeting, Gordon presided over the oath-taking of a group of new dual citizens.

It was at first a freewheeling discussion, when I decided to give it more direction and allow him to talk about the Philippine political situation. I threw him a softball that allowed him to talk about his plan to run for the presidency in “oh-ten.”

He spoke briefly of what ailed the motherland, which he used as an on-ramp to roll out his spiel about why he is the person that could turn things around. He spoke about his track record: about what he did at Subic (how he was able to convince Fedex to set up shop there), his stint as tourism secretary (Wow Philippines), his principled opposition to Marcos and Erap and disagreements with the policies of Cory and Gloria, etc.

A very impressive track record, indeed. And I told him that based on it, I would support him in a heartbeat, but that he would lose.

“Who cares about track record now?” I asked. “You yourself said earlier Filipinos cannot seem to see beyond their noses. You couldn’t win if you did have a retinue of actors and singers during a campaign.

His response, which included throwing up of his hands and swiveling his chair, indicated I may have touched a raw nerve. With such a cynical attitude, he said in so many words, then hope is lost.

I believe, he said, in the Filipinos’ ability to do the right thing. He believes that anytime soon, Filipinos will see through the shallowness and crassness of some of his fellow politicians and vote into office people who not only have the capability but also the will to serve.

Which is why he says he is launching a new political party he is calling Bagumbayan (new nation), referring to the place where Jose Rizal was shot. Brushing aside S.F. lawyer Rene Pascual’s wry remark that it could be called Bagumbayad (newly paid), Dick said it was the place where Filipinos found the courage to fight the Spaniards and end 400 years of subjugation.

We, too, would like to believe. Lito Gutierrez, Philippine News Online

Volunteer's Speech of PGMA

PGMA's Speech during the 53rd Multiple District Lions State Convention

Olongapo City Convention Center Hall, Olongapo City, Zambales (17 May 2002)


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MARAMING SALAMAT CONGRESSMAN GORDON SA IYONG PAGPAKILALA. AT SALAMAT SA INYO, SALAMAT KAY CITY MAYOR KATE GORDON, AT SALAMAT KAY TOURISM SECRETARY RICHARD GORDON SA INYONG PAG WELCOME SA AMIN LAHAT DITO SA NAPAKAGANDA AT NAPAKAGALING NA LUNGSOD NG OLONGAPO.

BAGO KO BATIIN 'YUNG IBA SABIHIN KO LANG NA PAG PINAGMAMALAKI NI KATE 'YUNG OLONGAPO MERON SIYANG 'K' KASI TINGNAN N'YO ITONG CONVENTION CENTER NA ITO NA ANG NAGPATAYO NITO AY ANG CITY NGUNIT SA DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT WALANG CHOICE ANG DBP KUNG HINDI IBIGAY SA KANILA 'YUNG CREDIT PARA MATAYO ITO AY MISMO 'YUNG WORLD BANK AY NAGSASABI NA SILA AY NARARAPAT AT SILA AY CREDITWORTHY AT ISANG HUWARANG LUNGSOD.

AT KANINA BAGO KAMI PUMUNTA RITO, ILAN SA MGA LIONS AY PUMUNTA RIN DOON NAG-USYOSO ACROSS THE STREET DOON SA KANILANG AMPHITHEATER, AT DOON AY NAGMAHAGI NG MGA SCHOOL SUPPLIES SA MGA BATANG PAPASOK MULA SA IBA'T-IBANG MGA MAHIHIRAP NA BARANGAY. AT 'YON DIN AY NANGGALING SA PROGRAMA NG DILG AT AUSTRALIAN FINANCING DAHIL KILALA RIN 'YAN AY BILANG GANTIMPALA NAMAN SA LUNGSOD NG OLONGAPO BILANG ISANG SA PINAKAMA-CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES NA HALL OF FAMER SILA.

AT BAGO NITO AY NANGGALING NAMAN KAMI DOON SA CITY HOSPITAL. NAALALA KO 'YUNG CITY HOSPITAL DAHIL NOONG AKO'Y -- EWAN KO SENADOR O VICE PRESIDENT -- AY NAG-CONTRIBUTE DIN AKO DOON DAHIL SI KATE LAHAT NG PINUPUNTAHAN KUNG MAGKO-CONTRIBUTE KASI SA CDF DAPAT SA HOSPITAL. TALAGANG BINUO NIYA 'YON AT NAKITA NATIN AY ISANG TERTIARY HOSPITAL NA 'YUNG STATE-OF-THE-ART NA MGA EQUIPMENT AY NANDOON KAYA NAGLILINGKOD ANG OLONGAPO CITY HOSPITAL HINDI LAMANG SA OLONGAPO, SA ZAMBALES, SA BATAAN, SA PAMPANGA, SA BUONG CENTRAL LUZON KAYA ANG OLONGAPO CITY, CITY OF VOLUNTEERS MAY KARAPATAN SI KATE IPAGMALAKI.

NANDITO RIN SI PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT RENE DIAZ, HINDI BA? AYUN! SIYA ANG TUMUTULONG SA AKIN UPANG IPAIRAL 'YUNG MGA PROYEKTO DITO SA NORTH LUZON. 'YUNG NORTH LUZON AY 'YUNG KANYANG MGA BAHAGI NG KANYANG KAUNLARAN AY 'W.' TINATAWAG NATING 'W' KASI SHAPED LIKE A 'W.' TAYO AY NASA LEFT HAND NG 'W.' AT ITONG LEFT HAND NG 'W' FROM THE TOP UP TO THE BOTTOM 'YAN AY TOURISM AREA. TAPOS 'YUNG BOTTOM NAGSI-SHARE 'YUNG PARANG LETTER 'B' SA BABA NG 'W' 'YAN ANG INTERFACE NG TOURISM AT SAKA INDUSTRY. KAYA KUNG MAKIKITA N'YO ITONG LEFT SIDE NG 'W' 'YAN AY FROM SUBIC IN THE SOUTH GOING UP -- SUBIC BAY 'NO INCLUDING OLONGAPO -- GOING UP, UP TO THE BEACHES NA OF ZAMBALES, PANGASINAN, ILOCOS HANGGANG PAGUDPOD, 'YAN ANG ATING TOURISM STRETCH AT LAHAT NG MGA LIONS NA ANG MGA DISTRITO NINYO OR 'YUNG MGA CLUB NINYO AY NANDOON, ISANG MALAKING MAGAGAWA NINYO AY TUMULONG PARA MANATILI NA 'YUNG MGA BEACHES DOON AY PARATING MALINIS PARA ITO AY TALAGANG UMUNLAD ANG TURISMO NG WEST LUZON.

GUSTO KO RING BATIIN SIYEMPRE 'YUNG MGA ELDER STATESMEN NG LIONS LALUNG-LALO NA SI GENERAL PEDRO BALBANERO NA SIYA ANG NAGSALITA KANINA. MULING NAGKAROON NG LION ANG INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR KAGAYA NI GINOONG ENRIQUE LIM NOONG DATI; AT 'YUNG INYONG BAGONG STATE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN SI GINOONG SANTIAGO MORANTE NA SALAMAT DIN SA IYONG WELCOME REMARKS; BINABATI KO SI GINOONG JOSE DELA VEGA, ANG CONVENTION CHAIRMAN. NAPAKA SUCCESSFUL ITONG CONVENTION. ANG DAMI-DAMING NAG-ATTEND DITO SA NAPAKAGANDANG LUGAR NA ITO. AT NAGPAPASALAMAT DIN AKO DAHIL KAYO AY NAGBIGAY NG... 'YUNG KIOSK, 'YUNG TOURISM KIOSK DOON, 'YUNG CYBER KIOSK PARA SA MGA TURISTA AT SANA 'YUNG MGA LIONS DITO AY MAGDALA DIN NG MGA LIONS MULA SA IBANG BANSA PARA MAKITA ANG MAGANDANG TURISMO NATIN DITO SA PILIPINAS; BINABATI KO RIN SI MISS ADELIA ACASIO, ANG CONVENTION COORDINATOR AT REGIONAL CHAIRPERSON. CONGRATULATIONS SA PAGDALA MO DITO SA ATING MGA CONVENTION PARTICIPANTS; AND MAY I ALSO GREET THE COMMANDING GENERAL OF NORTH LUZON, GENERAL RODOLFO GARCIA; AND REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE SI GENERAL REY BERROYA; MGA DISTRICT GOVERNOR NG LIONS; MGA LIONS AT LIONESSES NA NARITO NGAYON; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

I AM SO HONORED TO BE HERE IN OLONGAPO CITY AND TO BE HERE TO ADDRESS THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE LIONS CLUBS IN THE PHILIPPINES WHO ARE GATHERED HERE IN YOUR 53rd MULTI-DISTRICT STATE CONVENTION.

1.3 MILLION MEMBERS WORLDWIDE, SABI NI GENERAL BALBANERO, SINCE YOUR FOUNDING IN 1917. IMAGINE KUNG 10 PERCENT LANG SILA AY MAALOK N'YO DITO, 'DI 100,000 TOURIST NA 'YON DITO SA PILIPINAS. BUT NOT ONLY THAT, 1.3 MILLION MEMBERS SINCE 1917 THAT IS FORMIDABLE CIVIC POWER. AND I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES THE GROWTH OF LIONISM HAS BEEN LIKEWISE IMPRESSIVE. KASI NAALAALA KO 'YUNG TULONG NINYO HALIMBAWA NUNG AKO AY NAMUMOROBLEMA SA MGA STREETCHILDREN SA METRO MANILA. 'YUNG LIONS AY TUMULONG HINDI LAMANG SA PAGKA VOLUNTEER GUMASTOS PA KAYO. PARATI KAYO NAGKO-CONTRIBUTE SA STREETCHILDREN'S PROGRAM NUNG AKO AY VICE PRESIDENT. ASIDE FROM THE FACT NA TUWING MAY LIONS CONVENTION MERON KAYONG TSEKE PARA SA STREETCHILDREN PROJECT AY NAALAALA KO 'YUNG ISANG MAGANDANG STREETCHILDREN'S HOME DOON SA BANDANG PARA„AQUE, DOON SA MAY AIRPORT ROAD AY GALING SA LIONS. NAALAALA KO NUNG 1998, FIRST CHRISTMAS NA NAGKAROON NG STREETCHILDREN'S PROJECT. EH, SIYEMPRE THE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AY BAKASYON NA, AND SIYEMPRE 'YUNG MGA GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES BAKASYON NA PERO DOON NAGLALABASAN 'YUNG MGA STREETCHILDREN. SINO 'YUNG NASA KALSADA PARA MAG-RESCUE SA KANILA, 'YUNG MGA LIONS NG QUEZON CITY AT METRO MANILA.

AND HAVING SEEN FIRST HAND HOW LIONS HAS SUPPORTED THE GOVERNMENT, GAYA NG SABI NI GENERAL, "YOU ASK NOT WHAT YOUR GOVERNMENT CAN DO FOR YOU BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT." HAVING SEEN THAT, I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOUR GROWTH RATE IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE CIVIC-MINDEDNESS OF YOUR MEMBERS.

LIONISM AS CONCEIVED BY YOUR FOUNDER, MELVIN JONES IS ALL ABOUT ELEVATING YOUR CONCERNS FROM A PURELY PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW TO THAT WHICH CAN BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD AT LARGE. AND AS I SAID EARLIER, I AM PERSONALLY AWARE OF THE GENEROSITY OF THE LIONS CLUBS. AND I NEVER CAN FORGET DOTES OF WORK THAT I MENTIONED FOR MY PROGRAMS WHEN I WAS VICE-PRESIDENT AND CONCURRENTLY SECRETARY OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT. 'YUNG PINAG-UUSAPAN -- AH MERON PANG ISA. HINDI KO PA NABANGGIT 'YUNG CENTER FOR STREETCHILDREN REHABILITATION IN MANDALUYONG CITY. THAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BUILT WITHOUT THE 75,000-DOLLAR GRANT OF THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION. KASI NAALAALA N'YO NUNG NAGKAROON KAYO NG 50th ANNIVERSARY BA 'YON? HINDI BA 'YON ANG PANAHON NA 'YUNG INTERNATIONAL AY MAGBIBIGAY NG KONTRIBUSYON AT PINILI N'YONG BENEFICIARY ITONG STREETCHILDREN CENTER NA ITO NA NAPAKAGANDA. AND THEREFORE LET ME TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OCCASION TO FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOLID CONTRIBUTION OF ALL OF THE LIONS CLUBS IN THE PHILIPPINES TOWARDS IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THE DISADVANTAGED SECTORS OF OUR SOCIETY.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYO AT INAASAHAN KONG KAYO AY HANDA PANG TUMULONG SA IBA-IBA PANG PANGANGAILANGAN. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO MORE FOR THE POOR. THEY LACK OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT, THEY ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO THE SHIFTING TIDES OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHANGE. AND IT'S NOT ONLY CHRISTIAN CHARITY THAT SHOULD MOVE US TO HELP THE POOR, WE MUST LOOK AT THEM AS PARTNERS IN IMPROVING OUR NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY AND GROWTH. BUT TO TRANSFORM THE POOR INTO NATION- BUILDERS, THEY MUST FIRST BE PROVIDED WITH THE PRIMORDIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SURVIVAL AND GROWTH. THEY MUST BE PROVIDED THE BASIC SERVICES WITH WHICH THEY MAY ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE SEE STREETCHILDREN, BEGGARS, DRUG ADDICTS, FORSAKEN ELDERLY CITIZENS AND OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS ALMOST EVERYDAY. THESE ARE THE DISADVANTAGED SECTORS THAT LIONS CLUBS ASSIST MOST. KAYA TAMANG-TAMA KAYO AY NANDITO SA OLONGAPO, THE CITY OF VOLUNTEERS. KASI ANG LIONS NAPAKALAKAS SA VOLUNTEERISM. THE LIONS ARE ALSO A CONSTANT REMINDER OF OUR CRUCIAL TASK OF FIGHTING POVERTY REMAINS TO BE FULFILLED.

POVERTY IS THE ROOT OF MOST OF OUR COUNTRY'S ILLS. POVERTY BEGETS IGNORANCE, SOCIAL INEQUITY AND THE DESPAIR OF THOSE WHO PERENNIALLY SUFFER FROM INJUSTICE. POVERTY ABETS TERRORISM WHERE TERRORISM STEMS FROM INEQUITY. AND CONVERSELY, TERRORISM BREEDS MORE POVERTY BECAUSE IT DRIVES AWAY INVESTMENTS AND SMOTHERS THE SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE.

POVERTY IS A CYCLICAL THREAT TO NATIONAL STABILITY VICIOUS CYCLE. DEPRIVED OF ESSENTIAL NEEDS, THE CHILDREN OF THE POOR TEND TO BE POORER THAN THEIR PARENTS. AND LONG-TERM POVERTY THREATENS PEACE, AS OUR EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT US. THE SPAWNING GROUNDS OF CONFLICT ARE THE MOST DEPRESSED AREAS OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND I HAVE SAID ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT WE MUST WIN THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE. WE WANT TO PUT A FULL STOP TO THE CYCLE OF WANT, INJUSTICE AND CONFLICT. I AM CAMPAIGNING AMONG ALL SECTORS, ALL CIVIC CLUBS, ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, ALL ETHNIC COMMUNITIES OF THE COUNTRY -- JOIN ME IN THIS BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY. ALAM KO NA KAYO'Y KASAMA KO NUNG VICE PRESIDENT PA AKO, EH LALO NAMAN NGAYON NA AKO AY PRESIDENTE NA, INAASAHAN KO KAYO.

NOONG MAKALAWA -- AH, KAHAPON PALA -- DEATH ANNIVERSARY NG NANAY KO, THE LATE FIRST LADY EVANGELINA MACAPAGAL. NAG-MISA KAMI SA LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI KUNG SAAN NOONG SIYA AY FIRST LADY 'YAN AY INAYOS NIYA. NGAYON NAKINABANG SIYA DAHIL DOON SIYA NAKALIBING PATI TATAY KO. AT NUNG NAGKUKWENTO 'YUNG PARI, SI FATHER BOBBY PEREZ, NA 'YUNG TATAY NIYA NOON AY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY NG TATAY KO, NAALAALA NIYA NA YUNG LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI AT SAKA 'YUNG LUNETA AY INAYOS NG NANAY KO HINDI SA PAGGAMIT NG GOVERNMENT FUNDS KUNG HINDI FUNDS NG MGA VOLUNTEER CIVIC ORGANIZATION. AT BINANGGIT PA NIYA 'YUNG MGA PINAKA-PROMINENT NA TUMULONG AT KASAMA DOON -- PANAHON PA NG NANAY KO -- AY 'YUNG LIONS CLUB. KAYA MULA PA DOON SA MAGULANG KO, MARAMING SALAMAT.

MY ROADMAP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY CONSISTS OF FOUR COMPONENTS: FIRST, AN ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY OF FREE ENTERPRISE APPROPRIATE TO THE 21st CENTURY; SECOND, MODERNIZING AGRICULTURE WITH EQUITY; THIRD, PROVIDING A SOCIAL BIAS TO THE MARGINALIZED AND THE DISADVANTAGED SECTORS TO BALANCE OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH; AND THE FOURTH, THE ADOPTION OF HIGHER MORAL STANDARDS IN GOVERNMENT AND THE WHOLE OF SOCIETY.

WE ALSO HAVE UNDER THE SECTORAL AND SOCIAL BIAS A SECTORAL ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAM FORMULATED IN COORDINATION WITH THE NATIONAL ANTI-POVERTY COMMISSION. THIS IS GEARED TOWARDS UPLIFTING THE LIVES OF LESS FORTUNATE FILIPINOS. AND THIS NAPC PROGRAM HAS FIVE CORE THRUSTS: ASSET REFORM. MEANING, THE REDISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS TO THE POOR LIKE LAND REFORM AND OTHER ASSETS FOR PRODUCTION; FORTIFYING THE HUMAN CAPITAL BASE OF THE POOR; STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF THE POOR TO ENGAGE IN PRODUCTIVE ENTERPRISE; POLITICALLY EMPOWERING THE POOR THROUGH ORGANIZED CONSULTATIONS; AND PROTECTING THE UNDERPRIVILEGED SECTORS, SUCH AS THE CHILDREN, THE YOUTH, THE WOMEN, THE AGED AGAINST EXPLOITATION.

AT KUNG TINITIGNAN KO ITONG MGA ITO, UNA NGA 'YUNG ASSET REFORM -- PAGMUMUDMOD NG MGA ARIAN, LUPA, PABAHAY SA MGA MAHIHIRAP; PANGALAWA, 'YUNG MGA SALIGANG MGA SERBISYO. IN OTHER WORDS EDUCATION FOR THE POOR, MEDICINE FOR THE POOR, MEDICAL CARE FOR THE POOR; 'YUNG ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT -- MGA LIVELIHOOD, MGA MICROFINANCE, MGA SPECIFIC JOBS PARA SA, HALIMBAWA, OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN, 'YON DIN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT; 'YON NAMANG PROTECTION OF THE EXPLOITED AND THE VULNERABLE -- 'YAN ANG MGA STREETCHILDREN, 'YUNG BABAENG INAABUSO, MATATANDANG NAIWAN NA, MGA DISABLED NA WALANG MARAMING PAGKAKATAON; AT PANG LIMA, 'YUNG CAPABILITY- BUILDING. KUNG TIGNAN NATIN LAHAT ITONG LIMA ANG LAKI NG PAPEL NG LIONS CLUB.

THE LIONS CLUBS HAVE PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE DISADVANTAGED SECTORS. I KEPT TALKING ABOUT THE STREETCHILDREN BUT YOU HAVE HELPED SO MUCH THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED AS WELL. YOUR PROJECTS FORM PART OF A POSITIVE RESPONSE IN AID OF OUR ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMS, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVALUABLE HELP.

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT YOUR CLUBS HAVE COMPLAINED OF DIFFICULTIES IN HAVING SHIPMENTS OF GOODS DONATED TO YOUR PROJECTS SUCH AS MEDICINES, READING GLASSES AND CLOTHES RELEASED BY THE GOVERNMENT. WE WANT TO HELP YOU FACILITATE YOUR CHARITABLE SHIPMENTS, BUT IT IS BOTH IN YOUR INTEREST AND THE GOVERNMENT'S TO ENSURE THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT EXPLOITED FOR THE BENEFIT OF SMUGGLERS. PERHAPS YOU CAN GIVE US MORE DETAILS SO WE CAN SET UP A COORDINATING SYSTEM FOR THESE MATTERS. KAYA LANG SABIHIN KO SA INYO ANG MGA PATAKARAN, ANG MGA NASA BATAS. BATAS PO ITO. KAYA KUNG GUSTO N'YONG PALITAN HUMANAP KAYO NG CONGRESSMAN NA MAGPAPALIT NG BATAS. PERO SA NGAYON PARA HINDI KAYO MABIGO SASABIHIN KO NA ANG BATAS. YOU CAN ACCEPT DONATIONS EXCEPT OLD CLOTHES AS LONG AS YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY THE TAXES. I THINK ANG PROBLEMA NINYO 'YUNG TAX AND DUTY FREE.

NGAYON LIONS, ROTARY, CIVIC CLUB ARE NOT LISTED AMONG THOSE WHO ARE ALLOWED TO RECEIVE, TO BE CONSIGNEES WHO ARE TAX-EXEMPT. KAYA KUNG GUSTO N'YONG MAGDONATE, HALIMBAWA, MAGDO-DONATE KAYO SA LIONS NG OLONGAPO CITY, I-DONATE SA OLONGAPO CITY DAHIL ANG OLONGAPO CITY 'YAN AY ALLOWED TO RECEIVE DUTY FREE -- CITIES AND PROVINCES. CITY GOVERNMENTS AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ALLOWED TO RECEIVE DUTY FREE BUT NOT MUNICIPALITIES. IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THE MUNICIPALITY -- WELL, LIKE THE MUNICIPALITY OF SUBIC IN ZAMBALES -- IT WILL HAVE TO BE TO THE PROVINCE OF ZAMBALES. AND YOU ASK THEM TO GIVE IT TOTHE MUNICIPALITY OF SUBIC. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE DUTY FREE, BUT IF YOU DON'T WANNA GO THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT, YOU CAN GO AHEAD. YOU JUST PAY TAXES. 'YAN ANG KLARONG-KLARO. WHY EXCEPT OLD CLOTHES? KASI MAY BATAS NA SINASABI OLD CLOTHES CANNOT BE IMPORTED. SO THERE IS A LAW THAT SAYS OLD CLOTHES CANNOT BE IMPORTED IN COMMERCIAL QUANTITIES. KAYA 'YAN AY SUMUSUNOD ANG DSWD SA BATAS NA 'YAN. SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO DONATE OLD CLOTHES SABIHIN N'YO PERAHIN NA LANG. AT DITO NA LANG N'YO BILIHIN 'YUNG MGA DAMIT. SO I HOPE THAT THESE LAWS -- THEY ARE NOT RULES THEY ARE LAWS -- ARE CLARIFIED. BECAUSE THE TIMES CALL FOR SELFLESSNESS AND A GENUINE DESIRE TO SEE THE POOR IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.

I RECALL THE WORDS OF MY FATHER, THE LATE PRESIDENT DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL, WHO SAID: "THE CHOSEN LEADER OF THE NATION IS EXPECTED TO GIVE HIS BEST, TO WORK HIS HARDEST, AND TO BEAR HARDSHIP." KANINA SABI NI KATE," MA'AM, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GET YOUR ENERGY." I GET IT FROM WHAT MY FATHER SAID, "THE LEADER IS EXPECTED TO BEAR HARDSHIP." PERO I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE GETS HER ENERGY. MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY.

IN ANY CASE, THESE WORDS RING TRUE NOT ONLY FOR PRESIDENTS BUT FOR EVERY LEADER WHO GENUINELY HAS THE PEOPLE'S INTERESTS AT HEART INCLUDING CIVIC LEADERS. EVERYONE WHO SUBSCRIBES TO THE VISION OF THE ORIGINAL LION, MELVIN JONES IS A LEADER. AND A LEADER IS ALWAYS A SLAVE TO THE PEOPLE.

SO LET US BE UNITED IN ALL OUR EFFORTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY. ONLY THEN CAN WE SUCCEED IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY. ONLY THEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO BUILD A STABLE AND SECURE NATION FOR ALL GENERATIONS OF FILIPINOS.

I WISH TO COMMEND EVERY PHILIPPINE LION AND LIONESS FOR THEIR CONTINUED DEMONSTRATION OF SELFLESSNESS AND CONCERN FOR PEOPLE. CARRY ON WITH A BIG ROAR! AND CARRY ON WITH A BIG HEART.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

Nov 24

Volunteers Day