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************************************************************** Liberal Times Manila A monthly newsletter of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s Philippine Office ************************************************************** Dear friends of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, 28/2/2005 as an advocacy organization for liberal politics, we are always on the look for individuals (and institutions) who wish to communicate to a wider audience liberal arguments. In this context, the liberal Foundation in cooperation with Liberal Philippines magazine and the Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas (Young Liberals of the Philippines) sponsored an essay writing contest on “The Filipino as a Liberal.” All those involved in the project were positively surprised by the quantity and also the quality of the feedback. We had a hard time to select the three best contributions (and thus the prize winners) out of the well over one hundred papers submitted. In the end, the first prize went to Marlowe Selecios, a young writer from Cagayan de Oro, and his essay “The Portrait of the Filipino as a Liberal.” Excerpts of this impressive treatise are attached to this note. The equally notable texts of the two runners-up (Ronnel Lim from Quezon City and Cheryl Marie Cristobal from Davao City) are also documented in www.fnf.org.ph. I invite you to read these contributions to contemporary Philippine liberal thought - and conviction. On a slightly different note, the Foundation sponsored public dialogues on crucial aspects of the government’s reform agenda. Kicking off a new cooperation, the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) on February 23, 2005 organized a well-attended conference entitled “Fiscal Crisis: Are We in or Out?” where newly appointed Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima outlined and discussed his remedies for the financial troubles. The Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) is a Philippine think tank for pro-market policy solutions. We share with them the conviction that the market economy is not the cause but the solution to many of the economic problems of our times. A listing of the upcoming events may be found at http://www.fnf.org.ph/News/fef-fnf-events.htm Meanwhile, Liberal Philippines magazine continued its “Liberal Secretaries in Focus Series” with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Michael T. Defensor (Liberal Party) who skillfully presented his strategies aimed at protecting the country’s environment from further destruction. For more information on this event and the dinner forums featuring Liberal cabinet members, visit www.liberal-philippines.com. Our international dialogue programs have enabled numerous - mostly young - Filipino leaders to participate in liberal training workshops abroad. Apart from the increasingly popular seminars in Gummersbach (Germany), the Foundation is sponsoring advanced trainings for individuals involved in the promotion of human rights in Strasbourg (France) and Cape Town (South Africa). This year’s annual Study Session of the “International Institute of Human Rights” will be held in Strasbourg in July 2005 and focus on the international protection of women’s rights. In addition, an “International Human Rights Academy” will be held in the latter part of October 2005 in Cape Town. If you are professionally involved in human rights work and think you would profit from additional training and international networking, please contact me for more information. Thank you and kind regards (Dr. Ronald Meinardus) ************************************************************* The monthly Liberal Times Manila newsletter informs about activities of the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation in the Philippines and beyond. This issue has been sent to 1273 individuals and organizations. If you do not wish to receive our messages anymore, please return this note and put “unsubscribe” in the subject. More information on recent FNF-activities is waiting for you at www.fnf.org.ph. ************************************************************** The Portrait of the Filipino as a Liberal (Excerpts) by Marlowe Selecios Our predominantly conservative society undeniably looks with suspicious eyes on the Filipino liberal. Driven by his unusual zeal for individual liberty and social equality, the liberal is typecast as an activist, rarely appreciated and often misunderstood. The liberal's excesses are frequently magnified and highlighted, while his virtues, which are aplenty, understated. His pronounced impatience with the status quo is seen as rebelliousness. His self-confidence is mistaken for arrogance. But the Filipino liberal is impatient without being rebellious. True, he is dissatisfied with the socio-economic condition of the nation. He is appalled by the seeming helplessness of the masses debilitated and sickened by grinding poverty. He too senses the growing discontent of the people and is angered and shamed by the endless corruption in government. But unlike many conservatives who preach understanding and even tolerance, the Filipino liberal demands change and action. He does not call for arms like the radicals. He calls for genuine reforms. He does not espouse violent revolution as a solution. But he preaches a revolution of individual attitudes. This relentless and penetrating quest for solutions and alternatives is a hallmark of every liberal. Like Dr. Jose Rizal before him, the Filipino liberal courageously presents society's problems, asks the difficult questions and proposes bold solutions. Courage is his most cherished virtue. Often alone in a society resistant to change, the liberal always finds the audacity to speak his mind. Sometimes people heed his call. At other times, however, people call for his crucifixion. … Liberals are wary of revolutions which almost always lead to tyranny or slip to anarchy. In effecting meaningful reforms, the liberal believes in working within not outside the system. Like Ninoy, Salonga and Gerry Roxas, leading lights during the dark days of martial rule, the true liberal always acts within the parameters of the law no matter how great the temptation to do otherwise. He neither espouses nor welcomes violence. He may be an outspoken critic, a bearer of new ideas, a bold advocate but never a rebel. The liberal relishes lively discourses and intellectual debates. He is happiest when discussing and deliberating new policies and proposals. Free speech is most esteemed of freedoms. The pen is his most powerful weapon. He believes that an open society, where there is free exchange of ideas, stimulate people to think boldly and creatively. Thus an integral part of the liberal advocacy is the full flowering of the Filipino's civil and political rights. Consequently, the Filipino liberal is most effective when he is most free. … Ultimately however, the liberal is measured by the effectiveness of his response against corruption and poverty, the twin evils of Philippine society. The people are increasingly becoming restless. A social volcano is heating up. The Filipino liberal must once again prove that he is up to this mounting generational challenge. Already his voice can be heard in the streets, in the universities and in the halls of Congress calling for genuine political and social reforms. His cries for a more sustainable economic policy and a stricter anti-corruption strategy are beginning to stir and energize the indifferent. His agenda is varied and comprehensive stretching from education reforms and environmental protection to land redistribution and population control. But so much more still needs to be done. His calls at times fall on deaf ears but his voice remains true and powerful. Some people remain doubtful of his motives. But he remains steadfast, confident and unafraid. For he is a liberal and, like his forebears, he will succeed! © Liberal Philippines/Friedrich Naumann Foundation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Internet and Democracy Across Asia: MAY 2001 Online Trends in Governance, Civil Society and Media More information at: http://www.e-democracy.org/do Rule: No more than two posts a day per participant. To SUBSCRIBE, send e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNSUBSCRIBE, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/do-asia/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
