An Official Publication of the Office of the Ombudsman with Funding Support from the European Commission EUROPEAN UNION email: [email protected] May 12, 2006 12 pages Vol. 2 No. 1 ISSN 1909-112X website: http//:www.ombudsman.gov.ph Anti-Corruption Songwriting Competition TOP WINNERS KNOWN IN TODAY’S INTEGRITY TV SHOW LAURRIE LAYNE P. CRISTOBAL Message THE SECOND INTEGRITY TV SHOW Pilipinas, Philippine Information Agency, (Himig Dangal) under the Office of the Om- KATHA-Organization of Filipino Composers s the newly-appointed Ombudsman, it is my distinct budsman-European Commission Corruption and the People’s Television Network/National A Prevention Project will showcase today the Broadcasting Network. pleasure to extend my warmest greetings to all the men and Grand Finals of the Anti-Corruption The ten song compositions were compiled women of the Office of the Ombudsman, the civil society Songwriting Competition at 7:30 p.m., AFP into album and aired over the different radio organizations, non-governmental organizations, the wider Theater, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City and stations nationwide through the support of public, the academe, business community, and the be telecast live nationwide by PTN-NBN 4. the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas The top ten songs and their respective (KBP). participating agencies through this newly launched Integrity songwriters and interpreters are: The top songwriter will receive a cash prize Watch News. 1. Mahiya Naman Kayo of P250,000 and a free trip to London cour- by Lemuel Samblero tesy of British Council Philippines. The sec- Corruption is one of the biggest causes of poverty. A corrupt bureaucracy has never Interpreter: “Peter Parker” Samblero ond and third prize winners will receive cash enough money, nor will, nor room, nor joy, to perform vital government services that 2. Tigilan Mo Na Yan by Edilberto prize of P150,000 and P75,000, respectively. G. Reyes III, Interpreter: 9th Avenue Inter-University Debate Competition most of all benefit the poor in the areas of jobs, physical security, education and health. 3. I Am A Shield by Ruben Lopez, Jr. The Integrity TV Show will also highlight .Inerpreter: Reuben Laurente the awarding of trophies to the national and Government alone cannot wage the battle. It needs therefore, the cooperation of 4. Ang Kailangang Gawin by Gary Granada regional winners of the inter-University De- the general population as whistleblowers, as witnesses or simply as a party to the game Interpreter: Dong Abay bate Competition. 5. Crossroads by Christine Bendebel The debate competition is also a priority of corruption who has decided to stop being such a party. Winning their active Interpreter: Isha Abubakar activity under the EC-OMB Corruption Pre- participation and commitment necessitate a channel to make them aware, understand 6. Sabay Tayong Magpalaki ng vention Project being implemented in partner- and appreciate the anti-corruption initiatives of this Office. Thus, I congratulate the Maganda Ngayon by Mike Villegas ship with the Ateneo de Manila University, men and women behind this undertaking and thank the European Commission for the Interpreter: Myra Ruaro a.k.a. Skarlet De La Salle University and hosts Universi- funding support of this Newsletter since it is one of the powerful tools and an effective 7. Walang Kurap by Gideon Marcelo ties/Colleges such as De La Salle University Interpreter: Jungee Marcelo and The Hood (NCR-leg), University of Baguio (Luzon-leg), medium of communicating anti-corruption strategies and programs. 8. Simulan Natin by Chona Borromeo Siliman University (Visayas-leg) and Ateneo Interpreter: Amadeus de Davao (Mindanao-leg). Lastly, I call on everyone, as this banner newsletter’s name implies, that we should 9. Kahit Na by Roberto M. David The winners of the regional inter-univer- act with Integrity at all times out of our own conviction and commitment which this Interpreter: Roberto M. David sity debate competition are: 10. Tayo Nang Maglingkod Sa Mindanao Champion: Office strongly advocates and promotes. Bayan by Roberto M. David ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY Interpreter: Kyla John Andrew Macuto, Christopher Dicdiquin, This high profile musical activity is among Benedic Apayart the key activities in the communication plan Runner-Up: for the EC-OMB Corruption Prevention MA. MERCEDITAS N. GUTIERREZ ATENEO DE ZAMBOANGA UNIVERSITY Project. The music competition has encour- Henry Segovia, Ellery Apolinario, Alain Jardin Tanodbayan (Ombudsman) aged 190 songwriters all over the country to NCR Champion: put into 259 songs their messages and aspi- ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY rations of having collective action between Danielle Corpuz, Kip Oebanda, Czarina and amongst the different sectors of the so- Medina ciety towards building a lasting culture of in- Runner-Up: Meet the Lady Graft Buster tegrity and excellence. UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS According to Tanodbayan Ma. Merceditas John Baluyot, Eric Javeloza, Cyris Ng MONICAFERIA Navarro-Gutierrez, “music especially to the Visayas Champion: (Courtesy of Philippine Graphic, 09 January 2006) Filipinos is a universal language that knows SILIMAN UNIVERSITY, Charmaine Bucol, no boundaries; it cuts across as well as brings Noel Jan Valente, Robert Jed Malayang. SHE SEEMS TOO SWEET A LADY TO BE She went to Manila to pursue a course in El- together different generations and social Runner-Up: the top anti-graft bastonero in a country de- ementary Education at the College of the Holy classes.” UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS, Karyna “Thus, we considered music as one of the Sencio, Joselito Baena, Fel Louise Alingasa. scribed as “one of the most corrupt in Asia.” Spirit. She could have been a sterling most potent media in reaching a wider audi- Luzon Champion: Maria Merceditas Navarro-Gutierrez, teacher, for she topped the professional ence to exemplify integrity (anti-corruption) UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES- 56, the Philippines' first female Ombudsman, teachers exam. messages,” she concluded. BAGUIO, Abel Quintos, Arlene Bonifacio, is such a soft spoken and demure woman. “My mother, a homemaker, wanted me to The songwriting competition is jointly Clifford Chan She smiles easily and goes out of her way to undertaken by the Office of the Ombuds- Runner-Up: be a teacher. The town's elementary school man, European Commission, British Council ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY, Marlon Bosantog, be gracious to her visitors. A government law- was just behind our house. She wanted me to Philippines, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Parable Dizon, Hanz Dimatulac yer for 21 years, she has apparently been too stay in Samal, close to home. So, out of obe- low-key for public comfort. dience, I took up Elementary Education. When Gutierrez, Chief Presidential Legal Coun- I graduated and passed the exam, the super- sel until her appointment as Ombudman last intendent of schools in Bataan already found December 1, knows the questions in people's a position and classroom for me.” But some- minds. More so since the most highlighted thing stopped her from reporting for class. part of her 10-page resume is the fact that she “You know, in my high school yearbook, was a law school classmate of the First the graduates write down their wishes. I Gentleman Mike Arroyo. Can she go after the had written down, ‘To be a lawyer.’ I had country's tough and persistent corrupt bu- reaucrats and political warlords? Can she almost forgotten my dream. So I told my take the heat? Can she eat death threats for father that I wanted to go to law school. breakfast? Can she stand up to Malacanang? He said, “of course!” Her mother even- The former justice undersecretary offers no tually gave in, sending her off with an admo- fiery defenses to her critics. She smiles and nition to be careful of the boys at the Ateneo says, “Well, First Gentleman has had many de Manila University. classmates in his life. I think I have a good The family crusade track record of fairness. I am honored by this “Idol ko father ko,” she muses. opportunity to serve my country... let them Her father is the late Rufino F. Navarro, a hu- (critics) just wait and see.” man rights lawyer, former vice governor and Born and raised in the Central Luzon town one of Bataan's most vocal anti-martial law of Samal, Bataan, Gutierrez, Mercy to friends, opposition leaders. first imagined herself as a teacher. She studied It is when she tells the story of her at the public primary school and the parochial father,and the life and times of dusty, con- Mr. Gil G. Subang, a Slogan Contest grand prize winner from National High School, Koronadal high school, St. Catherine of Sienna Academy, flict-ridden Bataan, that one gets a glimpse of City receives award from Ambassador Jan de Kok, Head of the EC Delegation to the Philip- where she graduated with honors. MEET/P2 pines during the first Integrity TV Show held at the Teatro Marikina. May 12, 2006 2 An Official Publication of the Office of the Ombudsman with Funding Support from the European Commission ended Marcos rule; back to his law- MEET from P1 She is also considered an expert on I will maintain that stance, that atti- to expedite the resolution of yering and crusading politics, up to international extradition of criminals. tude in my present assignment. cases,especially yung masyado a steely and lesser known facet of the day he passed away in 1996. He From September 2004 till her ap- Are there cases in the past that nang matatanda. The inventory Gutierrez. was known as 'Mr. Graft-buster in pointment as Ombudsman in Decem- are memorable to you, that may have will reflect the time of filing, status Controversy, anti-graft crusad- our small town. Serve your town, ber 2005, she served as Chief Presi- paved the way for this job as Om- and reasons for the delay.