HOPE FOR NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION Volume 2 No. 5 • 8 pages May 2012 The official publication of the Pimentel Center for Local Governance and the Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance LGU SEMINARS, ROUND TABLE CONFERENCES, OTHER ACTIVITIES PUNCTUATE ALMOST TWO YEARS IN THE LIFE OF THE CENTER Participants from Mandaluyong City and Las Piñas City flank Arch- COMELEC Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. (center) during the Round Table bishop Oscar Cruz and Prof. Nene Pimentel during the Seminar-Work- discussion on the“Challenges Facing the Comelec Today and in Futute shop on Good Barangay Governance for National Transformation Elections”, held at the Pimentel Center, University of Makati last May held last April 27-28. 18. Also in the picture: Johnny Pecayo, Nene Pimentel and Raymund Rosuelo( standing). [May 2012 Report to ELECTORAL REFORM the Center’s barangay IMPERATIVES DISCUSSED and LGU constituents] Word from AT PCLG By Staff Writers the Center By Dean Alex Brillantes Brief History and Staff Writers The Center for Local Gov- To preserve the sanctity of ernance at the University of The problem posed by Lady mances but only after the acts the ballot is a gigantic task and Makati came from a spark Gaga’s scheduled shows in Pa- requires the cooperation of all are done. I doubt if pre-censor- citizens. This was the message of of inspired thought of the say City is more complicated ship legal in this country. But Commission on Elections Chair- then Makati Mayor Jojo Bi- in a functioning democratic actual pornographic perfor- man Sixto Brillantes during a nay and filial support of now country like ours than it is in mances, I believe, may be sanc- forum held at the Pimentel Cen- Makati Mayor Junjun Binay other aspiring democracies. tioned under existing statutes. ter for Local Governance at the sometime in 2008. University of Makati held last Here we have to contend 2. We can also demonstrate May 18. with freedom of expres- against what is presumed to be It burst into the flame of Areas of Reform sion and of speech and other lewd public exhibitions of the life when it was stoked by the Chairman Brillantes focused freedoms guaranteed by the performer. prayers of spiritual warriors on four areas of reform. These Constitution. In autocratic like Bishop Deo Iniguez, Ultimately, however, the ob- are: (1) Registration of voters; (2) countries, they have no such Coylee Gamboa, Pastors ligation to discourage the youth Refining the Party List; (3) Regu- problem. What those in power King Flores, Roy Carandang of the land, especially those be- lation of Campaign Finance; and say - even in matters of morals (4) Improving the Automation and Hugh Nguyen and Fr. low the age of 18, from gravi- - goes. System. Pascual in 2010. tating towards the shows of So what may we who find Lady Gaga and her ilk lies more The Chairman said that “It is LGU seminars imperative to cleanse the voters Lady Gaga’s erotic gyrations in the hands of parents than in lists where flying voters, unquali- In July 2010, it started its and sexy songs offensive to our the State. fied and underaged voters have mission to help upgrade the religious sensitivities do? Allowing the State to have a been listed.” knowledge and skills of local 1. We can insist that the au- Turnfreer hand to Page in defining 2 the mor- Turn to Page 3 thorities implement existing Turn to Page 6 laws against obscene perfor- 2 Paglaum May 2012 ROUND TABLE WORD... SIDELIGHTS als of our people would be By Clarisse Aquino more dangerous to our lives and liberties than a thou- sand Gaga shows. For one thing, it would relinquish to the govern- ment the primary right and duty of parents to rear their children to become responsible citizens that is placed on their shoulders by the Constitution, itself. And consequently, it would unduly broaden the author- ity of State to intrude into the field of morality that is better left to the people and their religious leaders to prescribe. That said, existing laws that proscribe obscenity Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes (seated center at right end of table) fields questions from audience in the Round and pornography should be Table Conference on Election Problems at the Center last May 18. The audience included Congressman Dodo Man- implemented. Otherwise, danas, Dean Ed Tapia, Dean Alex Brillantes, other UMak faculty, Muslim leaders, academes and graduate students. entrepreneurs - local or foreign - whose values are The welcome remarks de- the participants. She said, the of boys. It separates the grain measured only by the stack livered Dr. Edith Chan, the “voters need to know their votes from the chaff, it identifies the Executive Vice President of are safe, and that they will be cream from the crop! But it also of dollars they could extract the University roused many counted.” results in mudslinging, black from the naive youth of the participants from drowsiness land, would, in effect, be al- “There is no alternative to propaganda, or worst, killings, occasioned by the sultry May lowed to spit on our values democratic politics,” she added. and destruction. It produces weather. “It enables us to settle our dif- ambivalence and dichotomy of as a people. In what may well be a fight- ferences peacefully. And politi- feelings but it is something that A word of caution - those we cannot do without.” ing speech from the leading cal parties play a crucial role in who want to go via the route lady academe of the University, politics in a democratic State by True to her nature, howev- of law as determined by the Dr. Chan hit the root of the setting out alternative policy er, she urged the participants courts should be prepared problem that bugs elections in positions from which we can to enjoy the discussion and to to produce the evidence the country at the very start of choose as voters.” remember that “its more fun needed to convict the cul- her welcome remarks. in the Philippines during elec- In her statement, the Execu- prits because that is what tions.” She said that the “the Com- tive Vice President posed a rhe- the Rule of Law requires. mission on Elections has a torical question as to what the The Com- critical role in building public people can do to help restore elec Chair was confidence and in defending de- public confidence in the work- introduced by Johnny Pecayo, mocracy.” ings of the Comelec. Answering The official publication of the Pimentel Center for Local Governance and the Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance the question, she said that since Publisher of The usually charming in- Editorial Director Jay Dejaresco elections are for the voters, the the L.A.-based tellectual presaged the vigor- Contributing Writers Alex Brillantes voters interests must be given Manila US ous exchange of viewpoints Norma Camunay utmost consideration. Times. Pecayo, between the main discussant, who is also the Roy Carandang Comelec Chair Brillantes, and, The leading lady educator of President-elect Jaime Ocampo the University explained that of the Makati Nene Pimentel “if we’re going to restore public Rotary Club- Raymund Rosuelo confidence in politics, we need Nielsen, said Ed Tapia to be clear that the process be- that Chair- Cris Uy Artist/Photograper gins and ends with voters. man Brillantes reyronda Publisher Gwen Gana brought a fresh “The impartiality of the Editorial Consultant Coylee Gamboa face to the work Commission is vital for public Editorial Staff Clarisse Aquino of the Comelec confidence. But so is its effec- Maelyn Calizo citing his (Bril- tiveness.” Carla Caringal lantes’s) in- The EVP concluded her depth knowl- Pimentel Center for Local Governance welcome address with a scath- Pimentel Institute for Leadership & Governance edge of election 4th Floor Administration Building, University of Makati, ing but realistic summation: laws and how JP Rizal Extension, West Rembo, Makati City “Philippine elections,” she the Comelec Telephone No.: 882-0678 loc 307 Email: [email protected], [email protected] said, “bring the best and the should imple- Website: www.pimentelinstitute.org Dr. Edith Chan worst in it. It makes men out ment them. May 2012 Paglaum 3 LGU... Moro leaders on the Peace Process; (3) Maximizing the government officials in ad- Development of Our Natu- ministering their respective ral Resources; (4) The State political units and warding of Our Justice System; (5) off the blight of corruption The Kalayaan-Islands-and- from LGUs affairs in a 3 x Scarbourough Shoal Contro- 4 square meter room at the versy; (6) The State of our office of EVP Edith Chan of National Defense, and (7) the University of Makati. The Power Crisis Confront- Without any identified ing the Nation, to mention source of funds but with full some topics. faith in God’s benevolence, These were professionally the Center defined its mis- and candidly discussed by sion more sharply and start- big names in and out of the Prof. Nene Pimentel explains the finer points of the Local Government ed ‘to walk in faith’ in the government today. Among Code and how the principles of accountability and responsibility are ap- Lord. the discussants were the plied to LGU work to avoid corruption in one of the Center’s seminars on It is with unbounded joy Sultan of Sulu Ismail Kiram local governance. that The Center can look II, former Marawi Mayor back to a 10 month and a and Moro Rebel Leader Com- Essay Contests Prof. Terry Dumogho, Fr. decade of our existence with mander Omar Ali, DENR With the help of the Anton Pascual, Atty. Luigi happiness in our hearts that Sec.