< Back Protecting the Rights of the IP It’s a triumph for Norman King and his people, as the young man becomes the first Aeta to graduate from the University of the Philippines. BY MAIELLE MONTAYRE PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL SORIANO In a country with over 105 million Filipinos, a small band of indigenous peoples (IPs) resides in the mountainous regions of Luzon. They are the Aetas, one of the IPs of the Philippines, now resettled in Pampanga and Tarlac after the devastating 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Traditionally a hunting and gathering people, the Aetas and their culture are changing. Influences from the lowlands have crept in, along with reforms for education and struggles for ancestral domain. And Norman King, a true katutubo, is serving as the bridge, helping his people maneuver through modern society and educating the lowlanders and outsiders on the true struggles of the IPs. FINDING PURPOSE IN U.P. Norman King graduated from the Angeles City National Trade School in 2004. Almost a decade later, he was able to enroll at the University of the Philippines in Manila (UP-Manila). This was due to the intervention of Cynthia Neri Zayas, PhD, who approached his father, Aeta rights activist Roman King, offering any form of assistance. Roman replied: “If you really want to help me, help my son get the education he deserves.” Norman was a freshman at the age of 23. Perhaps because of his previous work experience, he had no trouble adapting to student life at the University of the Philippines-Manila. He didn’t feel any discrimination as everyone appreciated his presence and treated him normally. He recalls, “Among the students, I was just this black guy standing in the class, physically and identity-wise, like one of the natives.” He had no problems financially, as his funds came from the university stipend, the Diwang Magdalo Foundation, and his father also sent him an allowance. Sometimes, he’d visit the Office of Student Affairs to hang out and eat with the other students and faculty. They treated him like family, and he admits, they became like his family, too. Norman only wanted to finish college to have that competitive edge when seeking employment. He had no particular university or course in mind, and credits it to divine intervention that he got into UP-Manila. “That’s already a privilege for me. So I wasn’t going to be picky on what course they’d put me in. As long as I got in, I’m good,” he shares. Norman aims to use his multidisciplinary course—which covers Sociology, Anthropology, and Psycholog —to help his community by writing a book about their culture. The Aeta culture is handed down orally and nothing is written. This becomes troublesome when businessmen arrive, demanding land titles. Despite the land being part of their ancestral domain, the Aetas face difficulties when they neither have proof nor written records of ownership. Norman also explains: “When a person would like to understand our culture, they don’t have anything to read or refer to. If ever there’s anything written, it’s actually by scholars or westerners. But is it written from the perspective of the Aeta community or a biased perspective of the writer? I see my course as an answer to that question.” Norman wants to bring the Aeta psyche to light by codifying the culture and laws of his own community. TRANSCENDENTAL COMMUNAL VALUES Most Aeta communities have a traditional value system that prioritizes their ancestral domain, but there are those with diverging value systems. Norman coins the term “loose” communities to refer to Aetas who do not value their land unlike other tight knit Aeta communities within Porac and Tarlac. These so-called loose communities have lost their ancestral domain, because they’ve already sold their rights to lowland people. Under the law, the transfer of property rights should only be between or among members of the same indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) or IPs. Thus, Norman’s father, as leader of Porac Aeta Ancestral Domain Federation Incorporated, buys the land of loose communities instead of the ICC selling to non Aetas. Their purpose is to secure the land for the future of the younger generation. Norman explains, “As an heir to the mountains we own, I won’t use all of those resources. My only purpose is to protect it so that no outsiders can get in.” Despite having a noble intention of protecting the rights of other Aeta communities, the Kings have been accused of land-grabbing instead. Norman says this is because the lowlanders don’t understand. In the lowlands, sale of land to a person results in sole ownership of that person. With the Aetas, however, the property becomes communal and shared by all in the community. With the passing of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act, the right of the IPs to their ancestral domain is recognized. Yet some politicians have their own personal agenda profiting from ecotourism sites on Aeta land. They will hinder any claim for a certificate or title the Aetas enforce. Norman says it has been 10 years since they sought a communal title. He reveals, “Until you claim it, the government won’t do anything. They know we’re not like other Aetas. We know the value of our land, and the politicians know, once we get it back, they’ll never own it again.” DUALITY OF LOWLAND INFLUENCES “I can say that we’re not really that poor. Our wealth is not directly translated to money. We have mountains. People have high respect for our family. For us, that is wealth; and that is something money can’t buy,” Norman emphasizes. Other Aetas who do not espouse the same way of thinking become greedy and turn to corruption. Many private groups have tried to bribe Norman’s father; they even put a bounty on his head. Roman’s life was endangered, so he was unable to attend Norman’s graduation. These outside groups understand that because Roman is a chief in the Porac community, other Aetas follow him. Outsiders try to divide the ICC by saying they should also have a say in the matter, not just Roman. “The natives think dividing the power is better, but this is only good if everyone has equal intellectual capacity, which is not the case,” Norman says. With modern comforts finding their way into the Aeta community, old ways are compromised, too, shares Norman. The Aetas see the short-term benefits of technologies like motorcycles, TVs or cellphones, but lack the foresight to see long-term responsibilities like maintenance and repairs. The trade-off is inordinately high because they sell their lands or carabaos in order to purchase these things. Younger Aetas also luxuriate in these modernities instead of doing common chores like chopping wood. However, the Aetas still prefer the traditional way. “Lowlanders are okay with having four walls, but we’re not used to it,” Norman remarks. “We cannot stay long in a room. Our concept of space is pretty wide, and you cannot simply put us in a box because our view is 360 degrees; which is why we don’t have the concept of trespassing because we can go anywhere.” VISION FOR COMMUNITY IDENTITY Norman has a specific vision for the Aeta community, and through his work he hopes to bring greater awareness to their culture and struggles. He says, “We’re a diversified community, and while diversity is beauty, it causes us to be divided.” He yearns for people to cast away self interest and work together harmoniously. There should be a commonality of principles as individuals think of the community, regardless of diverse practices. “There is still a gap between the Aeta community and the low-lying communities. They still don’t understand our culture, and our customary laws. To link the two wherein they can work harmoniously with each other, that’s what I want to do within the next 10 years or so,” Norman declares. In addition to writing a book and sharing glimpses of the Aeta way of living through his photography (Norman is an aspiring photographer), Norman plans on pursuing a law degree to help protect his people and their lands through the teeth of the law. A delicate balance between the uplands and the lowlands is needed, considering benevolent intervention from the latter destroys traditional values and cultural practices of the former. First, R.A. 8371 should be properly implemented as it already protects the ICCs, the IPs, and the environment. He says, “If you implement it correctly, the environment will be protected, and the environment itself is the ancestral domain where the IPs live.” Apart from the government, each individual citizen should also work towards doing something to benefit the community. Second, Norman insists on building the identity of the Aetas starting from a young age to deter external influences. He recounts his personal struggles with his own identity. On school days, he was a regular UP-Manila student; other days, he was an Aeta. Norman envisions a pilot project, where the elders teach the younger Aetas the old ways like hunting, while explaining the reasons behind such traditional customs. “The emphasis to the young ones is that whomever you will meet, wherever you go, the only ones who will understand you are your people. When I went to U.P., I met different people but whenever I came back to my community, they were the ones who fully understood and accepted me for who I am,” Norman maintains. On the day of his graduation, Norman wore a bahag, the traditional clothing of his people. In evaluating his motive and purpose, he asserts, “My people were the ones who were there during the time I was having an identity crisis. I want to give them the respect they deserve. That’s why when I walked onto the stage, it’s not just simply me right there walking. Together with me, shoulder to shoulder, are my people. I held my head up high proudly on that stage representing my community, not just me as Norman King.” Click here to read full article for free

< Back AFP Chief of Staff General Andres Centino became the AFP Chief of Staff on November 12, 2021, the 11th and last appointee in the six years of the presidency of Rodrigo R. Duterte. BY EDWIN P. GALVEZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY RENJIE TOLENTINO HMUA BY KLENG TOTANES General Andres “Andy” Castor Centino—born to a family of dedicated “government workers” in Tacloban, Leyte and raised in a military family in Cebu—has endured some of the most treacherous terrains in the far-flung and remote areas of the country, fighting lawless elements, particularly communist insurgents, but it has never occurred to him he would one day become chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Known as the “combat general” who himself endured the toil of serving in the frontlines as a soldier, Centino became the AFP chief of staff (CSAFP)on November 12, 2021, the 11th and last appointee in the six years of the presidency of Rodrigo R. Duterte. He had just completed six months of facing challenges and pushing victories in his post then as commanding general of the Philippine Army (PA) when he took over the helm. The year before, in the midst of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, he was leading the troops in Cagayan de Oro as the commander of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division (4ID) of the PA while concurrently heading its Joint Task Force Diamond. “Umabot lang sa ganito (It just came to this point),” he tells LEAGUE Magazine in his well-mannered demeanor when asked if this fell along a plan. “I was in the field in Mindanao then, so I didn’t know that a year after I will be here having this interview,” he chuckles in disbelief. It is, indeed, no joke being the chief of staff of the AFP, he admits. But Centino a victorious veteran of many wars in both the personal and professional sense is ready. “I think it helped a lot that I had experience mostly in the field handling men and exposed to so many critical situations that really demanded so much of one’s leadership abilities,” he says. HIS FATHER’S SON The battle-tested soldier began his tour of duty after graduating with honors in 1988 as a member of the “Maringal” class of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). The general recalls being literally “left by his father,” the late Flaviano Centino Sr., as he began his studies to become a soldier. The latter encouraged his son to take the academy’s entrance examinations, accompanied him from Cebu to then Victoriano Luna General Hospital (now AFP Medical Center) for physical examinations and later brought him to the academy itself in Baguio City. A military lawyer who served in the infantry, his father—together with his mother and four siblings—migrated to the United States (US) after he entered the academy in 1984. “I was the only one left in the country. [My father said] ‘Bahala ka na (It’s now up to you),’” he says. The elder Centino seemed utterly sure his eldest son was “all ready” for the rigorous character, academic, military, and physical training in the academy and, later on, in joining the force. The general realizes though that one could never be prepared enough. “I had no idea what would happen then,” he says. But as fate would have it, Centino assumed various leadership roles that helped raise the bar of service excellence in the military—of which the badges, medals and decorations on his uniform would prove. These tested his mettle and determination in effectively leading his men on the ground to directing successful missions in the field to strategic planning and intelligence-driven operations that achieved their goals. He became commander of the 26th Infantry Battalion in 2008, secretary in the Army General Staff in 2013, commander of the 401st Infantry Brigade in 2017 and the deputy chief of staff for operations, organization and training (J3) of the AFP in 2019. Under his leadership, which began on May 29, 2020, the 4ID was declared the “Fightingest Division” for its offensive operations against the communist insurgents and the “Best Army Major Unit” of 2020. Centino was later appointed the 64th commanding general of the Philippine Army (CGPA) on May 14, 2021. As the AFP said in its congratulatory statement, he had “immense knowledge and experience” to lead the country’s troops, making him a “competent leader for the armed forces’ mission.” ROLE MODELS His father’s profession “intrigued” him for being away from his family most of the time, a reality that Centino himself would experience in raising his own family. This, however, made him more curious about soldiery since his father spent time at home only during vacations. “I would see soldiers a lot when I stayed in the camp, including my father as this military person,” he says of his father’s influence. “My father was doing many things, so it sparked my curiosity: ‘What is the work of a soldier? Why should he be away from his family?’” He knew that being a military officer’s son—even when he had completed the first two years of an engineering course—laid the foundation for his “possible future.” That future took him to many places here and abroad for training in military leadership, intelligence and warfighting competencies. These include the Basic Airborne Course, Infantry Officer Basic and Advance Courses, and VIP Security Operations Training. He graduated at the top of his class in the Scout Ranger Course, and also finished his Command and General Staff Course at the AFP Command and General Staff College where he graduated among the top ten in his class. Pursuing further studies, Centino completed his master of science degree in National Resource Strategy at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. in the US. He earlier took up his master’s in management at the University of the Philippines (UP) and finished the Strategic Business Economics Program at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). But Centino couldn’t be prouder of the selfless public service rendered by his mother, the former Araceli Castor, a school teacher and probation officer, and his grandparents who worked all their lives as government employees. “They were all government workers, and you get encouraged especially [when] they’re your role models and they served really well,” he says. LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE Inheriting his family’s dedication and commitment to duty, Centino’s integrity becomes more evident in the three decades of his leadership not through words but action. And when he says something, he makes sure he walks the talk. “Your actions and your words must match. It has been my [leadership] style ever since. As the saying goes, ‘When actions and words contradict, you look at the actions,’” he says. “You really have to lead by example,” he adds. Instead of “saying or directing,” Centino says “you have to show it yourself [in] the way you behave, talk, and act. Show them that you can do the task, no matter how difficult it is.” His persistence, professionalism and being armed with a “real sense of purpose” have earned for Centino the respect of men and women in the field. As a “problem-solver” kind of commander, he listens to his soldiers and provides solutions for the good of all. He remains true to his values no matter what, especially in “small instances or ordinary moments” in the course of accomplishing a mission. “When I was a lieutenant, [I made sure that] the value of persistence and obedience, the sense of professionalism [remained]. Na kahit ano’ng hirap, kahit ano’ng conditions, tuloy-tuloy pa rin (However hard or whatever the conditions are, you have to see it through),” he says. Centino showed through action that anything can be done by soldiers even at a young age or toiling with fellow soldiers older than they are—a situation he himself went through. In the course of leading, he says, it is important to “set the direction” and pursue “doable goals.” “You make your intent and your plans clear so that you are assured that they understand you. It would be hard when you give vague directions because you will not get the result that you intend,” he says. To achieve an end, Centino also provides details, which he believes is “the most important thing to assure compliance to what you’re directing or giving out.” “In some situations though, you only need to set the direction, and you’ll be amazed of the creativity [of the personnel],” he says, knowing that it also takes time for subordinates to adapt to one’s leadership style. This is why Centino couldn’t afford to rest even when he needs to because his sense of duty dictates that “you have to do it despite the difficult circumstances.” “Knowing that there’s a job to do and no one else can do it and people look to you for what you will do [next] keeps me moving,” he says. But he also finds fulfillment as CSAFP when he goes to the farthest hinterland deployments to visit soldiers in the frontlines. “I really find satisfaction in meeting the soldiers out there who I have not met, yet are doing their jobs, sacrificing so much and sharing maybe my misfortune of being away from their families,” he says. He always tells them not to worry because “it is not forever.” “I also went through that, and sooner or later, when you do your job and do it well, you will be recognized and someday be also given a chance to assume my position,” he shares. Centino’s exemplary leadership and dedication to duty have been recognized over the course of his service. His awards and decorations include four Distinguished Service Stars, a Gold Cross Medal, a Silver Cross Medal, a Bronze Cross Medal, CSAFP Commendation Medal and Ribbon, a Long Service Medal, a number of merit medals both for combat and administration and several certificates of commendation and appreciation from both the military and civilian sectors. In all these, Centino remains a man of humility who inspires the men and women endure the “harsh elements, loneliness and the everpresent threat from the enemies” every day in the field—that one will get what he deserves if he works hard for it.

< Back ENSURING SMOOTH SAILING FOR MYC By Fraulein Olavario PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL SORIANO Marco Tronqued leads the Manila Yacht Club as a young commodore dedicated to growing the Philippine boating industry. At 37 years old, Marco Tronqued powers up on wavy seas and chases lofty dreams. The president (or commodore) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the country’s world-class speedboat manufacturer, Tronqued Boats, also steers the Manila Yacht Club (MYC) as its commodore or chief officer, the youngest in the exclusive club’s 95-year history. Tronqued, whose love for boating and penchant for powerboats he inherited from his father Ildefonso, is no stranger to the MYC as he has been frequenting the club since 2006. He was elected by the general membership of close to 400 as one of its nine directors in 2019 and 2021. And in December 2021, Marco was elected by his fellow directors to take on the presidency. “I basically grew up in this club. I’ve been here for a good 16 years already, and I’ve seen it all in terms of the members. Some of the members who are way more senior than I am have actually become close to me,” Tronqued says. “I’m quite familiar already with how the club operates and what is needed for it to move forward. So, I believe I fit in easily and quite well because of the long experience that I’ve had so far with the club.” With the club’s main objective of promoting sailing and yachting in the Philippines in mind, Marco puts a premium on enhancing the club’s facilities and building more floating docks. Located in Manila Bay along Roxas Boulevard in Malate, Manila, the MYC has a rich history dating back to its founding on January 20, 1927. It was the first “Manila International Airport” at the time when there were no airports in the Philippines, and the Americans, who took over in the 1900s, built the breakwater and landed their seaplanes at the site. The club suspended operations during World War II from 1941 to 1945 and resumed operations in January 1946, a year before allowing female membership in 1947. MYC co-hosted the Interport Regatta with the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in 1952 and represented the country in the yachting events in the 1960 Olympics. It has been providing continuous training and support for the Philippine Navy (PN) and national teams to the Olympics and Southeast Asian Games since 1977. In 2006, the National Historical Institute (NHI, now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines or NHCP) installed an institutional marker in the storied club’s building, making it a national historical landmark. Tronqued thus sees the need to rehabilitate the club’s facilities while preserving the original façade of the historic building. Meanwhile, the floating docks or berths, where yachts and boats are moored, were built by the MYC in the late 90s to early 2000s. Halfway into his term, Marco has already started the construction of new floating docks. “My intention is to build these new docks to generate better cash flow for the club and be able to make the club move on further with other projects for its betterment also. So, it’s that and the rehabilitation of the facilities. That is my main thrust because if we’re able to create new docks and improve the marina, which are the primary purposes of having a yacht club, then you’re able to grow the community, have more boaters come in, have newer, better boats, and have more facilities,” he explains. GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY The young yachtsman also looks to continue the non-profit organization’s efforts to give back to the community. For one, some of the club’s members have undergone reservist training and have participated in rescue operations as the MYC was commissioned by the Philippine government as the 201st Naval Affiliated Reserve Squadron. “We had a lot of volunteerism that had occurred during [Typhoon] Ondoy, wherein we volunteered our rubber boats to the affected areas. Even our fellow member, [former Energy] Secretary [Jericho] Petilla, was known to have rescued more than 80 people, if I’m not mistaken, with his jet ski in Marikina,” Tronqued says. “We have a lot of documented rescue efforts if we are called upon by people who know that we have boats. As much as we can, we volunteer these vessels for flood rescue within the close proximity of Manila.” Moreover, the MYC also serves as the 101st Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) squadron, a supplementary coast guard squadron consisting of MYC members with powerboats and yachts as well as air assets. The squadron is headed by Marco’s brother, PCGA Capt. Marlon Iñigo Tronqued. They have generated from their own resources more than Php 3 million worth of donations in kind, such as drinking water, canned goods, and rice, which they turned over to the PN and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for distribution to the families affected by Typhoon Odette in December 2021. Aside from extending support to various government agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), PN, and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), which may from time to time need a facility to launch and service their boats, the MYC also does its share in protecting the environment. Under the leadership of the late former Commodore Robert Joseph, the MYC built a water sewage treatment plant near the club’s premises to help clean Manila Bay. DREAMING BIG Just as Tronqued expanded Tronqued Boats—which started out as his father’s passionate hobby of building speedboats for family and friends—to produce a host of larger, top-quality custom fiberglass boats, he also dreams of a booming boating industry for the Philippines. “Kung sobrang dream talaga (The ultimate dream), the best, the boating capital when it comes to the boating industry or the mecca for me would be Florida. So, Miami, the Keys, Fort Lauderdale. On the West Coast, there’s Marina del Rey, where in just one marina, you will see 8,000 boats,” Tronqued says, pointing out that the country can also look at its Southeast Asian neighbor Thailand for inspiration. “My dreams are to have more boaters because what people don’t realize is that boating, as an industry, is sort of nation-building because it touches very much on tourism. For example, in Thailand, there are 35 million tourists, and 80 percent of the yacht owners and boat owners in Thailand are foreigners,” he explains. “In our country, we already have so many nice beaches to go to. So, all we need to have are more facilities for more tourists to be able to go and enjoy these areas. So, the more yacht clubs we have, the more we will be able to grow our tourism industry. It’s very tangent.” He adds, “Let’s not think of yacht owners or have this notion of yachtsmen as being arrogant or rich. I believe there’s that stereotype, when in fact, [boating and yachting are] very much encouraged abroad and in other countries.” In 2015, Thailand started a campaign to become the world’s “third superyacht destination,” launching their own yacht show to promote the country as the Marina Hub of Asia and to bring in significant foreign investment through their new “Superyacht Tourism” industry. The Thai government welcomed foreign-flagged visiting superyachts to spend the winter seasons in Thai waters and offered their yachts for charter without having to pay the value-added tax (VAT) on the vessel’s value. The culmination of their six-year campaign could not have come at a better time, when popular tourist destination Phuket lost more than THB 320 billion in revenue owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is this similar kind of boost for the local boating industry that Tronqued hopes to see from the Philippine government. “Government can help with regulation to support the maritime industry, whether it be tax incentives or support through laws. In Thailand, for example, if you go there, you’re not gonna be riding a banca (boat) to the different islands. It’s all fast boats. When I was there, like in Pattaya, I realized that the fast boats were all loaned by the government,” Tronqued cites. “It goes hand in hand with the saying ‘If you build it, they will come.’ So, if you have fast boats, marinas, if you’re not strict with having yacht clubs being built in different parts of the country, if the government will be more lenient in terms of regulation or being faster to approve these kinds of initiatives, then there will be more boats, there will be more tourists. So, it will be hand in hand dapat (supposedly), he adds.” In the United States (US), the boating industry saw a spike in new powerboat retail unit sales in 2020 and 2021, as the Americans turned to boating with family and friends to escape from stresses on land amid the pandemic. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), “Following record sales in 2020, recreational boating remained the leading outdoor recreation in the U.S. in 2021, with new powerboat sales exceeding 300,000 units for only the second time in 15 years.” The NMMA expects “strong momentum for boating and new boat sales to endure through 2022 as Americans from all walks of life explore the great outdoors and turn to the unique joys of being on the water.” Seeing a similar trend in the Philippines, Tronqued remains optimistic about the local boating industry, which he describes as “growing tremendously.” “The COVID-19 pandemic really put the boating industry [in a position to] advance because a lot of people who have beach houses but used to not know about boats or did not go boating, were forced to go boating. So, in terms of our business—boat building—a lot of people started to [frequent] Punta Fuego, Tali Beach, and not just Batangas, but also Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, all these people got immersed in boating,” Marco says. “So, that’s a very good thing that happened in terms of boating. That’s what the pandemic has also brought, more awareness of what people can do outdoors. Boating is part of that equation,” he adds. They may have a long way ahead, but with Commodore Marco Tronqued at the helm, MYC is poised to keep sailing in that direction. “I don’t really have much concern towards the title. I like to do it because it also gives me a sense of purpose, and just the fact that I know that I’m being able to grow the boating industry in my own little way, gives me fulfillment,” Tronqued ends. Buy magazine here

< Back The Green Agenda The science behind Miss Earth ON HER WIN: “I’m not just a person who wants it for the crown but I’m a person who really knows my purpose, my vision, and what I’m called for–and that’s what makes me different.” ON APATHY AND IGNORANCE: “We need to be agents of change and the catalyst of this generation to really help our earth transition from what it is now to a greener future before it’s too late.” ON ENVIRONMENTAL WOES: “It’s the greed of people alongside undisciplined hearts that causes climate change.” ON HER EXPERIENCE: “I give a voice to people but I’m also learning because the environment and the people around me are teaching me things so I can be a better advocate for the environment.” BY MAIELLE MONTAYRE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAR CONCENGCO Miss Earth is not your typical beauty pageant, and neither is Karen Ibasco your quintessential beauty queen. In this global microcosm of politics, conflict, and diplomacy, Mother Earth takes a back seat to more pressing matters. But for one glorious night, the Miss Earth Beauty Pageant shines bright on environmental awareness. Organized in 2001, this beauty and environmental event inspires everyone to become “Beauties for a Cause” in the preservation and protection of Mother Earth. THE APPLIED ROOTS OF THE PAGEANTRY Miss Earth is an annual international beauty pageant organized by Carousel Productions in 2001, and is one of the four major international pageants aside from Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International. Since its inception, the pageant has been mostly held in the Philippines, although Vietnam and Austria have also hosted the event. Manila, Pampanga and Boracay are some of the local government units (LGUs) which have hosted Miss Earth, and the event continues to draw excitement as well as have helped boost tourism . This beauty and environmental event, with gathers over 80 delegates from all over the world, inspires everyone to become ‘Beauties for a Cause’ in the preservation and protection of Mother Earth. THE FUNDAMENTAL FRUITS OF MISS EARTH Karen Ibasco, the current titleholder for Miss Earth 2017, serves as the spokesperson for the Miss Earth Foundation and the United Nationals Environmental Programme, among others. Established in 2004, the Foundation’s priorities lay in raising awareness about conservation, preservation, and the rehabilitation of the environment. To ensure that it meets its objectives, they work with several partner NGOs including Plastic Solutions, an environmental conservation organization. For 2018, they’ve chosen to prioritize projects for the seas as it’s the third International Year of the Ree, after 1997 and 2008. “Since we’re fighting against climate change and the ocean is one of its victims, it’s good for us to focus on this area, considering the alarming effects,” shares Ibasco. Climate change, among other things, has caused loss of livelihood, agriculture, and in worst cases, loss of life. Over the years, Miss Earth has diligently done its work and spread its advocacies in many countries. In the Philippines, they’ve partnered with LGUs who are receptive of Miss Earth programs and have also initiated their own local projects. One of the major projects of Miss Earth, “I Love My Planet School Tours,” promotes environmental awareness to the youth, and was recently conducted in the City of Manila. Miss Earth also participated in a nature conservation read-along in partnership with Inquirer in Mandaluyong City. Delegates also visited eco-tourism places in Valenzuela City, such as the fishing village of Tagalag and the Valenzuela City People’s Park. It’s been a whirlwind ride for Ibasco as she participates in Miss Earth’s biggest activities throughout the year such as medical missions, tree and mangrove planting ceremonies, coastal clean-up activities, media guesting, speaking engagements, and eco-fashion shows.

< Back Living Up to the Family’s Standard of Public Service BY FREDERICK N. CASTILLO T he province of Rizal, similar to virtually every province in the Philippines, is generally known, among other things, for families long engaged in politics and public service. One cannot miss the surname Tanjuatco when discussing and, especially, visiting the different towns of the province. At present, one of the emerging leaders of Rizal who is carving a name in public service is Representative Emigdio “Dino” P. Tanjuatco III of the province’s second legislative district. RUNNING IN THE FAMILY The saying “The apple does not fall far from the tree” clearly holds true for Tanjuatco, given that his father, former Representative Emigdio “Ding” S. Tanjuatco, Jr., was likewise a renowned political leader in Rizal and serves as his role model in his young political career. And in pursuing a career in a field that has almost always been associated with influence and excesses, the traits and words of his father ground him to tread the right path. “He had so many traits that I still hold on to, to this very day, foremost of which is simplicity. My father was really never extravagant when it came to material things. Although we did have a comfortable life, it was not luxurious in any form,” he explains. Tanjuatco likewise notes that his father stressed that in politics and public service, there is a need to create an environment of consensus building, particularly given the presence of various sectors in his district, including farmers, fisherfolks, persons with disability, and even single parents. In Tanjuatco’s perspective, consensus building, which his father instilled in him and his siblings, entails finding out what the people need. “Always ask them, then get the consensus of the majority. And that’s what you present wherever you are, wherever you come from, wherever you go,” the lawmaker adds. He admits he was constantly reminded that being elected a representative, mayor, or governor does not mean that one is considered “the boss” automatically. “It is really the other way around; the votes of the people are really the trust given to those elected. They trust us to be their voice because they cannot speak for themselves due to external factors and circumstances,” Tanjuatco emphasizes. DISCOURAGED… INITIALLY Tanjuatco confesses that his father, despite being a renowned politician during his time, actually discouraged him and his siblings from entering politics because of the “difficult” nature of the field. “Politics is a different creature… you have to have the heart, mind, and willingness to serve,” he adds. Indeed, his father wanted him to experience the life of a lawyer, specifically as a litigator, and not merely a corporate lawyer sitting behind a desk and reviewing or drafting documents. “He wanted me to experience appearing in court, arguing with the opposing counsel, and trying to defend and serve clients… that’s what I did for five years,” Tanjuatco elaborates. He adds that he specializes in family relations, labor law, and corporate law, but took on some criminal cases as well, although most of the cases he handled were civil cases. He likewise appeared and argued before the Sandiganbayan, which was presided at that time by Justice Francis Garchitorena, who apparently had a reputation for “initiating” new lawyers. “In that sense, I was able to build the confidence of speaking in public, knowing how to argue without getting too emotional,” he adds. FROM CLIENTS TO CONSTITUENTS For Tanjuatco, the transition from the practice of law to engaging in politics and public service was not that difficult, given that his clients and constituents’ primary need is practically the same: to be served. “When I was in legal practice, I was serving the needs of my clients. In politics, I have to serve the needs of my constituents. I guess at the end of the day, it’s all about serving ‘the client,’” he reiterates. And serve he did, guided by the reputation that his grandparents and parents had built as public servants. “They were not tainted with any issues of corruption… and I don’t want to be the one to break, or tarnish, that tradition. So, there is pressure to perform, which I use in a constructive way.” Tanjuatco’s initial foray into politics began in 2001, when he was elected member of the Rizal Provincial Board, representing the province’s second district until 2004. He ran again in 2007 and served until 2017 but was unable to complete his term as board member because he was appointed by then-President Benigno S. Aquino III as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) in 2014. “My position as CEO [of CIAC] is totally different from that of a legislator because the function of a CEO is more of an executive,” Tanjuatco elaborates. “My first few months as CEO, I have to admit, were very difficult… I had to manage an airport with several departments and… about a thousand employees at that time.” Despite the challenging nature of being CIAC CEO, Tanjuatco eventually went back to what his father taught him: to have a consensus-building mindset. “Because I was exposed to being a provincial board member before my stint in Clark, I knew how to deal with different kinds of people. And it was totally different because Clark is situated in Pampanga. So, I had to deal with Kapampangans,” he shares. As such, Tanjuatco proudly shares that his ability to communicate with airport employees and the locals, including learning their language and culture, among other things, enabled him to eventually adjust to his work and made things smoother in the long run. After serving as CIAC CEO until 2016, Tanjuatco returned to local politics in 2019 when he again ran and won as a provincial board member, serving in this capacity for another two terms, until 2022. Inevitably, the lawmaking function of the provincial board further honed his acumen and skills not only as a public servant but also as a lawmaker. In the 2022 elections, Tanjuatco ran and was elected representative of Rizal’s second legislative district, which comprises the towns of Teresa, Morong, Cardona, Baras, Tanay, Pililla, and Jalajala. LIFE IN BATASAN Tanjuatco shares that in terms of schedule, life as a congressional representative is relatively unpredictable “but exciting.” Apart from the session days that he has to attend, there are days devoted to committee meetings and hearings, as well various activities outside the Batasan complex, such as speaking engagements, meetings with various sectors, and, of course, attending to the needs of his constituents in his district. “I have to be very flexible, but I don’t get bored because I’m not stuck in front of a desk or tied to a strict, rigid schedule… it allows me to balance work from the legislative and social services sides,” Tanjuatco explains. The congressman admits that in his first few months as a national legislator, he thought that it would be the same as working as a provincial board member. After all, both responsibilities entail crafting laws to benefit the people and the country. Evidently, the huge difference is observed, primarily in the composition of the House of Representatives. “I had to learn how to maneuver… because district and party-list representatives have their own interests and constituents… you can’t just throw your weight around,” Tanjuatco says. Given his status as a neophyte lawmaker, Tanjuatco naturally turns to his “elders” for guidance, especially that some of the seasoned representatives knew his father. Moreover, he learned that part of his responsibility is to continuously learn, particularly the lawmaking process. “My first time on the podium during plenary, I made a mistake. They say that it usually happens. But when I make a mistake, I learn from it,” he says. “During committee hearings, I also look at my seniors [lawmakers]. Because they’re the ones who ask the questions first. And then I try to learn from them… I always ask questions… that’s the challenge.” LAWMAKER IN ACTION Although just in his first term, Tanjuatco has already proven that he is not one to back down from the challenges he and his colleagues constantly face in Congress. This early, he has filed over a hundred bills, one of which is, perhaps, among the most critical ones for the province of Rizal: declaring the Kaliwa River Forest and Wildlife Sanctuary as a protected area. “The Kaliwa Watershed Forest area is within the town of Tanay and is home to and protects various flora and fauna, including the civet cat… unfortunately, it is not yet a protected area under the [National Integrated Protected Areas System] NIPAS law, so the local government is the one providing funds for its protection,” Tanjuatco shares. The lawmaker explains that the passage of the Kaliwa Watershed bill into law will provide funding from the national government, protect the area in a systematic manner through the hiring of more foresters and establishment of security structures, prevent commercialization, attend to the welfare of indigenous peoples (e.g., Dumagats, Remontados) in the locality, and preserve the forest to prevent flooding in nearby low-lying areas during the rainy season. “The area should remain untouched,” he reiterates. Meanwhile, Tanjuatco is currently working closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to institutionalize how protected areas will be managed. To this end, he refers to DENR’s Project TRANSFORM, in which the management of protected areas is coordinated by three entities: DENR, the local government where a protected area is located, and the private entity that will develop ecotourism in the area. Tanjuatco cites the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park as a model. “I’m asking the DENR if we can do that kind of model in Rizal,” he shares. He particularly adds that in his district, “each town has its distinct characteristics. And when we talk about tourism in the second district, what comes to mind would be Tanay because of the mountainous area, and then Pililla because of the windmills.” Another major piece of legislation that Tanjuatco is pushing is definitely close to his heart: a revision of the provisions of the Consumer Act, a law co-authored by his father. As head of the technical working group that worked on the law’s amendments, he had to involve many stakeholders and various government agencies, primarily the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to present a draft bill that essentially considered the majority of consumer stakeholders. Other important pieces of legislation that Tanjuatco prioritizes include much-needed election-related reforms, including early voting, strengthening voter registration, and provision of satellite registration centers; institutionalization of the Philippine National Games to enhance the identification and development of potential national athletes who will compete internationally; and the establishment of a Department of Sports to focus on all matters related to the proper development and training of athletes, including the provision of the necessary budget and funding. DREAMING FOR THE PROVINCE OF RIZAL Tanjuatco is optimistic that Rizal will eventually achieve what other more progressive provinces near Metro Manila have achieved. “One of the frustrating characteristics of the province is that with its proximity with Metro Manila, we have yet to achieve what we want to achieve in terms of tourism and economic activities… we still lack infrastructure in terms of roads, so that people can have proper access to the province… traffic is a concern,” he confides. “Apart from providing our people’s basic needs, officials of Rizal are also focusing on how to make people come back to and explore our province.” Lastly, Tanjuatco shares that he is fortunate to have his constituents in the 2nd District and the people of Rizal in general. “I’m lucky to have them because they’re the ones who feed me the information I need to be able to provide for their needs. I’m very fortunate to have a constituency that is still very warm, still very provincial and rural in nature. And I always tell them that no one’s going to help Rizaleños except Rizaleños.”

< Back Young, Efficient, And Resilient BY BARANGAY DELA PAZ PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE (PIO) MOLDED BY ADVERSITIES, BARANGAY DELA PAZ CHAIRMAN JEFF NAVAL FERNAN HAS GROWN FROM THE SHY SK CHAIRMAN TO WHAT HE IS NOW—A STRONG LEADER WHO, WITH THE HELP OF HIS TEAM, IS DETERMINED TO UPLIFT THEIR BARANGAY. R unning government affairs has never been a walk in the park, as many think it is. More often than not, personalities are running for public office on a distorted belief that an election is no more than a popularity contest or a pageant. But for 38-year-old John Felix Naval Fernan—or Jeff as what local folks would call him—joining the government goes way beyond public service as he hinted on the need to be equipped with a vision and the political will to transform plans and campaign promises into reality. Twenty kilometers away from Manila is a village referred to as Barangay dela Paz, named after Antipolo’s patron saint Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage), which hosts the famous national shrine—the Antipolo Cathedral. LOOKING BACK Twenty years ago, there was no sign of the young Fernan joining the political fray as he was focused on becoming something else. But as fate would have it, the ‘accidental politician’ found himself in the company of strange bedfellows. Interestingly, the family from where Fernan hailed is no stranger to politics. In fact, his grandfather—the late Felix Naval served as the village chief (chairman) of Barangay dela Paz before climbing his way into the local municipal council. It was then that he realized that public office is no easy task. To cut the long story short, the reluctant politician won as chairman of Barangay dela Paz Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)—a position he held while attending formal education at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration. CULTURE SHOCK Then SK councilor Fernan had his first taste of frustration, personally witnessing the bad side of public office. In trying to stand his ground, he was isolated and became an instant target of what seasoned PR men and political operators would refer to as a demolition job. “I must admit, my SK stint wasn’t exactly the same as I thought it would be. I became an instant sensation of ill gossips and political mudslinging—which should not be the case among the youth leaders among us,” Fernan shares. But giving up wasn’t his cup of tea. He doesn’t seem to like the idea of quitting, which for him is tantamount to admission of fallacies hurled against him. LANDMARK PIECES OF LEGISLATION The next thing his detractors knew, Fernan was already an alderman (councilman) of the Sangguniang Barangay where he made his mark by sponsoring landmark resolutions behind what now stand as the permanent home of Barangay Dela Paz along Asuncion Street in the city proper of Antipolo and a satellite barangay hall for communities at the lower portion of the barrio. More than the structure, it was also then Councilman Fernan who authored a resolution equipping the barangay health center not just with the typical band-aid solutions but also with medical professionals to attend to the medical concerns of the village folks. During his stint as alderman, Fernan (the number one councilman) also pushed to institutionalize, centralize, and provide funds for the operation of day care centers for toddlers, provision of development funds for each of the 46 sitios, alternative learning system (ALS) and scholarship grants for poor but deserving barangay-based students. I must admit, my SK stint wasn’t exactly the same as I thought it would be. I became an instant sensation of ill gossips and political mudslinging—which should not be the case among the youth leaders among us. CALLING THE SHOTS While many would find his stint as councilman productive, Fernan still finds it rather short of what the barangay folks actually need. After two consecutive terms as barangay kagawad (local term for councilman), he was asked to run for a higher position where he can deliver much more than legislation for the multifaceted needs of the community. Hence, he was elected for the fourth time—but this time as the chief executive (chairman) of Barangay dela Paz, where he immediately buckled down to materialize a bucket list of to-do’s with no fanfare, no ifs, no buts—just an effective governance embarking on the needs of each and every sector. KAP JEFF’S BUCKET LIST On his first day as barangay chairman, Fernan called on fellow public servants to revisit their mandate, deliver results and fulfill campaign promises for which were picked to run the community. His bucket list includes environment, livelihood, education, health, peace & order, disaster preparedness, employment, gender empowerment, handicapped persons, senior citizens, government transparency and accountability, and restoring the integrity of the barangay via ‘door-to-door’ delivery of basic services. “The trust that was bestowed upon us is more than enough reason for us to do what we are mandated to do—serve the people, no more, no less,” the barangay chief executive averred. In just four years at the helm, Fernan institutionalized the Barangay Eco-Park where families, groups, among others, can take a glimpse of greenery well within the city, while allowing enterprising local folks to do business via the adjoining food bazaar. Geographically located at the heart of the component city of Antipolo, Fernan also made sure that local folks well within his area of jurisdiction would be able to sleep well at night without worrying so much about burglars. Taking advantage of the wonders of modern technology, Fernan literally kept an eye in all 46 sitios, which have been equipped with solar-powered lamp posts and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, on top of the roving peacekeeping forces on foot patrol and motorcycle-riding Barangay Anti-Crime Unit members for quick response. It was also his idea to spare the residents from the costly and tedious travel to the barangay hall just to secure barangay certificates and clearances—or seek help by literally taking the barangay hall to various sitios every Saturday. Aside from the barangay certificates and clearance, the weekly Mobile Barangay comes with an outreach program which includes medical check-up, medicines, treatment, haircut, circumcision, KUB (kidney, ureter, bladder) ultrasound, senior citizen and persons with disability (PWD) filing, feeding program, life-saving seminars, distribution of seedlings and saplings, community disinfection, etc. The elderly (senior citizens) and PWDs also have a soft spot in Fernan’s heart as he was never remiss on their needs—maintenance medicine, wheelchair, crutches, walking sticks (or canes) livelihood, employment and many more. Many would rather find it morbid but for Fernan, it is imperative to help the indigent folks in times of grief by way of providing free caskets, funeral services, and a little financial help from the barangay. To make Barangay dela Paz a livable place, Fernan also institutionalized the Barangay Materials Recovery Facility, regular creek and river clean-up, community disinfection, cash-for-work program and the strict implementation of the provisions of Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Fernan also hinted on the need to preserve families via barangay-sponsored mass weddings and enhance gender advocacy via local programs and medical outreach missions (free Pap smear) in partnership with various government agencies. Just like in any other barangay, Fernan admits facing a monstrous task in eradicating the drug problem in communities under his radar. However, he finds it rather effective to treat the drug dependents with empathy and see them as persons in need rather than a criminal through his CBDRP—SIPAG (Simula ng Pag-asa) program. When the pandemic set in some time in March 2020, dela Paz was among the handful of barangays which earned the admiration of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the effective implementation of the public safety protocols. And if there’s one thing that Fernan could be proud insofar as crisis management is concerned, the viral chaotic scenes during the distribution of financial subsidies never happened in his turf. “It’s just a matter of reaching out to the people and putting in place a system that would make it a lot easier to make both ends meet, Fernan ends.”

< Back FOR THE CHILDREN BY HELEN HERNANE PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL SORIANO As an expectant mother, Calamba City Congresswoman Hernandez is focused on making sustainable, longterm improvements for the city—progress that would benefit current and future generations. At eight months pregnant, Congresswoman Charisse Anne “Cha” Hernandez-Alcantara of Calamba, Laguna understands that many expect her to rest and not strain herself too much with work. Hernandez also admits that she finds it somewhat difficult to juggle public service and carrying a child, especially during the third trimester. But she fervently believes that every child, including hers, is a blessing and also, a lucky charm, as many people have often told her. “During my campaign, I would go around every day and meet people face to face from morning to night,” she recalls. “And I think [me being pregnant] solidified my message that I am just like them. My situation reflects most women’s lives; I’m not the first woman working at eight months pregnant.” Not even a month after the elections, Hernandez is already out and about, connecting with one sector after another. LEAGUE trailed after the newly-elected congresswoman who spent the entire morning listening to farmers, who launched a seminar, and the fisherfolk, who held a boodle fight with her for lunch. Her arrival and presence in each meeting lacked the pomp and circumstance often associated with political bigwigs. On the contrary, her simple outfit, visible baby bump, and calm, caring voice (with a forceful undertone) made her appear less of a politician and more of an ordinary Filipino mother. CALAMBA’S FUTURE Pregnancy, the congresswoman shares, also gives her a different sense of focus that helps push her forward in striving for a better City of Calamba. Her internal motivation is to create a clean, thriving city for her son and for others of his generation to inherit. “Also, I want my children to be proud of me, that someday they could say that I did my best and worked hard even while pregnant. I want them to be proud of the city we helped build when they grow up, to have people tell my children that I did my best as a public servant. I think that’s one good motivation for me,” the neophyte congresswoman reveals. Hernandez, however, also had big plans for Calamba even prior to her winning the seat in Congress. As a councilor, her vision was mostly fixing the major issues that the city faced—traffic, environment, waste management, and more. While her current position enables her to improve the city through legislation, she stresses that she still wants to be involved in the planning and execution of local programs. The 28-year-old public servant shares that she is in close collaboration with Mayor Roseller “Ross” Rizal and Vice Mayor Angelito “Totie” Lazaro Jr. In the latest election, they all ran under the banner “Team CalamBAGO” under PDP-Laban. Their partnership, she shares, allows them to centralize their programs into one vision and align their projects accordingly. Among her many plans for the city, Hernandez shares that she wants Calamba to be a “smart city” centered on people and technology. As a millennial, the congresswoman of the city’s sole district wants to push for automated processes in the local government offices. “When they go to the office to request for assistance and other basic social services, I want it to be convenient and hassle-free so that they don’t have to wait in line for hours. And it is to promote transparency. I’m in consultation with different data and system developers to create a data-driven office. With this, we will be able to provide reports and updates on social media and also through offline means to inform the people.” The congresswoman is also seeking to apply technology in their local tourism sector which is famous for their hot spring resorts. Hernandez is also eyeing Calamba to be the “Resort Capital of the Philippines” and streamlining their services through a mobile application or website wherein accredited resorts will be listed for people to book. “With an app or website, people would be secure and safe because it’s the only accredited and government-approved booking system. It would be easier for them to find the perfect resort that fits their requirements. Resorts, on the other hand, would also have to meet a standard in order to be included,” she states. LEGISLATIVE FOCUS In order to boost the local economy, Hernandez highlights the need for more investors. And in order to attract more business, her priority would be to eliminate corruption in the local government. As a legislator, she shares that she would be supportive of any transparency bill, saying “I’d definitely be the first one voting yes for [the passing of a transparency bill], if not sponsoring it. There are already many drafts of this bill, what’s important is for one to be passed, especially in the Lower House [of Congress].” Her very first priority as a legislator is ensuring that the city has funds for their projects, one of which is the creation of a public hospital for Calamba. The Letran College Calamba alumna emphasizes that her priority are pieces of legislation that would benefit their city, but she assures that she would not be a liability in Congress. “As a young representative, I would want to be an asset that gives voice to the minorities, someone who would be an inspiration to young leaders,” Hernandez muses. The young congresswoman confesses that she finds the transition from being a city councilor to being a district representative challenging, citing the need for plenty of connections and appealing to fellow lawmakers. Hernandez also feels some pressure to deliver, acknowledging the expectations that people have considering her young age and as someone different from “traditional politicians.” On the other hand, her relative inexperience in conventional politics allows her to have a fresh take on being a representative. Hernandez seeks to create a “people’s council” which she would consult regarding monumental laws, fund allocations, and nearly every decision she would make in Congress. “Every decision or vote I would make [in Congress] is an accurate representation of what the people or what the constituents would want, not what I would want. It will be consultative and I would be at people’s disposal,” she reveals. “As a representative, I was put here by the people. Not by big money corporations or rich donors. [My position] is their chance to be heard in Congress. It sounds cliché, but it’s true. Everything I’ll do would represent their sentiments.” Hernandez proudly supports the minorities in her district, especially the farmers and fisherfolk. She professes that these sectors are close to her heart because she feels at home with them. The congresswoman shares, “With them, you don’t need to dress up and put up a front. Whatever you wear, even if it’s just slippers, they’ll accept you. As their representative, they have expectations but I’ve learned that if you serve them faithfully, they will support you wholeheartedly. Constantly engaging with them also humbles me—they want to work hard for their families and in turn, I want to work hard for them.” With her new position in government, she assures the people of Calamba that no community, no minority would be left behind. Her message, “Kasali lahat. Tayo ang magdadala ng pagbabago (Everyone’s included. We will all bring about change),” would include everyone, even her critics. She says that her office welcomes everyone and constructive criticism is also necessary in order to progress as a leader. REPRESENTING CALAMBA What made her enter politics, however, was public clamor for change. She was 21 years old, working in the private sector (San Miguel Corporation) and had zero experience in public service. But her personal charity work within the city gained the attention of some people who then pushed her to go into politics. Hernandez said her last name, which is popular in the area, also incited the people’s call for her to serve. Before filing her certificate of candidacy (COC), however, she prayed and eventually realized that this was one opportunity that would never come her way again. “Wala namang mawawala (I’ve got nothing to lose). I could go back to my private life [if I lose],” Hernandez says. Filing her COC was only the beginning and the then-aspiring councilor had to face the next challenge—running a political campaign. As someone with virtually no resources and machinery, her first election foray was an immense trial but fortunately, she was supported by the people. What she lacked in money and resources, she made up for in time and effort. “We would have 14 events in a single day. A total of 12 barangays, 14 events— from dawn until midnight. And I would have so much energy because, even if I’m an introvert, I like listening to people. As someone who grew up in a church, I was taught to bring light everywhere I go,” she shares. Her hard work paid off and she was elected as a councilor, ranking 5th in her first electoral contest. Hernandez considered the second election as the moment of truth, a test of whether her first term was effective and if it resonated with the people. Fortunately, she won again and ranked 2nd—securing over 110,600 votes, only 550 votes shy of the top position. In some ways, she says, it was also a confirmation that her “practice” of serving, no matter the season or weather, works. Yet her time as the youngest councilor was not free from struggles. She shares, “My experience was no different from that of other millennials. We need to be more diligent, always hungry to learn, and [be] humble at the same time. In general, you’ll always be challenged, looked down on, and excluded. Politics, as they say, is a ‘big boys club.’ But I always focus on the people, not the critics. My work is for the people anyway, in making sure that their welfare is taken care of. The fulfillment from helping people outweighs the negative experience every time.” As someone born and raised in Calamba, Hernandez effortlessly connects with the people and knows the struggles of the city—especially since she was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her mom is a church pastor and her dad is a ‘raketista’ or someone who does odd jobs or takes on short-term projects. But they did their best to give her a shot at life and she ended up as the first one in her clan to earn a college degree. With this simple background, Hernandez often quips that she shouldn’t be involved in politics. This recent election further highlighted the stark contrast between her and the image of a traditional politician as she went up against a Chipeco, the political dynasty that ruled over Calamba for decades, and won. But it was a relatively close fight—Hernandez garnered 113,130 votes (46.13 percent) while Chipeco received 105,723 votes (43.12 percent). “I don’t come from money or power. But I believe that God destined for someone like me to be here. I just wanted people to have an option, someone they could relate to. It’s actually my message during my campaign, ‘Kahit simple, posible.’ Because it was a David and Goliath fight—David was a nobody but he was chosen by God,” she shares. Her giant-slaying moment, Hernandez underscores, was only possible with the help of the people. With their overwhelming support, the congresswoman promises that she’ll strive for the change they deserve. “Thank you for entrusting the district to the leadership I promised you. The three years will definitely be challenging and I call upon the Calambeños to be with me in advocating for an efficient and progressive government. Kasama ko kayong lahat sa layunin na ito, [at dahil dyan,] kaya natin ito. ‘Yung pagbabago na gusto natin, tayo mismo ang magdadala kaya kayo ay magtulungan. Kailangan natin ang isa’t isa (I’m with you in our goal and I know we can do it. Together, we will bring about the change that we want. We need each other),” Hernandez ends.

< Back OVERCOMING COVID-19 Here, we shine a light on some of our government leaders’ laudable COVID-19 responses, so that we can further capacitate our health systems and future-proof our cities and provinces against all types of crises. BY LAKAMBINI BAUTISTA IN TIMES OF A PANDEMIC like COVID-19, effective communication strategies must be utilized to inform the community about the measures being implemented by its local government to curb the spread of the virus. The City of Manila, under the leadership of Mayor Isko Moreno, has been exemplary in this respect. Since Day 1 of his mayorship, the city chief has been using social media—particularly Facebook—as a tool to engage his constituents. On his page, the Mayor talks about his short- and long-term plans for the city, his opinions on issues affecting Manileños. He even takes his viewers with him on his nightly visits to different areas of Manila, when he personally checks the progress of the projects he has implemented. It has also become a habit for Manileños to watch his State of the City Address. So when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, the City of Manila had already established a strong relationship with its constituents. Manileños had a common space to virtually meet, get the latest updates on COVID-19, report the plight of their barangays, air sentiments, and send messages of appreciation and encouragement. When news of outbreak erupted, Mayor Isko immediately informed his city about the implementation of CODECOVID- 19 (Contain and Delay). His online presence helped ease people’s fears, knowing that their Mayor was on top of the situation. The mayor’s social media team also posted realtime video coverage of the mayor and vice mayor’s visits to different areas in Manila, press briefings, distribution of cash pensions, and other official engagements. On Mayor Isko’s Facebook page, they regularly remind citizens to wear a face mask, observe social distancing, and practice regular handwashing. Art cards providing clear and concise information about COVID-19 and empowering messages for frontliners were also posted regularly. There are daily updates on the city’s relief operations, clearly observing transparency in reporting donations received. Posts are accompanied by a photo or video of actual cash, checks, and goods received. People are also informed about the implementation of new ordinances and executive orders (e.g., the curfew imposed in keeping with the enhanced community quarantine, the closure of malls and similar establishments, and the 48-hour hard lockdown in Tondo), the schedule of Kadiwa Rolling Store’s delivery of fresh products and vegetables, and other relevant news. It is easy to reach the mayor for any COVID-related concerns. People are highly encouraged to participate in the Digital Health Survey, made available on Mayor Isko’s FB page, which is one way for the city to track its COVID-19 cases. Follow-ups with PUIs are done by the Manila Emergency Operation Center Hotline (MEOC). Click here to read full article for free

< Back Money, Market, Mentorship Embracing the Entrepreneurial Culture BY NICOLE V. BEATO When you talk about entrepreneurship, it would be hard not to mention the man who wholeheartedly advocates for embracing an entrepreneurial culture in our country. This is none other than Mr. Jose Maria “Joey” A. Concepcion III.Joey Concepcion is the President and CEO of RFM Corporation, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship, Go Negosyo Founder, and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) Philippines Chairman. With this long list of titles, Concepcion has represented both the public and private sectors in helping those who need it most. SMALL BEGINNINGS, HUGE IMPACTBack in 2005, former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo appointed Concepcion as the Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship. This led to the foundation of Go Negosyo, the advocacy arm of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) in addressing poverty by promoting entrepreneurship. Concepcion believes that by fostering an entrepreneurial culture, it would enable Filipinos to succeed and boost the economy. “Filipinos were never destined for poverty,” Concepcion has always reiterated in his speeches. Providing an enabling environment for aspiring business owners would encourage more Filipinos to try and become small entrepreneurs so that, in turn, they would not resort to migration or become unemployed. Through Go Negosyo, Concepcion has been actively supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines. By pioneering different programs and projects and by promoting them through various platforms, he was able to spread his advocacy across the nation. His programs in Go Negosyo have been launched nationwide for more than 10 years. One of his initiatives was the Filipina Entrepreneurs Summit, an annual gathering of the most prominent Filipinas in the business industry. On its 10th year, the likes of Tessie Sy-Coson (SM Investments Corp.), Dr. Vicki Belo (Belo Medical Group), Lizzie Zobel de Ayala (Teach for the Philippines), Natividad Cheng (Uratex), and Anne Curtis Smith-Heusaff (BLK Cosmetics) joined the summit to share their stories as catalysts of change and economic progress. Concepcion has also recognized other priority sectors by launching summits and business seminars focused on the digital economy and the youth. In addition, Concepcion shares his thoughts and opinions about the business industry through his weekly column in The Philippine Star. He also shows how Go Negosyo has been empowering MSMEs in “Go Negosyo sa Radyo” and “SME Go!,” two weekly programs broadcast over the airwaves through radio and television, respectively. BUILDING BETTER ALLIANCES IN ENABLING MSMES When President Rodrigo Duterte assumed his position as the leader of the country in 2016, Concepcion once again took up the position as the Adviser for Entrepreneurship. He was able to continue and strengthen Go Negosyo’s initiatives through partnerships with the government and other large corporations. “With this appointment, we will strive more in helping Filipinos. With Secretary Ramon Lopez, who was with me for 11 years as my Executive Director in Go Negosyo and is now the current Trade Secretary, I know that this will increase the synergy between government and private sector for MSME development,” Concepcion says. Since its foundation, Go Negosyo has been launching programs that would help MSMEs scale up. Concepcion has always anchored his programs on the 3Ms of entrepreneurship—money, market, and mentorship. These three elements go hand-in-hand when it comes to helping the underserved and unserved sectors of the society. Through the Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprise (KMME) Program, aspiring entrepreneurs are given a 10-week training with modules on entrepreneurial mind-setting and values formation, marketing, financial management, and so on. It is a joint initiative with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), where successful entrepreneurs guide and mentor MSMEs. With the success of the KMME Program, it has branched out into another initiative of Go Negosyo, the Kapatid Agri Mentor ME Program (KAMMP). It has been launched in partnership with the Department of Agriculture. Mentees will get to learn from successful entrepreneurs, helping them scale up their agribusinesses. After the devastating Marawi siege, Concepcion, together with Go Negosyo Adviser on Agripreneurship Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, launched the Kapatid for Marawi to assist the internally displaced farmers in Mindanao. With partnerships from the government and private corporations, Go Negosyo has been able to help the communities get back on track by promoting agriculture as their source of additional income. The KMME and KAMMP programs have been launched in different provinces across the country and aim to reach every part of the region. REACHING THE UNREACHABLE As his programs such as the KMME and KAMMP rolled out nationwide, Concepcion tried to break the barriers when it comes to reaching the unreachable. This 2018, he has brought two additions to the numerous programs in Go Negosyo. In May this year, he introduced Mentor Me on Wheels (MMOW) to the public. Joining him were some of the top government officials and his partners in private organizations including DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Senator Miguel Zubiri, Johnlu Koa (The French Baker), Josiah Go (Mansmith and Fielders, Inc.), Feliciano Torres (Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Inc.), Ma. Alegria Limjoco (Philippine Chamber ofCommerce and Industry), and Corazon Ong (CDO Foodsphere Inc.), as well as other successful

< Back Igniting the Love for Italian Culture BY MARIANNE JANE S. ZARA RETIRED ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES MARCO CLEMENTE HAPPILY SHARES HIS PLANS TO IGNITE THE FILIPINOS’ LOVE FOR ITALIAN CULTURE, CUISINE, AND LANGUAGE. FROM OPERA, MOVIES, CUISINE COURSES, ITALIAN LANGUAGE, TO FOOTBALL, THE GOOD AMBASSADOR HAS SO MANY PLANS TO PROMOTE ITALIAN CULTURE, AND HE SHARES WITH SO MUCH PASSION HOW HE WOULD LIKE FILIPINOS TO BE EXPOSED TO THESE. Retired Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente passionately envisions fostering a deeper connection between Filipinos and Italian culture. From highlighting the elegance of opera and the artistry of Italian cinema to promoting the flavors of authentic Italian cuisine, language courses, and even football, Clemente’s initiatives reflect his unwavering commitment to sharing the richness of Italy with the Philippines. His dedication transcends diplomacy, aiming to create lasting cultural exchanges that celebrate the best of both nations. EXPOSING YOUNG FILIPINOS TO OPERA Known for his love and expertise in opera, Clemente shares the power of opera. “In opera, music and words come together. With opera, we know exactly what the story is because the text was put into music by the composer,” he says. He also stresses the combination of arts in opera, as it involves singing, acting, ballet, and scenery. Clemente believes that the Philippines, being most exposed to Western culture, built the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 1969 not only for musical theater performances but for opera as well. However, due to the influence of other media, from television to the Internet (and the social networking sites it offers), the attention span of the younger generation has changed, making a three-hour opera a difficult thing to do. On the other hand, there is also a risk in producing opera for it is costly. However, the retired diplomat is keen for the Filipino youth to build awareness of opera. In August 2022, he proposed a joint venture with the Department of Education to expose students to opera by attending a general rehearsal of an Italian opera. They invited 800 students from disadvantaged areas of Metro Manila to attend the general rehearsal of the opera Turandot set for December 6, 2022. Clemente stresses that a general rehearsal of an opera is similar to the actual production or performance and that there are no interruptions. An avenue for cultural awareness for the students, the activity also marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Italy. “They were silent, completely hooked, and mesmerized, I would even say, by that experience. For them, it was the first time, not only that they saw an opera, but the first time they set foot at the CCP, or in a theater for that matter. They were high schoolers, so between 15 and 17 years of age. And they behaved so well, but most importantly, they enjoyed it. They enjoyed it,” Clemente proudly expresses. This is the evidence, in my opinion, that if you expose the people, you explain what they are going to see, they will enjoy it, and they will get back home, and share the experience with their friends and their families, and maybe this awareness, little by little, will expand. Clemente is optimistic that these efforts to build cultural awareness will ignite the love for opera among Filipinos to appreciate Italian opera. What Clemente achieved is just the beginning and he is hopeful that when there’s production of other operas, what he started will be the model to further opera in the Philippines. As he explains, if interest in opera is not revived in this generation, no one will pass the torch on to the future generation. For parents, Clemente believes that they must prepare their children to love opera as it could be learned. He also calls on the private sector and the media to support this movement so that there will be more interest in opera and rise above the challenge. Turandot was mostly a Filipino production because the minor characters were mostly Filipinos, the choir was all Filipinos, and it is an Italian opera, an Italian form of art so this also shows how Italy and the Philippines worked together to come up with something beautiful. This experience was the highlight of the retired ambassador’s stay here in the Philippines. He was worried at first but it turned out to be successful and witnessing teenagers fully immerse themselves in opera made Clemente optimistic that this project would ignite the hearts of the youth to love opera, and this love would be passed on to future generations. “It was flabbergasting for me. I was a little worried because to have 800 teenagers, while professional artists were performing could be risky as we want them to behave themselves in a theater and stay silent because this is an opera performance. You know, teenagers are difficult to tame. But they were mesmerized like it was magic for them. Can you imagine? It was a live performance of an opera with costumes and Turandot is a fairytale. It was so exotic to them. The whole combination of the music, the singing, and the acting. It was an experience that they will never forget.” THE TELEPATHY BETWEEN RISING TOGETHER One of Clemente’s legacies was publishing a remarkable book— The Telepathy Between Rising Together. The retired ambassador says that the best way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Italy was to publish a book. The book is divided into three parts: the first part is more of the celebratory part, the second part talks about why the Philippines is important for Italians and vice versa, and the third part is about Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan to Cebu when he sailed to what would later be called Las Islas Filipinas. Clemente’s brilliant idea was to let the book have a voice of its own by asking 80 different people to share their personal experiences for part two of the book. Stories came from Italians, Filipinos, or Italian Filipinos by birth or by matrimony. The former ambassador believes that “by reading these 80 stories, you have quite a detailed and meaningful picture of our (the Filipino-Italian) relationship through the lens of real people” and that it shows “different facets of our relationship” from “visual arts, performing arts, cinema, theater, fashion, architecture, cuisine, business, religion, child care, sports, and science,” giving an extensive picture of the Filipino-Italian relationship. Lastly, the third part is the diary of Antonio Pigafetta, the first historian who wrote of Las Islas Filipinas while accompanying Magellan in meeting Lapu-Lapu in Cebu. He is an important symbol of the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Italy. The team of Clemente bought the rights to the English translation of Antonio Pigafetta’s diary. Despite launching during the bilateral relations, the objective is for people to view the book as a legacy of friendship. “I want it to become the legacy of 75 years of friendship, and not only bilateral relations. That’s why the book is full of old pictures and documents. We searched many archives in the Philippines and in Italy to find some old pictures.” Clemente articulates. CELEBRATING THE NATIONAL DAY OF ITALY In June 2022, the Italian Embassy organized the National Day of Italy and gathered 400 attendees. The retired ambassador proudly mentions that despite running risk during the time of the pandemic, there were no cases reported post-event. Much like a culmination of the Italian culture, Clemente organized movie festivals, symphonic music, cuisine, wine tasting, Italian language courses, or events related to the Italian language. This celebrated the beauty of Italian culture and was a souvenir of the friendship between the Philippines and Italy. CULTURAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN ITALIANS AND FILIPINOS During his time as a diplomat, Clemente looked into different facets where Italian culture may be promoted. One way he promoted Italian culture was arranging and organizing Italian movie festivals. Clemente spoke with different universities and private associations to conduct these festivals. He saw the interest of most universities and associations in learning the Italian language. He saw that the Italian Embassy could focus on this to promote the Italian language and culture as well. Clemente extended significant support to the people of Tondo, Manila, particularly the children. The area, home to the Canossian religious order led by an Italian priest, housed a center that provided free education and cultural activities, partially funded by benefactors in Italy. In November 2023, Clemente spearheaded the project “Italian Embassy Meets the Youth of Tondo,” which introduced a series of events aimed at fostering cultural exchange and community engagement. The initiative began with a vibrant street food festival and a Christmas party, followed by an Italian cuisine course and even brought opera performances directly to the neighborhood. The activities continued until June 1, 2024, and included theater workshops and sporting events, further enriching the lives of Tondo’s youth. Lastly, in addition to promoting opera in the Philippines, Clemente reveals their efforts to spark Filipino enthusiasm for football, a sport deeply ingrained in Italian culture and one close to the retired ambassador’s heart. On June 4, 2024, the Philippines-Italy Friendship Cup unfolded at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium—a landmark event commemorating Italy’s Republic Day. The occasion showcased football’s potential to unite cultures and foster mutual appreciation. Clemente recalls a conversation with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. where he inquired about Filipinos’ apparent lack of interest in football. The president and his team suggested that the tropical climate might be a factor, as the heat could deter outdoor play. Despite this, Clemente remains optimistic, emphasizing that Filipinos could excel in football, particularly because height—a common limitation in other sports—is not a critical requirement. THE BEAUTY OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN ITALY Clemente speaks highly of the Filipino community in Italy, highlighting how seamlessly Filipinos have integrated into Italian society. Despite linguistic differences, Clemente notes that Filipinos and Italians share a deep sense of empathy and kindness, creating a bond that transcends words—a connection he describes as “metaphorically speaking the same language.” Currently, there are approximately 200,000 Filipinos in Italy, and Clemente expresses his hope to see this number grow, underscoring the invaluable contributions Filipinos make to the Italian economy. He particularly lauds the highly skilled workers—nurses, engineers, and mechanically trained professionals— whose dedication and competence have left a lasting impression on Italian companies. Some firms, impressed by Filipino work ethic, are even exploring the possibility of conducting training programs in the Philippines to recruit more workers directly. This, Clemente says, underscores the high regard Italians have for Filipino talent and diligence. Clemente also emphasizes the cultural alignment between the two nations, rooted in their shared Catholic heritage. These common values, he explains, make it easier for Filipinos to assimilate into Italian society. Beyond shared faith and traditions, he credits Filipinos’ charm, kindness, and positivity for adding a unique charisma to Italian communities. Their English proficiency, he notes, further smooths the transition, making Filipinos not just residents but cherished members of the Italian social fabric. THE DIARY OF A DIPLOMAT Living abroad, according to Clemente, has made his diplomat life most fulfilling because each day gives him a new discovery that could be used to live the best in that country. Initially worried during the beginning of his career, Clemente says that the more he gains experience, the more easily he overcomes the hurdles of being a diplomat like changing one’s way of life. According to Clemente, the Philippines was the easiest country to adapt to because Filipinos are well-versed in the English language. Clemente often shared that the Philippines would be his final diplomatic post, but he expressed his intention to return regularly, drawn by his fondness for the country and his family. During his time in the Philippines, he created countless cherished memories. He reminisces about visiting Baguio, the Cordilleras, and Vigan, marveling at their distinct charm compared to Manila. He also speaks fondly of his trip to Iloilo and Guimaras, where he encountered a rich cultural heritage. Clemente also gives praise to the natural beauty of the Philippines but emphasizes that what truly made his experiences unforgettable were the people and their warmth. Reflecting on his career, he notes that the key to balancing personal interests and the responsibilities of a diplomat was to intertwine them. For him, this meant promoting Italian language, music, and cuisine—passions he was proud to share with the Filipino people.