< Back DEFENDER OF JUSTICE Department of Justice Undersecretary Em Aglipay-Villar talks about the agency’s fight to end human trafficking and to uplift the marginalized. BY MARIDOL RANOA-BISMARK PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAR CONCENGCO Two rooms filled with piles of papers greeted Justice Undersecretary Emmeline “Em” Aglipay-Villar when she finally accepted Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra’s offer to join his team in July 2019. But instead of wringing her hands in despair, Villar thought of a solution. She asked her office staff to bring in work that she can manage to fit on her table. “I took it one table-size at a time,” she recalls. It worked. When assessment period came, Villar’s voluminous work merited a good rating. Others would have rested on their laurels. Not this magna cum laude graduate (AB Economics) from De La Salle University and law degree holder from the University of the Philippines. She brushed off her staff’s opinions that she had done more than enough, and said they just have to keep on going. Her young, energetic staff support their boss all the way. Villar lets them go home after office hours, but they stay until the evening to help her finish the paperwork. They keep it light by laughing and telling stories in between. But they get the job done. “I can honestly say I work very hard. I compete with myself,” Villar quips. This work ethic makes her bring home crates of paperwork. Villar pores over the papers in the car on her way home, and studies t hem further on weekends. NO BREAK FROM PUBLIC SERVICE Besides an upbringing that instilled a love for excellence, Villar credits her parents-in-law and her husband, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, for reminding her how important it is to work hard. “They are some of the most hardworking people I know. They work daily, even on Sundays and holidays. I learned from them that there is no break from public service. In a way, it has helped me go about my work because they understand the demands. My husband understands when I have to be away sometimes during important occasions,” she says. Her boss, Secretary Gueverra, being worried for her health, tells her to take it easy too, because she pushes herself too hard. But Villar thinks work for others can’t wait. As USec, she’s fighting a powerful invisible enemy—human traffickers—who exploit women and children online. Villar observes that the crime is getting more complex and the perpetrators are harder to catch because of advances in technology. Villar is the Undersecretary-in-charge of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), whose moving video on human trafficking is making the rounds of online sites all over the world. The video bears the slogan, “human, hindi laruan”, and shows a little girl told to pose in front of a computer by her mother for an online client. This supplements the council’s and the Foreign Affairs Department’s drive to repatriate abused workers and give them work in the Philippines. This way, they need not go abroad to seek greener pastures. REPRESENTING THE UNDERREPRESENTED Villar hits the ground running at 9 am, after an early morning workout at home. She rarely calls for staff meetings, opting for Viber group and email exchanges instead to save precious time. “Meetings take time,” she points out. “They take an hour or more. You can do so much in an hour. I don’t like wasting time so I try to do my work as efficiently as possible, then I can spend more time with my family (which includes four-year-old daughter Emma).” This respect for time has led to landmark laws during Villar’s term as former representative of Diwa partylist, which promotes workers’ welfare. Labor concerns are close to Villar’s heart since her great grand uncle, Gregorio Aglipay, founded the first labor union in the country, together with Isabelo Delos Reyes. This is also why she joined Diwa. Still, Villar’s landmark laws for workers’ welfare as Diwa representative reflect a compassion for the masses. She co-authored the Kasambahay Law, or the Domestic Workers’ Act, which promotes household workers’ rights. Before the law came along, household workers didn’t get a minimum wage, even if they worked day and night. Some failed to eat three meals day and didn’t get medical attention. THIS TIRELESS PUBLIC SERVANT, WIFE, MOTHER AND SISTER IS WILLING TO WORK EVEN HARDER TO MAKE SURE SHE GETS MORE— FOR HER FAMILY AND THE HUMBLE FOLK SHE LOVES TO SERVE. “They were practically slaves,” Villar laments. The law faced rough sailing, especially from employers, who claimed that their househelp would sometimes steal from them and disappear after getting travel fare from their province to Manila, and argued that household workers did not deserve protection. Villar argued that these issues were totally different from the human rights concerns she’s addressing. As we know by now, these protests failed to railroad the passing of the Kasambahay Law. Villar is also the principal author of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, which gives 105 days of paid leave to qualified female employees who give birth by normal or caesarian section. rmal or caesarian section. “This allows not just the mother, but the baby to recover better,” Villar explains. To critics of the law, Villar pointed out research that showed how an extended maternity leave makes mothers more productive when they return to work. Meanwhile, Villar is the principal author of a law strengthening the Occupational Health and Safety Act and coauthor of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law. Villar also strengthened the public employment office. Villar’s pro-labor efforts got her a Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award for public service in 2012, when she was a firsttermer as Diwa representative. HARD WORK AHEAD Still, there’s still much work to do for the youngest daughter of former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Edgar Aglipay. Villar wants to involve local government units (LGUs) more in fighting human trafficking. “Human trafficking is a transnational crime. I get a different kind of fulfillment when I help rescue girls who are sex slaves in Malaysia, bring them back home, and give them a new life. We’ve rescued women who go abroad to work as waitresses and end up prisoners in a room where men use [the women’s] bodies. We coordinate with the police, reintegrate the victims to society, give them livelihood and counseling, and make sure their recruiters are prosecuted,” says Villar. She wants to hold more seminars on human trafficking for barangay captains, barangay councilors (kagawad), and municipal mayors. She wants LGUs to report suspicious activities of money service companies in farflung provinces, which see lots of transactions from suspicious sources. Villar cites how online childtraffickers were discovered in Cebu through money service businesses, which receive payment from foreign clients. She also wants to see improvements in investigation through better evidence collection, such as the use of forensic science. Outside work, Villar, a lupus patient herself, supports the Hope for Lupus Foundation, which promotes awareness about the disease, its early detection, counselling for patients and families, and gives financial assistance to those concerned. Having a sister with autism inspired Villar to also help Project Inclusion Network, Inc., a nonprofit organization that aims to build a society where persons with disabilities (PWDs) contribute to and actively participate in communities. Thanks to the group’s efforts, 250 out of 1,800 PWDs who received skills training now work in the program’s 40 partner employers. Despite all these, this tireless public servant, wife, mother, and sister wants to do more. And she’s willing to work even harder to make sure she gets more—for her family and the humble folk she loves to serve. Click here to read full article for free

< Back Ensuring Harmony in Public Service BY RAGIE MAE TAÑO-ARELLANO PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON CHARITO ZAMORA’S PASSION FOR SONGWRITING HAS DEEPENED HER COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE COUNTRY SHE ADORES. Attorney Charito Zamora, who is currently serving as the head of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), characterizes herself as a woman brimming with love. Having spent more than two decades serving the Philippines in public office, she says, has led her to develop a deeper affection for the country. Aside from this, she also composes songs for some of the country's famous divas. LOVE FOR SONGWRITING “Chat,” as she is fondly called by her friends, had been a songwriter even before she entered government service. She began writing songs in high school, but started writing songs professionally during her law school years after being influenced by a sorority sister. She recalls going to a recording studio to record their demo tapes and then submitting them to Viva Records. According to Zamora, it was Regine Velasquez who first sang their song, 'To Reach You.' “She already recorded the song ‘On the Wings of Love’ that time, and then we gave the song to her and she liked it,” she recalls. She wrote 'With You,' her favorite song, which was recorded by Jaya. It's also her first R&B (rhythm and blues) song. She is also the songwriter of the ever-popular ‘Tila’ by Lani Misalucha and 'Beginning Today' by Agot Isidro, and has written songs for Sharon Cuneta, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Ella May Saison. She still dreams of writing a song for Lea Salonga. Zamora regards songwriting as a passion that she indulges in whenever she feels like it. She notes that there will be times when she is prolific in the early hours, especially if she is unable to sleep. “I can’t sleep because this melody and lyrics are playing in my head. I have insomnia, so I really have to express what’s on my mind.” She emphasizes, however, that the love songs she creates are not based on her personal experiences; rather, they are based on the experiences or heartbreaks of her friends as described to her, and some are based on the plots of movies that inspire her so much. She says 'When I Love' was inspired by a scene in My Best Friend’s Wedding in which Julia Roberts refuses to be touched in public. “My friends would pour their hearts out to me. So, [the songs I write are] hardly about myself. They are mostly about the heartbreaks of friends.” Except for the song 'Kailan Pa Man' (Whenever It May Be), which she wrote after her father died. “My emotion was too strong that time because I lost him,” she reveals. With the exception of the three Christmas songs she wrote for the Department of Justice (DOJ) at former DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra’s request while she was still with the department, she has not yet written any songs regarding events in government. Up until 2022, the songs served as the department’s Christmas theme music. She reveals that Guevarra, who is currently the solicitor general, is requesting that she write a song for the Solicitor General’s Office. LOVE OF COUNTRY The PRC head clarifies that she never intended to work for the government. She just dreamt of becoming a lawyer because she was inspired by her lawyer-father. Zamora says she was enthralled by his father’s demeanor in the courtroom during legal proceedings. She, however, fell in love with working for the government when she was offered a position under Justice Jose Melo at the Supreme Court. From then on, her ambition to serve the country and her fellow citizens began to grow. She acknowledges that there have been moments when she had become impatient with the way things were going, but she has never joined the ranks of people who criticize the government. “It’s very easy to criticize. But when you’re there, somehow, you know what’s going on. So you just do your part. Because if you truly love your country, you love your country no matter what. You support what the other officials or the administration is actually doing. Because you know that in their hearts, they want the country to move forward. She feels that she has fallen so deeply in love with her nation that she returned after a brief hiatus from government work. “I longed for it. It was giving me fulfillment that I'm able to do something; I'm able to do my part, no matter how small,” she reveals. While Zamora admits that there are times that she gets frustrated with how the government works, she finds comfort in believing that no institution is perfect. “It will still boil down to the fact that you love your country.” It is this love for country that keeps her going and passionate about serving the Philippines. LOVE FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICE Before taking over as PRC’s leader, Zamora first worked at the Supreme Court (SC) as a court attorney under Melo. After her SC stint, she worked as the chief of staff of former Quezon City 3rd District Representative Matias Defensor, Jr. She considers Melo and Justice Renato Corona as her mentors and sources of motivation when it came to public duty, describing them as “very good and kind-hearted men.” Next, she went to Malacañang, serving as assistant secretary at the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary during the time of the late President Benigno Aquino III. She went on to serve at the Office of the Senior Deputy Executive Secretary during the early years of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term. From 2018 to 2022, Zamora was officer-in-charge at the Department of Justice’s Office of Cybercrime. She thinks that because cybercriminals and their crimes are always incorporating the newest technological advancements, working in this field is extremely difficult. She saw it as a race that she had to stay up with, particularly given how quickly technology is advancing. “Even with new technology installed, scammers continue to advance and even improve,” she says. One of her favorite parts of the work, she recalls, was prosecuting cybercrime offenders, particularly in a case in Cebu where parents had used their kids for online prostitution. UPGRADING PRC As a recent appointee to the PRC under Marcos, Jr., Zamora acknowledges that she is still trying to learn the ropes. For now, PRC has established Special Study Teams and a Rightsizing Technical Working Group with the aim of concentrating on decentralization, organizational assessment, regional classification, competency standards, and upgrading salary grades. PRC is concentrating on digitalization as well, since they wish to increase public accessibility to their services online. This will minimize red tape and fixing while also streamlining regulations and procedures to make their services faster, more effective, and more efficient. The Client Relationship Management System (CRMS), which allows users to provide feedback, is one aspect of digitalization. This can be used to gauge client satisfaction and assist the commission in tracking responses to complaints from clients. PRC will also introduce the eDocumentary Stamp Tax (eDST), the electronic Professional ID Card, or ePIC, and the decentralization of the Certificate of Registration or license. The commission has also started pilot-testing its ComputerBased Licensure Examination (CBLE) in Metro Manila and is soon to do the same in the four pilot regions. The CBLE will open the door for the implementation of the full online licensure examination. It will also expand their services by reaching out to their clients not just in the Middle East but in other countries through Special Professional Board Licensure Examinations. They are also tapping the support of embassies, Philippine overseas labor offices, and other professional groups to strengthen the program for protecting overseas professionals. The PRC is also focusing on continuous education and development for professionals, especially since there have been efforts for ASEAN integration among professionals from other countries in the region. The commission is doubling its efforts in educating and training Filipino professionals to develop their core competencies in order to level up, if not compete, with other foreign professionals. One important reform that Zamora immediately implemented when she assumed office was to improve communication and relationships among staff and departments within the PRC. “They don’t talk the way I want them to communicate with each other. So actually, that’s what I’m emphasizing. We have to work together. We have to communicate better, so we’ll be able to achieve what we want for PRC.” LEAD BY EXAMPLE Zamora puts a premium on harmony in the workplace. She is known as a “cool” and very young-hearted chairperson. She wants to be surrounded by young people, believing that they have more energy to work harder. But she’s also very thankful and appreciative of those who have been working at the PRC for a long time. She mentions Commissioners Jose Cueto, Jr. and Erwin Enad, whom she consider very supportive of her. Zamora admires government leaders who have integrity and honesty because these are her top values. She believes in leadership by example, saying that being unkind and bossy to make colleagues follow does not work. She always wants to inspire the people around her, especially her subordinates, for them to easily follow what she wants to implement. The above is the reason why Zamora values transparency and openness in her leadership. She is so accessible that anybody who wants to have an audience with her does not need to have an appointment. “My door is always open. Even when I’m busy, I don’t see any point in being snobbish and bossy,” she concludes.

< Back HOPE FOR THE NATION Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Administrator Dr. Vicente Malano shares his views on how the agency gives hope to the Filipino people. BY GREG HUBO PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMEO PERALTA, JR. In recent years, the Philippines has experienced the effects of climate change with stronger typhoons and multiple natural calamities, putting the lives of Filipinos at great risk. With the phenomenon bound to continue, the information that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA),provides becomes increasingly important. As PAGASA administrator Dr. Vicente Malano puts it, “Our work is tantamount to the protection of lives and properties.” For Dr. Malano, the crucial role of the agency in dealing with natural disasters, such as typhoons, is inevitable; when natural disasters happen, people look to information providers like PAGASA, and the agency strives to be competent enough to provide what is needed. Dr. Malano, who became PAGASA’s head in 2013, has logged over 37 years of service with the agency and is continuing so to this day. However, like most people in the industry, his humble beginnings wasn’t as easy. He recalls, “I joined PAGASA through the training program, the in-house training program in 1981-’82. So I was accepted as one of the members or the employees of PAGASA in 1982 after the training. The training was a meteorologist training course. Before you enter PAGASA, you should undergo this training program.” After staying for two years, he passed the qualifying exam in the University of the Philippines (UP) to get his Masteral Degree in Meteorology, and soon after, his PhD. It can be said that Dr. Malano really worked his way up the ranks. After training in 1981, I started as a meteorologist. Meteorologist 1 and 2. Then the position was renamed to weather specialist but it was essentially the same.” In 2010, he headed the National Capital Region Division and went on to be the deputy of operations. After former administrator Nathaniel Serbando stepped down in 2013, Dr. Malano was the clear choice to be PAGASA executive. MOVING TOWARD A BETTER INFORMED FILIPINO PEOPLE To the public, the task sounds simple, “Run PAGASA well and oversee PAGASA on how you’re going to manage its operations,” but what PAGASA is here for is very crucial. When it comes to information concerning natural disasters such as typhoons, “Lahat ay recipient ng information na meron kami.” (Everyone is a recipient of the information we have.) ”Dr. Malano would like to believe that PAGASA is not remiss, saying that it is an agency that puts primacy in information for its services. “From data collection, processing, then dissemination of information, warning. Then coordinating with other agencies like local government units (LGUs) for disaster prevention, climate projection, and complementary to the services of other departments.” He envisions PAGASA in partnership with other government agencies, LGUs, and global partners in disseminating the information the agency gathers. “Dapat magiging kaakibat o ka-partner nga in terms of disseminating our information kasi kahit na gaano pa kaayos ang iyong forecasting kung hindi naman naintindihan ang information mo, wala rin,” (They should be our affiliates or partners in terms of disseminating our information because even though we are efficient at forecasting if the information cannot be understood, it will be useless,)” Malano says. “The coordination of agencies is important because people look to PAGASA and other information providers such as Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)” to counter the increasing risks brought about by natural disasters. Dr. Malano believes that the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 is a huge boost for his vision. “The act gave a clear-cut role to the different government agencies. Disaster risk reduction and management is not the job of one information provider. It should be the collective effort of agencies,” he points out. Click here to read full article for free

< Back GRASSROOTS APPROACH TO GLOBAL INNOVATION BY HELEN HERNANE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMEO PERALTA JR. Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss highlights innovation as the key to developing each country, while further strengthening bilateral ties. Ambassadors often have a very glamorous, jet-setting image with most of their duties and responsibilities shrouded in mystery. At least to those not involved in governance, ambassadors are representatives, travelling the world while rubbing elbows with country leaders, the rich and the famous. It’s a huge misconception that Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Ilan Fluss, is trying to address by engaging in grassroots projects. GLOBAL TITLE, LOCAL WORK “It’s hard work, not just going to cocktails and parties. It’s constantly looking for new opportunities to enhance relations between countries. It’s important to engage with as many people and partners as possible—a lot of thinking, planning, implementation, outreach, and engagement. And then the follow up, which is the most important thing,” Fluss stresses. He shares that interacting with government secretaries and other similar leaders is still very much important because they make the decisions. But at the end of the day, the projects they push for are for the benefit of the public. “We want and need to address everybody, interact, and be relevant. And that’s the challenge for ambassadors because, especially here in the Philippines, they look very highly at ambassadors. There’s no expectation for us to go down [to the local level]. But for me it’s extremely important, touching the grassroots, touching people’s lives,” the University of Haifa alumnus says. Fluss cites one example, a project that the embassy is spearheading in Tarlac. They visited the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) and he met with alumni of an agro-internship program in Israel. Students actively teach their fellow students regarding the latest in agriculture, but they also encourage teaching the surrounding communities. During his visit, the Israeli ambassador sampled some of the produce and remarked that their quality is at par with those in his home country. However, the visit also revealed some concerns and challenges with the existing technology. “When we visited and were made aware of their issues, we found an opportunity for partnership. So we are contributing some upgrades to their technology. Some Israeli experts will visit soon in order to consult and provide more training. That’s an example of how we help develop partner countries; we join local initiatives and support, enhance, help.” He also shares another experience when they went to a remote village in Nueva Ecija to donate food and water purification systems to indigenous communities. Fluss explored the village to understand the community and living conditions. It’s these experiences, he explains, which are very helpful when it comes to their work and creating projects and it’s why he tries to travel outside Metro Manila as much as possible. He also adds that connecting to the people and the communities is important for him as each experience teaches a lot. SHARING INNOVATIONS Fluss highlights fostering development cooperation as their key objective as ambassadors, “For me, one of the most important things is to identify development challenges in the [host] country and to contribute to solving these challenges. Israel is a very far away country which has technologies; we can provide different solutions that are very relevant to the Philippines. However, we have to adapt to the local conditions.” Even though Israel, whose total area is only around 7 percent of the Philippines’ total area, is a small country with a different culture and challenges, the ambassador shares that there are comparable approaches in developing solutions. In principle, the Israeli approach is finding out how to do more with less resources. “The approach and challenges are very similar. Like, for example, with agriculture. How can you produce more [crops] with less inputs? It’s important to consider climate change and environmental challenges, and it’s also relevant when you have less resources. It’s a constant search for a better approach; you can always improve,” he reveals. Despite its size, Israel, Fluss underscores, is a strong country and is a global center of innovation. He likens their country’s technological capabilities to that of United States’ Silicon Valley and it’s this strength that they could contribute to the Philippines. Every year, 400 Filipino students are invited to Israel for an 11-month practical internship. This program would allow them to work with Israeli farmers five days a week, study for one day, and rest for the remaining day. While there, they are to conduct a research program and before the program ends, the students should have prepared a business plan. The expectation is for them to bring home different approaches to agriculture. “In the Philippines, close to 30 percent of the workforce is involved in agriculture. In Israel, it’s less than 2 percent. Because it’s very mechanized and technology-intensive. Farmers in Israel look at this agriculture venture as a source of income,” Fluss explains. “You have to make money, it’s a business. It’s not backyard farming. So, you have to maximize your outputs and minimize your inputs because you’re investing. And that’s a different approach [compared to how agriculture is done in the Philippines]. So, the students are learning the technologies and practices and are exposed to a different mindset. When they come back, they could bring home a different approach and become agripreneurs.” But as a foreign envoy, Fluss clarifies that the goal is simply to introduce to Filipinos a different perspective. But ultimately, these new programs shouldn’t change the culture. It’s all about introducing something new. The ambassador shares that the embassy is also in talks with Department of Agriculture (DA) officials regarding dairy production. Israel, he reveals, is the world leader in milk production. One cow in Israel could produce 12,000 liters, the highest in the world. By using their approach and technology, Fluss hopes to see more local production of milk or dairy farming. Food security is another issue that Fluss would like to address. In one food security hackathon that he attended, his team shared Israeli foodtech and agro-technology. Among the things they shared were improved seeds which were developed to be resilient against drought and other effects of climate change; drip irrigation which uses remote sensing through the Internet of Things (IoT) technology and artificial intelligence (AI) which detects if a field needs more irrigation, pesticides, or other interventions. They also shared alternative food sources, such as vegetarian options for dairy, or beyond meat (plant based, 3D meat). With over 400 food technology startups in Israel, Fluss elaborates that there are plenty of practices and innovations that they could share here in the Philippines. Apart from their assistance in agricultural programs, Israel could also help develop our military and defense initiatives. “Defense is a strategic issue for any country to be able to secure itself. Our countries are both dealing with the global challenge which is terrorism. We share principles and the values of a democracy that has to defend itself,” Fluss explains. Developing by encouraging the innovation sector to create local solutions also helps strengthen bilateral ties by making Israel a meaningful partner. This pandemic also provided many opportunities for collaboration and cooperation. “During the pandemic, Israel sent PPEs (personal protective equipment) and test kits. Israel was leading also in terms of our vaccination campaign and we sent a delegation here to share our experience and practices. Another delegation came to share the clinical work and management of hospitals,” he shares. “I think the COVID-19 pandemic taught us that global issues need global approaches, which means sharing practices and learning from each other.” But it’s not just helping or forming business partnerships, but partnering in a sense that their country also learns and benefits from the Philippines. Philippine Airlines hopes to soon launch a direct flight from Manila to Tel Aviv, which will greatly improve access between the two countries. Fluss illustrates that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, roughly 35,000 Filipino tourists would visit Israel and a similar number of Israelis also visited the Philippines. With direct flights, he expects that tourism between the two countries will flourish more. Israel is the Holy Land, a destination in the bucket list of almost every Filipino. The travel link will also serve the business community, government, and more. “We have close to 30,000 caregivers in Israel, which is critical for our society. It’s a mutual relationship [between Israel and the Philippines]. It’s not a one-way [relationship], it can’t be. It wouldn’t be sustainable if it’s one-way. A partnership benefits both sides,” the veteran ambassador highlights. ISRAELI-PHILIPPINE RELATIONS Historically speaking, the relationship between Israel and the Philippines has always been strong, and there’s a bond that dates back to World War II. Fluss enlightens the team with a little history lesson, sharing the two significant historical events that formed the connection between our countries and also, sent out “a very strong moral message.” Because of anti-Semitic sentiments, the Nazi regime led by Adolf Hitler took over Germany in the 1930s. Over 6 million European Jews were murdered by the Nazis in a genocide, The Holocaust. Thousands of Jews fled the region, seeking refuge in various countries. ThenPhilippine President Manuel Quezon approved a special immigration programme in 1938 which helped save 1,300 Jews. Quezon’s ‘Open Door Policy’ was considered controversial at the time and he was heavily criticized by many. “It was a unique policy because most countries closed their doors,” the Israeli ambassador reveals. The president stood his ground and even planned the immigration of 10,000 more Jews through the ‘Mindanao Plan.’ Plans fell through, however, when the Japanese invaded the country. But since the end of the war, many have praised Quezon for his policy. “[Quezon] assured us that big or little, he raised hell with every one of those persons,” Jewish-American businessman Alex Frieder shared in 1939. “He made them ashamed of themselves for being a victim of propaganda intended to further victimize an already persecuted people.” The second event which Fluss believes strengthened our bilateral ties was when the Philippines voted in the United Nations (UN) in favor of the establishment of the Jewish state of Israel. Our country was the only country in Asia that supported the establishment of Israel. “Recently, I approached the Philippine government and suggested that they recognize the international definition of antiSemitism, which is coming out of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), composed of Israel, Europe, and other countries relevant to the Holocaust,” he shares. After his visit to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier this year, Fluss shares that they received a letter from then Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin which states that the Philippine government is joining in the recognition of the international definition of anti-Semitism. “Today, all over the world, we see growing anti-Semitic [sentiments] and we see this, not necessarily in the Philippines, but in many countries. More attacks, more expressions of anti-Semitism. [Accepting the international definition] is a very important message coming out of the Philippines.” BALIKBAYAN Fluss started his foreign service career in 1994, serving from 1995 to 1998 as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines. Afterwards, he became the Spokesperson and Cultural Attaché at the Israeli Embassy in the Hague, Netherlands. For over two decades, he has served in various capacities in many regions all over the world. In October 2021, he returned to the Philippines, this time as the Israeli Ambassador. “I don’t consider myself a diplomat. I’m a balikbayan,” Fluss says, noting his time in the late 1990s in the Philippines. “I opted in a request to come back as an ambassador [to the Philippines] because I felt that I could contribute a lot to this country and to the relations between our two countries. He also highlights that while we have different cultures, one thing he highly appreciates in the country is our very welcoming nature which makes them, as foreign ambassadors, feel very accepted. Following his departure in 1998, he said that he had plenty of good memories and experiences which also made him want to come back to the country. “As a diplomat, you move from country to country, assignment to assignment. We always look back favorably, but we also look forward to the next challenge. However, when I was given the option, I chose to come back here. I enjoyed the hospitality and the openness of the people. But I also came back because the embassy grew in size and areas of activity,” he shares. Almost two years ago, the Embassy of Israel opened two new offices—one representing the Ministry of Economy and the other representing the Ministry of Defense. Fluss explains that this expansion demonstrates their keen interest in promoting relations in those fields. On a personal level, however, he shares that his action-oriented nature also drove him to return to push for more programs, more defense cooperation, and more trade and innovation partnerships. Needless to say, the work of a diplomat is not about lavish parties and vainglorious ceremonies. And with the constant travelling, it is a challenge socially. But Fluss finds that the reward is the fulfillment in boosting international relations. Among his many achievements, the seasoned foreign representative shares that he helped establish the relations between Israel and Arab countries, a clandestine mission as a special envoy which eventually led to the Abraham Accords, a peace treaty which was a “dream come true” for Fluss. During his time serving at the Israeli Permanent Mission to the UN, he led the drafting of a resolution named “Agricultural Technology for Development.” Agriculture, he reveals, is a very sensitive issue. But after 11 months, the resolution was adopted with an enormous majority supporting the initiative. “It was a new resolution and the first time that Israel initiated one on a developmental area, nothing to do with the Middle East or the Holocaust,” he explains. With their responsibilities, it seems that being a foreign representative is a heavy undertaking fraught with difficulties and pressure. But it’s an important duty that ultimately helps change lives. “At the end of the day, you influence people and you touch people’s lives. It’s really about trying to uplift the standard of living of people,” Fluss ends.

< 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 The Voice of Every Probinsyano BY MARIANNE JANE S. ZARA Ang Probinsyano Partylist Representative Alfred Delos Santos can be described as a frequent traveler. But he travels not for pleasure. He visits different provinces to make sure he is one with his constituents in their quest for a better life. A true leader who listens to his constituents, the lawmaker makes sure to broaden his perspective by hearing out what people have to say. The lawmaker shares how what was once an inspiration is now a full-time job, and how his heart for public service and his bottom-up approach to legislation has made him craft bills that are truly for the people and by the people. AN EMERGING PUBLIC SERVANT Inspired by his mother at an early age, Delos Santos saw the impact of how a little help goes a long way. His mother helped people in need during calamities and gave scholarships to selected youth so that they could pursue their education. Being a private citizen did not impede his mom from providing acts of service to the people of Legazpi, Albay and this strongly influenced the young Delos Santos. "Bata pa lang po ako, nakita ko na yung mga ginagawa ng nanay ko para sa aming bayan, mula sa pagbibigay ng scholarships hangang pagtulong sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo." (At a young age, I already saw what my mother was doing for the community, from giving scholarships to helping in times of calamity)," Delos Santos “ Bata pa lang po ako, nakita ko na yung mga ginagawa ng nanay ko para sa aming bayan, mula sa pagbibigay ng scholarships hanggang pagtulong sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo .” (At a young age, I already saw what my mother was doing for the community, from giving scholarshipsto helping in times of calamity),” Delos Santos recalls. "I saw firsthand how she connected with the people and how she made an impact in their lives through the simple act of helping," he continues. At a young age, Delos Santos was already aware of the needs of the people around him. Truly a leader in the making, he was elected as president of the student government during his high school days and served as coordinator for the Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs and head of the youth sector of the Dominican Network. After earning his degree in Business Administration in 2013, Delos Santos started to be involved in the family business but this didn't stop him from exploring ways to be of service to the people. He joined Kiwanis Club Philippines whose mission is to improve the lives of children one community at a time. Indeed, children won the heart of Delos Santos as he kept them their priority-just like his mom did. Built with empathy and armed with compassion, Delos Santos felt ready to emulate the service his mom had provided. He thought that by joining politics, he would have a wider reach and make a bigger impact so in 2017, he joined Ang Probinsyano Partylist. In 2019, the partylist group gained two congressional seats, with him as one of the nominees. This made the first-generation politician a formal representative of probinsyanos, or the marginalized Filipinos based in provinces. FROM ENTREPRENEUR TO PUBLIC SERVANT Being originally an entrepreneur, Delos Santos admits that his transition to public service was challenging. "I had to unlearn things and of course, learn new ones. Business is always about profit. Public service is about serving others, the public, " he shares. The congressman attributes the success of his transition to his faith, his family, and his team. He is known to be devout to his faith, starting his day with a prayer and moments with God. This keeps Delos Santos grounded. His team prepares his briefing notes for the day, while his family continues to inspire him with acts of service despite their private lives. Being a young and relatively new member of Congress does not hinder him from making significant contributions to Congress. After all, he says that the House is open to young blood and fresh ideas brought by its young members. "As a young congressman, I have ideas that are different from those of the seasoned members of the chamber. I am also very eager and excited to file bills that will serve the needs of my constituents." Delos Santos mentions. To complement this, he also asks tips from seasoned lawmakers who know the ins and outs of congressional work and applies the knowledge he gains from such in his work. "It really is a fulfilling job, considering that I contribute to crafting pieces of legislation for our countrymen," Delos Santos sums up his experience as lawmaker so far. BOSES NG PROBINSYA KO Boses ng Probinsya Ko (The Voice of My Province) serves as the foundation of Ang Probinsyano Partylist. Delos Santos believes that work extends beyond the four walls of Congress and to actualize being the voice of provinces, he puts in the work and conducts frequent visits to different provinces delivering various programs and conducting consultations with his constituents. “ Kinakausap po natin ang mga tao. Inaalam natin ang kanilang mga pangangailangan at hinaing (We talk to the people and ask about their needs and concerns),” Delos Santos shares. “Their inputs are part and parcel of every piece of legislation that my team and I craft.” Delos Santos also believes that the partylist group is the way for promdis (Filipinos based in or coming from the provinces) to voice out their aspirations in Congress. Through consultations, he gets to know more about their societal concerns and perspective; thereby serving as guide in coming up with bills that are most responsive to their concerns. VOICES HEARD ONE BILL AT A TIME An active member of the House and eager to make a difference, Delos Santos has authored 293 bills and co-authored 89 others to date. He focuses on education and youth; rural development; micro, small and medium enterprises; agriculture; health; and tourism. A bill Delos Santos worked on that was recently signed into law is the Expanded Centenarians Act, with him being an author of the bill’s House version. This bill is part of his efforts to recognize the contributions of the elderly by giving monetary benefits to senior citizens aged 80, 85, 90, and 95, saying that such is already an achievement. Another bill the lawmaker has filed is the proposed Agricultural Modernization Act which aims to promote and improve the social and economic well-being of workers in the agricultural sector by protecting their rights and institutionalizing benefits for them. Still concerning the agricultural sector, Delos Santos also filed the proposed Agricultural Information Systems Act. This aims to have a system that would link the farmers to different communities in the Philippines. This bill aims to cut off abusive traders, safeguarding the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolks better. “It provides for an integrated, computerized, web- based agricultural commodities supply inventory and registry system that will link farmers and organized communities all over the Philippines. This would provide easy-to-access local and global real-time information for agricultural commodities and hopefully create a wider range of market linkages among farmers and agricultural buyers. The system can also be used to gather data for the national government to rationalize the objectives and policy directives in the agricultural sector,” Delos Santos explains. Delos Santos also filed the proposed Magna Carta for Barangay Tanods , which aims to provide incentives and benefits for barangay watchmen to recognize their services. “This bill considers the fact that our barangay tanods are frontliners in the preparation for and response to any type of atrocities, public disorders, emergencies, and even disasters or man-made calamities that threaten the peace and order and public safety in our barangays,” he explains. Living up to his role as a voice of the marginalizedsectors in the provinces, Delos Santos has also proposed the Homemakers Compensation Act where homemakers are given just compensation for the work they perform by staying home to take care of their families. Eager to serve, Delos Santos mentions that there are more bills and resolutions that he and his team are still studyingso that they could come up with the proper proposals. Oneof these concerns underutilized crops, as they have seen unfortunate incidents of unsold farm produce being dumped by farmers. Another concerns the promotion of voter’s education among the youth, proposing that this be made part of the curriculum for junior high school and senior high school students. ONWARD AND UPWARD The lawmaker dreams that one day, all Filipinos, especially those in the provinces, will have better lives. He dreams that one day, being called probinsyano will not be a source of shame but of pride. “ Isa lang naman po ang pangarap natin, ang makamit naming mga probinsyano ang kaginhawaan sa buhay. Alam nating lahat na masarap tumira sa probinsya pero realidad din po ang kahirapan. Nais ko po sana na sa pamamagitan ng aking paglilingkod sa Kongreso, maging daan ako upang kaming mga taga-probinsya ay umunlad din tulad ng sa siyudad (We only have one dream, that we who are from the province can achieve comfort in life. We all know the beauty of living in the province, but poverty is also a reality. I wish that through my work in Congress, I could help uplift the lives of those in the provinces, just like the lives of those in the city),” Delos Santos shares his vision. The lawmaker recalls that when visiting communities, the biggest smiles and the warmest welcome come from those living in the provinces. They are the ones that inspire Delos Santos in his everyday work. “I tell myself, ‘Inaasahan ka ng mga tao, Apid. Huwag mo silang kalimutan. Magpatuloy ka para sa kanila (People expect you to help them, Apid. Don’t forget them. Carry on for them),’” he shares. Hailing from Legazpi, Albay, Delos Santos brands himself as a probinsyano himself and he saw the standard of living of farmers, fisherfolk, and those living the provincial life. “Now that I get to represent them in Congress, I want to do so by that have supported you, then your work would go in the right direction,” Delos Santos adds. THE VOICE OF EVERY PROBINSYANO Considering himself a promdi laid the foundation for Delos Santos’ eagerness and enthusiasm in crafting bills that widely represent his constituents. He is one with all probinsyanos , whatever sector they belong to. The congressman wants all people from the provinces to see him as the bridge to bring their needs to Congress and the lawmaker who will craft policies that would enable them to have better lives. “To our fellow farmers, pushing for meaningful pieces of legislation that will actually uplift their standard of living,” he stresses. To fulfill his vision, Delos Santos does not lose sight of what’s important, putting the country above all. Humility, compassion, and gratitude are the values that guide him in fulfilling his duties. “When you are guided by these values, when you remain humble and compassionate, when you consider the interests of the Filipino people above everything else, when you remain grateful to the Lord and to all the people fishermen, provincials, and those belonging to various other sectors in our country, Ang Probinsyano Partylist is always open to providing help and service to you. You can count on us to help promote and ensure your welfare in every law we propose. Thank you very much for your continued support. Kasama niyo po kami, sa Ang Probinsyano Partylist, at hindi po namin kayo iiwan mga ka-promdi (We are with you, in Ang Probinsyano Partylist, and we will not leave you, our fellow promdi ),” he assures. “ISA LANG NAMAN PO ANG PANGARAP NATIN, ANG MAKAMIT NAMING MGA PROBINSYANO ANG KAGINHAWAAN SA BUHAY. ALAM NATING LAHAT NA MASARAP TUMIRA SA PROBINSYA PERO REALIDAD DIN PO ANG KAHIRAPAN. NAIS KO PO SANA NA SA PAMAMAGITAN NG AKING PAGLILINGKOD SA KONGRESO, MAGING DAAN AKO UPANG KAMING MGA TAGA-PROBINSYA AY UMUNLAD DIN TULAD NG SA SIYUDAD.”

< Back Beauty that defies odds An entrepeneur shows how private corporations can help and inspire single mothers and women Aiza Diuco, founder and CEO of beauty and wellness company “Age Defying Solutions,” has long recognized the crucial role that women play in society. Women, especially in the Philippines, have been acknowledged as the heart of the family, the nurturer, the encourager, the inspiration. But with so many Filipinas going through hard times and trials, they can easily lose hope and sink into desperation. Seeing how life’s difficulties have become stumbling blocks, Duico established The Glupa Women’s Club in March 2018. A club by “women for women,” it is a venue where “women can help each other rise by sharing their skills and know-how, by mentoring, and volunteering their time to ensure that every woman is given a chance to have a better future.” The Glupa Women’s Club focuses on the needs of single mothers, whom Duico believes to be the most neglected sector in the country. “They face challenges,” she explains. “They need to take on the roles of both mother and father. They have to take care of the kids and provide for them – mentally, emotionally, financially, etc.” Duico can truly identify with this situation, as being a single mom herself, she had experienced the loneliness and the helplessness. She also went through the struggles of juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship. She adds, “So now that I’ve been able to find success in business, I want other women to see and know na kaya din nilang tumayo(they can do it themselves).” Initially, the club was simply one facet of her company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. But because of how it could potentially impact the lives of women in the city, she expanded its reach and scope. Partnering with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and local government units (LGUs) to host seminars and workshops, the club launched sessions about discovering one’s self, personality development, confidence building, communication skills enhancement, and even practical tips for personal grooming. Duico continues, “I started with these because I discovered that many single moms are victims of abandonment and abuse, and the lingering effects of these issues have to be addressed. You feel broken, your confidence eroded. No one wants to be a single mom. I’m sure all of them dreamed of having the perfect, complete family, but it’s not possible. So, I wanted to address the emotional issues first and hosted the first personality development seminar at Green Sun for them early this year.” After dealing with these issues, Duico is now laying down the foundation for entrepreneurial skills through training programs involving modules that will help the women earn their keep. Some of these livelihood training programs are soap-making and baking, businesses that they can do at home, so that they can be with their family while providing for them. “We started these training programs in Marikina because that’s my home, that’s where I grew up and where my business and plant are located. I want to give back to the community that has been very supportive to me and my company. Charity starts at home di ba?” Duico remarks. “I partnered with the local government of Marikina and reached out to the head of DTI and TESDA in the city. Soon, we will be hosting a class for 100 single moms, focusing on entrepreneurship. Marikina has a list of single moms who are registered so that helps us greatly in contacting them.” But Duico’s efforts at helping women do not stop there. From Marikina, she has had initial talks with the local governments of Quezon City and Cainta to expand the program to these cities, too. Likewise, as part of the club’s “Elevating Womanity campaign,” she has given talks to students of the Philippine Science High School regarding gender sensitivity and gender discrimination, an advocacy which she champions in line with enabling women. On a larger scale, Duico emphasizes, “The Glupa Women’s Club aims to empower and bring women together. My vision is to have different chapters in different regions across the country, serving women even in the far-flung areas. I also want to go global, especially helping OFWs who are single moms. They dream of returning to the country, but for economic reasons, they can’t. So we want to provide them with the skills and opportunities for them to succeed here as well.” For more information and details about joining the club, check out Glupa Women’s Club on Facebook and Instagram.

< Back OVERSEAS VOTING 2025: COMELEC’S PUSH FOR REFORM AND INCLUSION BY ATTY. PAULA ZAYCO ABERASTURI THIS YEAR’S MIDTERM ELECTIONS COULD SERVE AS A SHOWCASE OF THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO VOTERS IN SHAPING NATIONAL LEADERSHIP. WELL AWARE OF SUCH, THE COMELEC IS TAKING STEPS TO TAP INTO THIS POTENTIAL. As the Philippines approaches a pivotal election, the crucial role of overseas Filipino voters has never been more evident. With almost 1.25 million registered voters abroad as of 2024, the diaspora holds significant influence in shaping national leadership. Yet, systemic barriers have long hindered their full participation, prompting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to push for reforms aimed at making the electoral process more accessible, transparent, and efficient. Beyond their economic contributions—remitting billions of dollars annually—overseas Filipinos are a critical voice in the country’s democracy. However, their impact remains underutilized, with only 39 percent of registered voters abroad casting their ballots in the 2022 elections. This low turnout underscores the urgent need for stronger engagement and improved voting mechanisms. “Overseas Filipinos are a vital part of our democracy,” said Comelec Chairperson George Garcia. “Their experiences abroad and commitment to the Philippines enrich our electoral process. It is our duty to ensure that they can participate with ease and confidence.” As the country moves toward the next election, the challenge is clear: turning overseas voter potential into a meaningful voice in choosing our national leaders. OVERSEAS VOTING: LEGAL BASIS AND IMPACT ON ELECTIONS Overseas voting refers to the process by which qualified Filipino citizens residing abroad can exercise their right to vote. It was instituted in the Philippines through Republic Act (RA) 9189, otherwise known as the Overseas Voting Act of 2003. Overseas voting first took place in the 2004 elections, with almost 360,000 registered voters. The law was amended in 2013 by RA 10590. Under the system of overseas voting, “[a]ll citizens of the Philippines abroad, who are not otherwise disqualified by law, at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of elections, may vote for President, Vice-President, Senators and Party List Representatives, as well as in all national referenda and plebiscites.” For the 2025 polls, those who registered before September 2024 shall be eligible to vote. With almost 1.25 million registered overseas voters for the 2025 midterm elections, overseas voting could spell the difference in closely-contested races. For instance, 1,844,655 votes separated the 12th and 13th placers in the 2022 senatorial race. This year’s senatorial race is expected to be an even closer contest, with March 2025 surveys showing eight to ten candidates battling it out for the 7th to 12th spots. Meanwhile, the impact of overseas voting could potentially be felt even more in the partylist elections. Of the winning partylist groups in the 2022 elections, only two garnered more than 1 million votes. The five last-placed groups, meanwhile, received not more than 250,000 votes each. The challenge for Comelec is to encourage more overseas Filipinos to actually vote. In the 2022 elections, the turnout was only about 39 percent. The turnout for Europe was noticeably higher at almost 48 percent. OVERSEAS VOTING IN EUROPE: IMPORTANT FIGURES Data from Comelec show that the number of registered overseas voters had been on the rise from 2004 up to 2019. From 359,296 registered overseas voters for the 2004 elections, the number went up five-fold in 2019, with 1,822,173 registered overseas voters. The Covid-19 pandemic caused a drop in the number of registered overseas voters for 2022, totalling 1,697,215. The numbers further fell this year, with 1,241,690 registered overseas Filipino voters. The numbers for Europe reflect the overall figures for the last three national elections. A total of 187,624 Filipinos residing in Europe registered for the 2019 national elections. Meanwhile, the number went down to 153,491 for the 2022 elections, owing to the pandemic. The regional total for this year’s polls stands at 145,381. PARTICIPATING IN THE OVERSEAS VOTING PROCESS One of the most significant innovations in the 2025 elections is the introduction of internet voting for overseas Filipinos. Announced during a town hall meeting at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. on November 6, 2024, Comelec Commissioner Marlon S. Casquejo confirmed that around 1 million registered voters across 76 embassies and consulates will have access to this new system. “Internet voting is not just about convenience—it’s about inclusivity,” said Casquejo. “It ensures that Filipinos abroad, no matter where they are, can exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard.” Internet voting will replace the traditional modes of overseas voting, where voters had to personally cast their votes at Philippine posts, and postal voting, where qualified voters send their ballots through mail. Internet voting will be implemented in 76 Philippine posts, making it the major mode for overseas Filipinos to cast their ballots in the 2025 elections. Meanwhile, the traditional modes of will still be used in 17 posts. “Post” refers to the “Philippine embassies, consulates, foreign service establishments and other Philippine government agencies maintaining offices abroad and having jurisdiction over the places where the overseas voters reside.” To ensure a smooth transition, Comelec has launched awareness campaigns urging overseas voters to verify their registration and complete a pre enrollment process starting March 10, 2025. The voting period itself will run from April 13 to May 12, 2025. “KONTRA BIGAY:” COMBATING VOTE BUYING As part of its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the elections, Comelec has launched significant reforms aimed at addressing common election issues. One of these is the Kontra Bigay initiative. Vote-buying has long been a challenge in Philippine elections, undermining the democratic process and perpetuating a cycle of inequality and corruption. Kontra Bigay, a comprehensive campaign to combat vote-buying through heightened surveillance, reporting mechanisms, and stricter enforcement of election laws, aims to address the issue. Comelec has established partnerships with civil society organizations and law enforcement agencies to monitor and report vote-buying activities, both domestically and abroad. For overseas voters, the campaign emphasizes vigilance and encourages reporting any instances of vote buying, ensuring that their votes reflect their true choices. Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. emphasized the importance of this campaign. “Vote-buying erodes the foundation of democracy. Through Kontra Bigay, we aim to restore integrity and fairness in our elections. We call on every Filipino, whether at home or abroad, to reject and report such practices,” he said. GREENING THE ELECTIONS In addition to ensuring clean elections, Comelec is also addressing the environmental impact of the electoral process. The Greening the Elections initiative aims to reduce waste and promote sustainability in election-related activities. Measures include reducing the use of single-use plastics in campaign materials, encouraging digital campaigns over printed materials, and advocating for eco-friendly practices during election preparations and implementation. For overseas voters, this reform ensures that their participation contributes to a more sustainable election process. Embassies and consulates are also being encouraged to adopt paperless voting solutions and reduce waste in ballot handling. “Greening the Elections is not just about protecting the environment—it’s about fostering a culture of responsibility and sustainability that extends beyond the ballot box,” said Garcia. CHALLENGES AND A CALL TO ACTION Despite the abovementioned reforms, challenges remain. Access to voting centers for Filipinos in remote locations, delays in postal voting, and limited awareness of election reforms continue to pose obstacles. To address these issues, Comelec is exploring the possibility of implementing secure online voting in future elections, a move that could significantly boost overseas voter turnout. In the meantime, Comelec has strengthened voter education campaigns, leveraging social media platforms and partnerships with Filipino communities abroad to ensure that overseas Filipinos are well-informed about the electoral process and their options for participation. As the elections draw closer, the Philippine government in general and Comelec in particular are urging overseas voters to actively participate and help shape the nation’s future. Filipinos abroad have a unique perspective, informed by their experiences in their host countries, which can inspire governance and policy improvements back home. “Ang boto ng bawat Pilipino ay mahalaga, saan man siya naroroon (Every Filipino vote matters, no matter where it is cast),” said Garcia. “We encourage every overseas Filipino to make their voices heard and help chart the course of our nation’s future.” With reforms like Kontra Bigay and Greening the Elections, alongside the continued enhancement of overseas voting processes, Comelec is laying the groundwork for cleaner, fairer, and more inclusive elections. By casting their ballots, overseas Filipinos reaffirm their role as key stakeholders in the country’s democracy and future. Their participation sends a powerful message of hope and cooperation, proving that no matter where they are in the world, their voices remain essential to the nation’s progress.

< Back TARLAC DISTRICT 1 REP. CHARLIE COJUANGCO Charlie Cojuangco may have been a hesitant candidate, but today, he is fully committed to serving the people.

< Back TALKING POINTS: HOUSE SPEAKER PANTALEON ALVAREZ BY LEE CANDELARIA With only four laws passed on its first year in office, the 17th Congress will have to work harder this second regular session The first year of the Duterte administration is nothing but interesting. President Rodrigo Duterte enjoys extreme popularity with record-high satisfaction surveys and sweeping support in both houses of the Congress. This would mean that the legislative agenda of the administration should breeze through the esteemed halls of the House of Representatives and the Senate. But Duterte delivered his second State of the Nation Address in front of a Congress that only passed four bills into law (see sidebar). Congress seemed more occupied with investigations in aid of legislation such as Martial Law in Marawi, extrajudicial killings, and Senator Leila de Lima’s association to illegal drug sale in Bilibid This is not new in the Philippines. Many important laws take a few congresses to pass; some even do not pass during the administration of those who proposed it. Legislation in the Philippines is designed to be slow. Imagine that a single proposed measure must to go through three readings in both houses of Congress—more than 300 legislators reading, researching, and deliberating—that must certainly take some time. This characteristic of Philippine law making is aimed at making sure that everything has been ironed out before a law is enacted, especially because these laws will affect the lives of millions of Filipinos. LEGISLATING AMIDST CHALLENGES House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez admits to these challenges of legislation in the first year of the Duterte administration. In the opening of the second regular session of the House of Representatives last July 24, he delivered a speech marking the end Legislative Report With only four laws passed on its first year in office, the 17th Congress will have to work harder this second regular session BY LEE CANDELARIA of the first year of their work as legislators. He highlights that they have passed 210 legislative measures on the third reading, or an average of two bills per session day.