Inside Philippine politics & beyond

I’ve been invited to two events – the Asia Society forum on “FOI” and the PEN Conference on “writing and the crusade against corruption”

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Hi guys,

I will be a panelist at tomorrow’s wide-ranging discussion on the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) law at the Asian Institute of Management  (AIM) in a forum organized by the Asia Society.

And on Tuesday, I will be a panelist at the annual PEN (Poets, Essayists, Novelists) Conference.

I said yes to Monday’s invite because I will be the lone panelist speaking for full-time professional journalists. I will be talking partly from my own experience digging up information in the bowels of the government bureaucracy.

I have not really written about the FOI because I was waiting for the bills to get to a stage where they might be approved. Tomorrow I will have lots of things to say about the proposed FOI and how it will impact the future of Philippine journalism.

Ms. Suyin Liu Lee, Executive Director of Asia Society Philippines will open the forum.

The main speakers of the forum are Congressman Teddy Baguilat Jr. and Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara who will talk about the House and Senate versions. Their portion will be moderated by Prof. Mario Lopez of the Asian Institute of Management.

India’s experience with FOI will be shared by Shri Yashovardhan Azad, Information Commissioner, Central Information Commission; and the Indonesian experience by Natalia Soebagjo, Chair of Executive Board, Transparency International Indonesia. Prof. Francisco Roman, Asian Institute of Management’s Dean of Research will be moderator.

Then four panelists, including me, will discuss the FOI’s impact on Philippine society:

  • Ramon del Rosario, Chairman, Makati Business Club
  • Melinda Quintos de Jesus, Executive Director, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
  • Vincent Lazatin, Executive Director, Transparency & Accountability Network
  • Raissa Robles, senior Manila correspondent, South China Morning Post (HK) and blogger

After that, John Nery, Editor-in-Chief of Inquirer.net, will moderate the discussion.

The PEN Conference this Tuesday

The I have also been invited to be a panelist at Tuesday’s yearly PEN conference to be held at De la Salle University

I thought it would be fun to talk about my experience on “blogging and the crusade against corruption.”

Here is the Philippine Daily Inquirer story on the event:

The Philippine Center of the International PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) will hold its 56th annual conference on Dec. 2 and 3 at the The Verdure, Multi-purpose Hall, 5th floor, Henry Sy Hall, De La Salle University, Taft Avenue, Manila.

Theme is “Never stray from the path of righteousness and justice…” (Mabini’s The True Decalogue): Writing, Writers, Moral Regeneration and National Renewal.”

The 2014 conference is being held in commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini.

To deliver the keynote speech on Dec. 2 is novelist Anna Maria “Bambi” L. Harper, former columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and chief of Intramuros Administration.

To deliver the traditional Jose Rizal Lecture on Dec. 3 is former Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna, now of the International Commission of Jurists.

National Artists for Literature F. Sionil Jose and Bienvenido Lumbera will lead the writers, journalists, editors and publishers who will take part in the various literary sessions.

Featured writer-discussants on Dec. 2 include Raissa Robles, Victor Peñaranda Rene Azurin, Joel Pablo Salud, Nicolas Pichay, Floy Quintos, Dennis Marasigan, Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., Kristian Cordero, Fr. Wilmer Tria, Junley Lazaga, Alex R. Castro, Zola Macarambon, Francis Allan Angelo and Charlson Ong.

On Dec. 3, discussants include Ricardo Soler, Gemma Cruz Araneta, Saul Hofileña Jr., Ambassador Alejandrino Vicente, Bernardita Churchill, Karina Bolasco, Nida Ramirez, Jun Matias, Carlo Vergara, Edgar Samar and Marjorie Evasco.

To read the rest, please click on this link.

Comments

  1. Dapat dagdagan natin yung mga allies ng tuwid na daan sa senator level, para kahit sino maging president,, kung magkamali man yung taong bayan..eh ma impeach kaagad. Hopefully, we have a better VP.. May ilan akong naiisip, I’m not sure if they are graft tainted, please let me know your thoughts

    1. Gov. Hataman
    2. Cong Robredo
    3. Sec de Lima
    4. Duterte ( Sarah or his father)

    nag-iisip pa ako kung sino yung pwede pa..

    Baka makalusot kasi si Binay,, lagot na naman ang Pilipinas..

    Sana si Heidi eh part pa rin ng COA

  2. araw araw sa social media, links sa internet, newspapers, kahit sa tv, kitang kita ang pagtuligsa
    sa kurapsyon ni binay. kung isu-survey siguro lahat ng nababasa ko sa, 80 – 90% is against binay
    na maging presidente. pero wag ka, ganun din nuon si forever assistant pero biglang nanalong
    senadora nancy binay. kelangan din siguro natin buksan ang mga mata ng mga maralitang pilipino
    na hindi nakakapanood o walang mga internet. nakakatakot isipin pero if vp binay is not forced to resign from the cabinet o kaya nmn makasuhan ng plunder, may chance pa rin talaga syang maging next president (god help us).

    • Wall Street Journal Article on Binay.
      Mis-information supplied by political consultant Cash siple to writer. Cashiple said that Binay’s survey went down from 80% to 70% since the scandal broke! which is blatant lie because his company’s own survey it was down to 31%.

      According to Cashiple the Filipinos did not put a dent on Binay’s popularity despite corruption charges.

      The object of Binay thru his paid lackey Cashiple is to condition foreign investors that they have to deal with Binay when he becomes president.

      Maybe someone could attach the link to this article.

    • @Maverick: I have similar apprehension, although I argued elsewhere here in CPM that the situation now is different from that prevailing in 2010 or earlier.

      In a few weeks in December (?), we may have the second set of SWS and Pulse Surveys which may show whether all these efforts by the Senate Investigation and associated efforts; and the rightful online “shaming efforts” have again resulted in the desired effect — another significant drop in Binay’s trust rating or popularity. Then we may have a gleam of the events going forward.

    • @ maverick,

      Kaya nanalo si nancy binay noon ay dahil hindi pa nalantad ang baho/anomalya ni father binay noon saka hindi pa nalantad mga pagtatatago nito sa batikos sa kanya saka pag-atras nito sa debate kontra trillanes…sakia hindi pa nalaman ang Dunasties nang mga ito… saka hindi pa nalantad pakikialam nito sa Zamboanga Zieges, saka hindfi pa nalantad mga pa EPEL nito noon Yolanda, saka hindi pa nalantad mga tagong yaman nito na napakahirap ipaliwanag, saka hindi pa nalantad ang Bidding Biddingan sa makati parking building saka sa ibang proyekto sa makati…saka hindi pa kumanta noon ang kasabwat nitong dating bise mayor nang makati saka mga tauhan nito na kumata din at saka ang CAKEs na pinagkakakitaan din… at iba pa…saka ang matindi ang mga kaso na isiniwalat ni comm. Heide Mendosa na ultimo hospital equipment ay million million ang patong..nakakasuka na…
      at ang nakakatuwa at nakakainis ay maganda pa Bahay nang mga baboy kumpara sa mga eskuwaters sa makati…je je je…

  4. On the Malampaya Fund, Senate hearing –

    ‘“It would be unfair to blame everything on her and then not give her the opportunity to answer.”

    Even if she will just invoke her right to remain silent, Janet Lim-Napoles has to be invited to the Senate’s investigation of the alleged misuse of the Malampaya Fund, Senators Francis Escudero and JV Ejercito insisted in radio interviews on Sunday.’

    Janet Napoles has to be ALWAYS given the ‘Twin-Rule’ . . . notice and opportunity of hearing….

    . . . I agree with Sen. Escudero. Let her lie if she wants. But maybe take the chance if she changes…to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

    Put her again at the Senate hearing on the MALAMPAYA FUND.

  6. Hi Raissa,

    Last year you were also a panelist at the Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar organized by The Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility (CMFR).

    Just curious, do you have an opinion of the National Endowment for Democracy?

      • The excepts below were taken from http://themuralla.com/2013/06/30/campus-journalists-attend-jvo-2013/:

        ———-
        “Experienced journalists imparted their wisdom to college students at the Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar (JVOJS) held last June 27, 2013 at AIM Conference Center Manila.

        This year’s discussion theme was “News Media Coverage of the Campaign and Elections”. The panel of journalists includes Deo Dominic Bugaoisan of GMA 7 Network, Henry Omaga-Diaz of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., Pia Hontiveros-Pagkalinawan of SOLAR TV, Lynda Jumilla Abalos of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., Malou Mangahas of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Raissa Robles of raissarobles.com and Ryan D. Rosauro of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI).”

        “The JVOJS is a yearly event organized by the CMFR in cooperation with the National Endowment for Democracy and Ateneo De Manila University that began in 1995.”

        ———-

        .

        And the excepts below were taken from http://wrongkindofgreen.org/2014/04/30/philippines-the-ned-the-ngos-and-the-cia/

        ———-
        “Another is the Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility, Inc. (CMFRI). It claims its objective is “to advance press freedom and promote responsible journalism in the Philippines.” The CMFR also seeks to implement a program on media monitoring; organize a seminar recognizing excellence in journalism; and conduct advocacy to strengthen press protection in the Philippines.”

        “The CMFR officers are: Melinda Quintos de Jesus, Executive Director; Prof. Luis V. Teodoro, Deputy Director; and the members of the Board of Trustees are: Melinda Quintos de Jesus; Luis V. Teodoro; Maria Isabel G. Ongpin; Tina Monzon Palma; Vergel O. Santos; Carlos H. Conde; and Lorna Kalaw-Tirol. Leaders of the press community and CSOs in the Philippines who served in the Board previously include: Dr. Jose Abueva, Dr. Lydia Balatbat-Echauz, Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J., Mr. Santiago Dumlao Jr., Atty. Fulgencio Factoran Jr., and Paulynn Paredes Sicam. In 2011, CMFRI received a grant of $79,000 and $76,000 in 2012 from NED.”

        ———-

  7. Good for us here at CPM that we have an advocate of FOI in Raissa attending the Monday Forum. Thus, she will be able to grasp well the nuances of the discussions. Aside from hearing about the House and Senate Versions and discussions surrounding that, I am interested in the Indian and Indonesian FOI and their experience with it. A comparative commentary will be interesting.

    Needless to say, the impact or non-impact of the FOI is important to our future politics depending on the the way it is crafted. For example,it may or may not go the way of the SALN in its effectiveness. We hope (against hope?) that the crafting and effectiveness of our FOI is a game changer this time.

  8. congratulations and God bless ma’am raissa….. mayroon bang live streaming or can we watch the replay? excited to watch and listen to our very own “ma’am raissa” once again

  9. Theme: Never stray from the path of righteousness and justice ………

    Daang matuwid by any name is still daang matuwid, nasa sinseridad na ng bawat isa kung papaano ito tatahakin.

  10. That’s great! These are prestigious gatherings and an invite to speak is validation of all your fine work. Kudos!

  11. Let’s hope we get it right or else we might just get Failure On Information = still FOI

    Fib on Information = FOI

    Folly on Information = FOI

    Foist on Information = FOI

    Fooder on Information = FOI

    Foil on Information = FOI

    Lower House or Senate can make a choice what KIND of law will come out…the ABOVE will guide them for it.

    hehehe