HOPE FOR NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION Issue No. 13 • 4 pages November 2012 The official publication of the Pimentel Center for Local Governance and the Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance LAWMAKERS GRACE CONTESTS By Clarisse Aquino

Congresswoman Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III

Senators Aquilino PILG hosts ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, Fer- dialogue Word from dinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., and Rep. Cynthia Vil- with Lao lar of Las Pinas City will the Center be the guests of honor delegates Holiday Tree in Winterval? during the awarding cer- emonies of the essay and By Jay Dejaresco nativitihan contests in the Will we, in this generation The Pimentel Institute Birmingham City in the UK, University of Makati on or those in the next, see the day and Sta. Monica in California, December 10, 2012. for Leadership and Gover- in our country when the word USA, among other western nance led by its Chairman ‘Christmas’ is replaced by ‘Win- countries, that advocate the The essay contest and Prof. Aquilino Q. Pimentel terval’ and ‘Christmas Tree’ by secularization of Christmas, the Nativitihan are among Jr., hosted a dialogue last a ‘Holiday Tree’? the removal of any mention of the yearly projects and November 27, at the Center Or when the Christ’s con- the Christ from the season, and with a delegation of officials nection with Christmas is the prohibition of displays of initiatives of the Pimentel from the Lao People’s Demo- completely erased from this the Nativity scenes in govern- Institute for Leadership cratic Republic in connec- civilization’s memory and vo- ment-owned properties would and Governance (PILG) cabulary? drown out the most basic rea- tion with the latter’s desire and the Pimentel Cen- Indeed, it still is November son for our people’s Christmas to know more about decen- ter for Local Governance but in a few days, it will be De- celebration. tralization efforts of our gov- cember, the month when the As Pastor King, a fellow of (PCLG). ernment, local governance Christ was born. the Center, is wont to say, ‘One Each year the PILG and and land use planning. Thus, the questions have to cannot remove the ‘Reason for the PCLG hold an essay The eleven-man delega- be asked and perhaps confront- the Season’ without affecting the why, the wherefore, and the contest among students of tion from Lao People’s Dem- ed by our country’s believers in the basic tenet of Christian- how of our celebrating Christ- the University of Maka- ocratic Republic was led by ity that the Christ was born on mas as Christians. ti, drawing ideas and Somsanith Souvanalath, Christmas Day to save mankind As believers, to us, Christmas thoughts through writing Deputy Head of the Lao from evil. and the Christ are inextricably among young participants Turn to Page 3 Otherwise, before we know linked. Without the Christ in it what some people are now Christmas why bother commem- Turn to Page 2 doing in Waterford, Ireland, orating Christmas Day at all?

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LAWMAKERS... continued from page 1 about the barangay, the smallest say and nativitihan contests will be nies on December 10, 2012, the pro- political unit and its impact to the on December 10, 2012 at the Mini- gram will begin with a welcome ad- development of the community and Theatre of the University of Maka- dress by Dr. Edita Chan, Executive the nation. ti at 10 a.m. Vice President of the University of On the other hand, the whole Senators Pimentel and Marcos, Makati. University of Makati community, and Rep. Cynthia Villar will high- The winners of the essay contest through its different departments, light the ceremonies by sharing will then be announced, with Sena- is involved in the nativitihan con- their experiences as public officials tor Marcos awarding the prizes to test every December, where partic- in helping to strengthen the local the winners, including medals and ipants construct the most relevant government units, particularly the certificates of appreciation. Sena- and meaningful Belen. barangay, as frontliners in the de- tor Marcos will then give a brief Through the nativitihan contest, livery of services to the people. message to the students and the the buildings University of Makati Senator Bongbong Marcos Jr. is faculty. are adorned with a depiction of the currently the chair of the Senate This will be followed by the an- nativity, symbolizing the birth of Committee on Local Governments. nouncement of the winners of the the Lord Jesus Christ. Senator has au- nativitihan, with Rep. Cynthia Vil- For the essay writing contest, thored several bills in the Senate lar awarding the prizes to the win- the topic is: “A Day in the Life of a seeking to further empower the lo- ners, before she gives her message. Barangay Captain”. There are six- cal government units. teen entries for the essay writing Thereafter, a winner will also be Particularly, Senator Pimentel contest this year. selected for the Nativitihan with eco- seeks to increase the shares of the logical stress, to be awarded by Sen- This subject hopes to bring out local government units from the ator Pimentel III. The ceremonies how the head of the barangay ex- national taxes so that more basic will be capped by closing remarks ercises his or her role as a leader services can be extended for the by Prof. Aquilino Nene Pimentel Jr., and servant to his constituents. benefit of the people. Chair of the Pimentel Institute for The awarding of prizes of the es- During the awarding ceremo- Leadership and Governance.

CENTER to hold planning sessions for 2013 By Jay Dejaresco

The Pimentel Institute for country. held which tackled current is- Leadership and Governance, Another approach being sues affecting the nation. together with the Pimentel planned is to team up with Center for Local Governance educational institutions na- will hold a planning session on tionwide to broaden the cover- December 5, 2012 to firm up ac- The official publication of the Pimentel Center for Local Governance and the Pimentel Institute for Leadership and age of barangay leaders who Governance tivities of the Institute for next can take part in the barangay Editorial Director Jay Dejaresco year. leadership seminars. Contributing Writers Alex Brillantes Roy Carandang Among the highlights of the For 2012, the PILG/PCLG Reneliza Ferrer PILG-PCLG activities this conducted seven seminars for Jaime Ocampo Nene Pimentel year were the barangay semi- barangay leaders participat- Raymund Rosuelo nars for leadership and na- ed in by 214 barangay kaga- Ed Tapia wads, punong barangays, Cris Uy tional transformation, and the Artist/Photograper reyronda roundtable discussions with Sangguniang Kabataan lead- Publisher Gwen Gana several speakers who are noted ers and other local officials. Editorial Consultant Coylee Gamboa Editorial Staff Clarisse Aquino for their expertise and famil- This brings to a total of Maelyn Calizo iarity in the subjects tackled 1,979 participants to the ba- Carla Caringal during the discussions. rangay seminars since it be- Pimentel Center for Local Governance Pimentel Institute for Leadership & Governance The PILG hopes to con- gan in 2012. 4th Floor Administration Building, University of Makati, JP Rizal Extension, West Rembo, Makati City duct more seminars among This year 2012, there were Telephone No.: 882-0678 loc 307 Email: [email protected], [email protected] barangay leaders all over the ten roundtable discussions Website: www.pimentelinstitute.org

November 2012 Paglaum 3 PILG... continued from page 1

National Committee on Rural Development and Poverty Eradica- tion (NCRDPE). The other delegates were Thiphasone Soukhathammavong, Mr. Khamphay Vilay- hong, Ms. Chanfong Keoboungnong, Mr. Phetsay Phiathep, Mr. Lienthong Souphany, Mr. Bounchanh Ni- yavong, Mr. Kham- sone Sysanhouth, Mr. Philip Bontuyan, Ms. Viengvila Sirimoungk- Dean Alex Brillantes (holding the microphone) discusses the rationale behind the visit of the officials of the Lao Peo- houne and Mr. Sangth- ple’s Republic to the Pimentel Center. ong Phatsalin. Listening at the table are Somsanith Souvanalath, head of the Lao People’s Republic delegation hands, Prof. Nene The Lao visitors Pimentel (at the Center) and EVP Edita Chan, of the University of Makati. At the left table are seated some of the members of the Lao delegation. sought to learn how the was able to transform its Spanish colonial period until the en- Local governments also have been government structure from a deeply actment of Republic Act 9160, known given the powers of eminent domain centralized system, to a system of great- as the local government code in 1991. which is to take private property for er empowerment to local governments. Pimentel explained that in the public use, upon payment of just com- They wanted to know the institu- past, the Philippines also experienced pensation. tions and agencies of government in- having a highly centralized form of Pimentel explained that devolution volved in decentralized government. government. means granting powers and funds to The delegates also wished to find However, at present, local govern- local government units to use in their out how local development planning ments are endowed with powers that development without dictation or in- is being done. used to be exercised exclusively by the terference from the central govern- The visiting delegation also asked national government like police pow- ments. how land use planning is being done er, which is the power to promote the Local government units now have in the Philippines. general welfare of the people. a fairly large share in the national in- In their visit Prof. Aquilino Pimen- Local governments now also have ternal revenue taxes collected by the tel Jr. briefed the delegates on the the power of taxation, meaning local national government, which funds are history of decentralization and devo- governments can exact and collect used for the projects and programs of lution in the Philippines, since the certain taxes. the local government units.

Somsanith Souvanalath, head of the Lao People’s delegation hands over Prof. Nene Pimentel gives a copy of his 2011 book, the Local Govern- a memento to Prof. Pimentel. Watching the proceedings are Khamphay ment Code of 1991 Revisited, to Somsanith Souvanalath, Lao delega- Vilayhong , and Thiphasone Soukhathammayong, and to Prof. Pimentel’s tion head. right are Dean Ed Tapia, Pastor Hugh Nguyen, Dean Alex Brillantes at back- ground, Prof. Raymund Rosuelo, who acted as the emcee of the affair.

4 Paglaum November 2012 RECENT PICTORIAL EVENTS

Dean Ederson Tapia receives a birthday cake from PILG Secretary Clarisse Local officials and politicians from Majayjay, Laguna led by Former May- Aquino at the Center. (November 14) or Victorino Rodillas pose for a picture with Prof. Nene Pimentel, King Flores and Liza Ting. (November 21)

Prof. Nene Pimentel receives guests at the PILG office. Seated from left PILG fellows led by Prof. Nene Pimentel Jr. (seated center) hosted dele- are Warly Guera, Pimentel, Rey Sandico, and Pastor King Flores. Behind gates from Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic led by Somsanith Souvanal- is PILG fellow Liza Ting and Edwin Sandico. (Novemebr 21) ath (seated left) in a roundtable discussion last Nov. 29.

Prof. Nene Pimentel speaks on the topic of Barangay Officials as Agents of Change at the annual assembly of the barangay officials of the City of Manda- luyong at the Holiday Hotel in Subic. (November 24). Seated immediately behind him may be seen Mayor Benhur Abalos and other officials of the city.