KAYA NATIN

Speech of Gov Grace Padaca in the PMAAA Convention at AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo, QC

PMAAA
AFP THEATER, CAMP AGUINALDO
JANUARY 24, 2009

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HONOR OF SPEAKING BEFORE YOU TODAY.

I KNOW HOW SPECIAL PMAERS ARE. WHEN I WAS STILL A RADIO BROADCASTER, I INTERVIEWED A LOT OF YOU, FROM THE AFP, THE PNP, THE AIR FORCE – FROM LIEUTENANTS TO GENERALS, FROM SCOUT RANGERS TO REBEL SOLDIERS. I COVERED THE VISITS TO THE 5TH ID IN CAMP UPI , GAMU, ISABELA OF MANY CHIEFS OF STAFF AND ARMY CHIEFS.

I CONCEPTUALIZED AND HOSTED A PROGRAM CALLED HINDI TRABAHO ITO, PERSONALAN LANG, THAT FEATURED THE OTHER SIDE OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, MILITARY AND CIVILIAN, PARA MALAMAN DIN NG MGA LISTENERS NAMIN ANG PERSONAL SIDE NG MGA OPISYAL, SO THAT THEIR MORE HUMANE AND SOFT SIDE ARE DISCOVERED.

I ONCE SANG ON THE AIR WITH GEN ANGELO REYES WHEN I INTERVIEWED HIM WHILE HE WAS 5TH ID CHIEF IN CAMP UPI, GAMU, ISABELA. ANG KINANTA NAMIN PAINT MY LOVE BY THE GROUP MICHAEL LEARNS TO ROCK.

I COVERED A LOT OF TURN OVER CEREMONIES OF GENERALS RETIRING FROM THE SERVICE TO AT LAST, DO APOSTOLIC WORK AS I REMEMBER GENERAL REY ALCASID SAYING – APOSTOLIC WORK MAG-ALAGA NG APO. THE LATEST RETIREMENT OR TURN OVER CEREMONY I WITNESSED WAS THAT OF GENERAL MELCHOR DILODILO ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO BEFORE HE WAS REPLACED BY GEN OCHOA IN THE 5TH ID.

THE DIFFERENCE NOW IS I WITNESS SUCH EVENTS AND COMMAND CONFERENCES NO LONGER AS A MEDIA PERSON BUT AS GOVERNOR OF THE LARGEST PROVINCE IN THEIR AOR.

PERHAPS MANY OF THOSE WHO WERE ASSIGNED TO CAGAYAN VALLEY AND THE CORDILLERAS FROM THE MID-80’S UNTIL THE YEAR 2000 WHO I INTERVIEWED AS BOMBO GRACE NEVER HAD THE INKLING THAT THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED RADIO BROADCASTER WOULD ONE DAY REPLACE THE VERY POWERFUL MEN OF THE DY-NASTY IN ISABELA.

I NEVER HAD ANY INKLING EITHER. MY VISIONS OR DREAMS DID NOT REACH THAT FAR. AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP WITH POLIO SINCE THE AGE OF THREE , I CONSCIOUSLY LIMITED MY DREAMS TO WHAT I THOUGHT I COULD AT LEAST ACHIEVE AND THERE WERE NOT MANY OF THEM, AND CERTAINLY NOT BEING GOVERNOR OF ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVINCES IN THE COUNTRY. IF I HAD A DREAM IT WAS SIMPLY TO BE A RADIO ANNOUNCER BECAUSE IT WAS A JOB WHERE I COULD BE HEARD BUT NOT SEEN. I WAS VERY SHY, YOU SEE, AS A RESULT OF MY PHYSICAL HANDICAP.

IN THE YEAR 2001, I DID SHOCK THE PEOPLE OF ISABELA WHEN I DARED RUN FOR THE ELECTIONS. YES, TUMAKBO AKO SA ELEKSYON KAHIT HINDI AKO MAKALAKAD. AND WORSE, I WAS RUNNING TO FIGHT THE ONE FAMILY THAT RULED OUR PROVINCE FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

I COME FROM AN ORDINARY FILIPINO FAMILY. MY PARENTS WERE BOTH PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO TAUGHT US, THEIR SIX CHILDREN, TO LIVE SIMPLY SO THAT WE COULD MAKE BOTH ENDS MEET.

I FINISHED SCHOOL AND BECAME A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT BUT THE LORD HAS A WAY OF GRANTING OUR DEEPEST WISHES… MY FIRST MAJOR JOB WAS YES, AS A BROADCASTER IN THE LOCAL RADIO STATION IN OUR PROVINCE, BOMBO RADIO CAUAYAN, SO I BECAME A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ANNOUNCER INSTEAD.

FOR FOURTEEN YEARS AS A BROADCAST JOURNALIST, ANCHORING A RADIO PROGRAM CALLED “SA TOTOO LANG” THAT WENT ON THE AIR FOR THREE HOURS EVERY SINGLE DAY, NEWS AND ISSUES CAME THROUGH ME - GIVING ME OFTEN A CLOSE UP VIEW OF THE ABUSIVE WAY BY WHICH THE RESOURCES OF OUR GOVERNMENT WERE BEING SQUANDERED WHILE OUR POOR PEOPLE KEPT GETTING POORER BY THE DAY.

THE POLITICAL “DY-NASTY” IN ISABELA BEGAN ITS RULE IN OUR PROVINCE AS EARLY AS THE YEAR 1963, FROM THE FATHER, TO THE SONS AND…. HE HAD MANY SONS BECAUSE WELL, HE HAD MANY WIVES. THAT WAS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. THEY DID NOT MAKE ANY EFFORT TO HIDE IT FROM THE PUBLIC. I FEARED THE EXAMPLE THEY WERE GIVING TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND EVEN THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS UNDER THEM. ASIDE FROM THE FATHER AND THE SONS WERE THE GENERATION OF THE EVEN MORE NUMEROUS GRANDSONS AUTOMATICALLY WAITING NEXT IN LINE. PADAMI SILA NANG PADAMI, PARANG GREMLINS. THEY HAVE BECOME SO USED TO BEING IN POWER THAT MANY TIMES, THEY DID NOT CARE ANYMORE ABOUT WHAT THE PEOPLE THOUGHT OR FELT. THEY FORGOT THAT POWER IS NOT THEIRS AS A BIRTHRIGHT. IT IS THE PEOPLE’S!

YOU WHO HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO ISABELA OR THE 5TH ID WHO CAME IN WITH THE PMA VALUES, SPECIALLY INTEGRITY, ALSO MUST HAVE FELT DISGUSTED WITH HOW POWER WAS BEING USED IN ISABELA – THAT IS, NOT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE BUT TO ENRICH AND EMPOWER THEMSELVES AND THEIR CRONIES.

I TOLD MYSELF, I CANNOT JUST SIT HERE LOOKING AT THESE THINGS HAPPENING. THIS IS NOT WHAT I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT DEMOCRACY SHOULD BE. HENCE, IN THE ELECTIONS IN THE YEAR 2001, I FILED MY CANDIDACY AGAINST FAUSTINO “BOJIE” DY III FOR WHOSE SAKE EVERY EFFORT WAS MADE SO THAT HE WOULD RUN UNOPPOSED.

MY CHANCES OF WINNING WERE ALMOST NIL BUT I SAID, AT LEAST, EVEN IF I LOSE, I WOULD HAVE PEACE OF MIND. I WILL NOT BE ONE OF THOSE COMPLAINING WHY EVIL THINGS WERE BEING DONE TO US AS A PEOPLE, FEELING MAD AND FRUSTRATED, BUT NOT LIFTING A FINGER ANYWAY TO STOP THEM.

AS A CANDIDATE, I WAS TAUNTED. THEY SAID I WAS CRAZY. THE POWERFUL MEN OF THE DYNASTY LAUGHED ME OFF AND DID NOT TAKE ME SERIOUSLY, WELL, UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO COUNT THE VOTES.

THIS WOMAN WHO COULD NOT WALK, RAN! FOR THE ELECTIONS AND TROUNCED THE MACHOS IN ISABELA.

AND GRACE LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER? OF COURSE NOT… IT TURNED OUT WINNING THE ELECTIONS WAS THE EASIEST PART. GOVERNING IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT STORY. HUMANDA SI OBAMA.

THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF MY BEING GOVERNOR WERE VERY DIFFICULT. IF THEY CANNOT KILL YOUR BODY, EVERYDAY THEY WILL TRY TO KILL YOUR SPIRIT. .. I HAD TO LIVE WITH ALL THE BLOWS FROM EVERYWHERE THAT CAME MY WAY, ALL THE DYNASTY’S PEOPLE IN THE CAPITOL THAT I WAS SURROUNDED WITH..

I INHERITED ALMOST ONE BILLION PESOS IN DEBT WHEN I TOOK OVER AS GOVERNOR, MOSTLY FOR PROJECTS CONTRACTED JUST BEFORE THE ELECTIONS OF 2004. ONE AFTER THE OTHER, WE WERE ABLE TO PAY THEM.

I AM NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF PREPARING MY STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS. THE LAST TIME I DELIVERED ONE IN JANUARY OF 2007, I REPORTED TO OUR APO ISABELINOS THAT FOR EVERY THREE PESOS OF THE CAPITOL’S OBLIGATIONS TO CONTRACTORS AND SUPPLIERS, WE HAVE BY THEN ALREADY PAID TWO OR ALMOST 70%. WHEN I REPORT TO THEM AGAIN IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I’LL UPDATE THEM THAT OUR OBLIGATIONS TO OUR SUPPLIERS IS DOWN TO 15%. WE COULD HAVE PAID IT ALL, IF NOT FOR THE MANY IRREGULARITIES IN THE TRANSACTIONS THAT’S KEEPING ME FROM PAYING.

WE WERE ABLE TO SETTLE THESE OBLIGATIONS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME NOT FAILING IN PAYING THE 700 MILLION PESO-LOANS BORROWED FROM THE BANKS BY MY PREDECESSORS. WE HAVE SO FAR PAID 400 MILLION OF THE PRINCIPAL AND 200 MILLION OF THE INTEREST. IMAGINE PAYING ALMOST 50% INTEREST. IN MY ADMINISTRATION, WE NO LONGER CONTRACTED ANY NEW LOANS FROM THE BANKS.

STILL, WE WERE ABLE TO ENROLL 100,000 OF OUR INDIGENT ISABELINOS TO THE PHILHEALTH PROGRAM WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO PAY A SINGLE CENT.

THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IN ISABELA ALSO RESULTED TO MANY BIG CHANGES THAT WE ALL HAVE BEEN LONGING FOR AS A PEOPLE.

ONE IS THE UPLIFTMENT OF THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF OUR FARMERS WHICH MAKE UP MORE THAN 60% OF OUR POPULATION. WITH OUR ONE MILLION HECTARE LAND AREA, WE ARE THE COUNTRYS SECOND LARGEST PROVINCE NEXT TO PALAWAN . WE ARE THE BIGGEST CORN PRODUCERS IN THE ENTIRE PHILIPPINES AND THE SECOND BIGGEST PALAY PRODUCER, NEXT TO NUEVA ECIJA. IN ORDER FOR OUR FARMERS TO ENJOY BETTER PRICES FOR THEIR CORN AND PALAY PRODUCE, WE ARE USING PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS// TO ADD UP TO P3 PER KILO// OF THEIR HARVESTS. WE DO THIS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY. I REMEMBER THAT WHEN I WAS STILL A BROADCASTER, JUST A DIFFERENCE OF 25 CENTAVOS OR 50 CENTAVOS IN THE PRICE PER KILO OF RICE AND CORN WAS ALREADY A MAJOR THING WITH OUR FARMERS. NOW, WE ARE GIVING THEM SUBSIDY OF THREE PESOS PER KILO. WE CAN EVEN GO AS HIGH AS FIVE PESOS IF WE FIND IT NECESSARY. BECAUSE OF THIS, WE ARE ABLE TO INFLUENCE UPWARDS THE TREND OF PRICES IN THE MARKET SIMPLY BECAUSE WE GIVE OUR FARMERS AN OPTION THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ALL THE PAST YEARS OF THE DYNASTY IN ISABELA. FOR THIS PRICE SUBSIDY PROGRAM, WE WON A GAWAD GALING POOK AWARD LAST YEAR.

UNLIKE MY OPPONENTS, WHEN I CAMPAIGNED I DID NOT DEMAND FROM THE RICE TRADERS AND OTHER BUSINESSMEN MONEY FOR THE ELECTIONS, THAT’S WHY WHEN I WON, I HAD NOT THE BURDEN OF BEING INDEBTED TO THEM THAT’S WHY I CAN FREELY DO WHAT IS NEEDED FOR OUR POOR FARMERS. I ALWAYS HASTEN TO EMPHASIZE THOUGH THAT I AM NOT AGAINST BUSINESSMEN. DURING THE CAMPAIGN, I TOLD THEM AS LONG AS YOU DO THINGS FAIR AND SQUARE, I WILL LET YOU BE. MAKAKATIPID KAYO SA AKIN DAHIL HINDI KO KAYO HUHUTHUTAN. WALA KAYONG KAILANGANG BAWIIN SA MGA MAGSASAKA DAHIL WALA AKONG HIHINGIN SA INYO NA PARA BANG MAYROON AKONG IPINATAGO.

I HAVE ALWAYS TOLD OUR PEOPLE THAT AFTER FREEING OURSELVES FROM THE 40-YEAR DYNASTY THAT LORDED OVER US THAT THE BATTLE IS NOT YET OVER. WE MAY HAVE DEFEATED THE DYNASTY BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT. WE ALSO HAVE TO FREE OURSELVES FROM OUR OWN WRONG ATTITUDES, FROM OUR MISPLACED VALUES, OUR BAD HABITS. THAT WE SHOULD NOT JUST RELY ON OTHERS TO DO THE THINKING FOR US. I REPEAT TO THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN, MAS MASARAP TULUNGAN MGA TAONG MARUNONG TUMULONG SA KANILANG MGA SARILI. THAT THEY SHOULD NOT ONLY EXPECT TO RECEIVE HELP, 100%, THEY SHOULD ALSO DO THEIR SHARE IN MAKING THEIR LIVES BETTER FOR THE FUTURE. I TELL THEM, USE ME AS YOUR VISUAL AID. IT IS EASY TO SEE THAT WITH MY PHYSICAL CONDITION, I ALSO NEED A LOT OF HELP BUT I HAVE NOT USED THIS AS AN EXCUSE TO BE JUST A BURDEN TO OTHERS.

WITH THE POWER AND RESOURCES THAT I HAVE IN MY HANDS, WE WERE ABLE TO RE-FOCUS THE PRIORITY OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT TO THE TRULY MOST NEEDY OF BARANGAYS, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL VOTERS LIVING THERE OR WHETHER OR NOT THE MAYOR IS AN ALLY OF THE GOVERNOR. WE HAVE INSTITUTED AN UGNAYANG BAYAN OR OUR PEOPLE’S DAY EVERY WEDNESDAY WHEN PEOPLE FROM THE BARANGAYS CAN DIRECTLY TALK WITH ME. AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION, ABOUT 90% OF THE PROVINCE’S 1018 BARANGAYS RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROJECTS DIRECTLY FROM MY OFFICE, WITHOUT THE BARANGAY CAPTAINS NEEDING TO GO THROUGH THE MAYORS. I ALWAYS REMIND BARANGAY OFFICIALS THAT IF THEY DO NOT DO WELL IN THEIR JOINT PROJECTS WITH ME OR DO ANY HANKY PANKY, I WILL IGNORE THEM AND TURN TO NGO’S OR PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR BARANGAYS WHO WILL BE MY PARTNERS IN GIVING SERVICES TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS. THAT BECOMES DETERRENT ENOUGH.

I ALSO HAD MY EXPERIENCE OF BEING PERSECUTED OR WANTED TO BE RECALLED BY MOST OF THE MAYORS OF ISABELA BUT EVENTUALLY WHEN THEY SAW THAT I WAS EFFECTIVELY COOPERATING WITH MORE AND MORE BARANGAY OFFICIALS, THEY STARTED TO COOPERATE, TOO! EVEN SOME OF THE MOST RABID SUPPORTERS OF THE OLD ADMINISTRATION STARTED TESTING THE WATERS.

WHEN I CAME IN, ONLY ONE OR TWO OF THE 36 MAYORS OF THE PROVINCE OF ISABELA WERE SUPPORTIVE OF ME. BUT AFTER FOUR YEARS, THE SITUATION IS REVERSED. I AM FRIENDLY ENOUGH WITH MOST OF THEM THAT I HAVE INVITED 33 OF THE 36 MAYORS TO THE PRESENTATION CEREMONIES OF THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARDS LAST AUGUST. AND THEY CAME, YUNG IBA NGA NAGPA-AUTOGRAPH PA SA AKIN.

FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS OF MY BEING GOVERNOR, IT HAS BEEN CLEARLY PROVEN THAT IT IS NOT TRUE THAT I AM AN NPA— A CHARGE HURLED AGAINST ME BY MY OPPONENTS IN THEIR DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO FIND A REASON WHY THIS PERSON, WHO THEY DISMISSED AS A NUISANCE, DEFEATED THEM. WHEN THEY TRIED TO BLOCK MY PROCLAMATION IN 2004 BY CHARGING ME OF TERRORIZING VOTERS THROUGH THE NPA’S, IT WAS MILITARY OFFICIALS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO EXECUTE AFFIDAVITS IN MY FAVOR = GEN ORLY SORIANO, GEN HOMER CAPULONG OF THE 502ND BRIGADE AND MY FRIEND, THE LATE CPT JOSE RENE JARQUE – THEY WHO KNEW HOW I DID MY JOB WITH OBJECTIVITY AND FAIRNESS.

EVEN IF SOME PEOPLE BECAME QUITE CURIOUS ABOUT THE NPA BRANDING OF ME, I DID NOT ALLOW IT TO LIMIT MY ACTIONS. I CONTINUED REACHING OUT TO EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE REMOTEST BARANGAYS, THE SO-CALLED NPA AREAS. AREN’T THEY THE ONES WHO FEEL MOST NEGLECTED BY GOVERNMENT HENCE THEY GO UP THE MOUNTAINS AND TAKE UP ARMS? NOW WHEN THEY COME TO THE CAPITOL, WE ATTEND TO THEIR CONCERNS PROMPTLY SO THAT THEY DON’T FIND THE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS OR THE MOUNTAINS ANYMORE. THE PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT ARE LISTENING TO THEM AND ATTENDING TO THEM. LAGI KONG SINASABI SA KANILA…. SANA MAKABAWAS MAN LAMANG AKO SA MGA DAHILAN NG INYONG PAGHIHIMAGSIK

LET ME JUST SHARE WITH YOU ONE VERY SPECIAL MOMENT IN MY LIFE AS GOVERNOR. THIS IS ABOUT AN NPA COMMANDER AND A BRIGADE COMMANDER WHO I ALWAYS INTERVIEWED WHEN I WAS STILL A BROADCASTER. WALA PANG CELLPHONES NOON, MAYROON LANG MGA TWO WAY RADIO OR SINGLE SIDE BANDS WHATEVER, I DO NOT KNOW. BUT I WENT THROUGH GREAT PAINS JUST TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE TWO MEN TO DIALOUGE IN MY RADIO PROGRAMS BEFORE. SABAY SILANG NARIRINIG. THAT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE I’D LIKE TO THINK THEY HAD SOME KIND OF A MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER. PERHAPS IN THE WAY THEY CONDUCTED THEMSELVES IN BATTLE OR MAYBE EVEN IN THE FACT THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. IN 1992 THE NPA COMMANDER SURRENDERED TO THEN GOVERNOR BENJAMIN DY AND WHO TOOK HIM IN AND IS NOW A CAPITOL EMPLOYEE. HIS NAME IS ROLANDO LEE OR KA ILYAN. THE BRIGADE COMMANDER WAS GENERAL HOMER CAPULONG. COLONEL PA LANG SIYA NOON. HANGGANG NGAYON TEXT MATES PA RIN KAMI. LAST YEAR, HE CAME TO ISABELA TO INVITE ME AS GRADUATION SPEAKER IN THE WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA ECIJA WHERE HE IS ONE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I ASKED HIM, GENERAL, GUSTO MONG MAKITA NANG PERSONAL SI KA ILYAN? SO HERE THEY ARE. ONE OF THE NICEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE AS A BROADCASTER AND GOVERNOR.

ANOTHER STEP THAT I INITIATED IS TO MEET WITH THE POOR MEN’S LAWYERS, THE PAO’S (PUBLIC ATTORNEYS OFFICE)—TO LEARN FROM THEM THEIR PREDICAMENTS AND THOSE OF THEIR INDIGENT CLIENTS. EVEN BEFORE THE ENACTMENT OF RA 9406 LAST MARCH 2007 WHICH AUTHORIZES LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO GIVE FINANCIAL AND OTHER SUPPORT TO OUR PAO’S, I ALREADY WORKED FOR THE INCLUSION OF ALLOWANCES FOR THE PUBLIC ATTORNEYS IN ISABELA’S 2006 ANNUAL BUGET AND FROM THEN ON THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING REGULAR ALLOWANCES AND ASSISTANCE FROM THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT. WITH REGARD TO JUDGES, PROSECUTORS AND CLERKS OF COURT, I HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT I HAVE AGREED TO CONTINUE WHAT THE PREVIOUS LEADERS OF ISABELA WERE GIVING THEM FOR THEIR ALLOWANCES BUT ONLY AS AN AUGMENTATION TO THE INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, NOT TO SOLICIT ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL SPARE MY PEOPLE IF THEY EVER GET INTO TROUBLE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, AS IN THE CASE OF PDEA’S MAJOR MARCELINO, I HAVE SOME ISSUES TOO WITH PROSECUTORS IN ISABELA WHO LET PEOPLE GO SCOT FREE EVEN IF THEY ARE ALREADY CAUGHT RED HANDED.

FOREST PROTECTION RIGHT NOW, IN ISABELA, I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY DIFFICULT MISSION THAT I DECIDED TO TAKE HEAD ON – THE FIGHT AGAINST THE BIG SYNDICATES IN ISABELA WHO HAVE BEEN RAMPANTLY DESTROYING THE SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS WHICH IS LOCATED IN 9 OF OUR 36 MUNICIPALITIES . IT IS IN ISABELA WHERE 30% TO 40% OF THE COUNTRY’S LAST REMAINING FOREST COVER REMAINS.

SO MANY TIMES A DAY, FOR TOO LONG NOW, TRUCKS FULL OF ILLEGALLY CUT LOGS PASS THROUGH OUR HIGHWAYS UNDETERRED BY THE DENR, WHILE WE LOSE BILLIONS OF PESOS IN CROP AND INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGES WHEN TYPHOONS AND FLOODS HIT US DUE TO DENUDED FORESTS.

NATURAL DISASTERS HIT US SO MANY TIMES A YEAR. IF ITS NOT THE WATERS, IT IS LACK OF THEM THAT CAUSE UNTOLD SUFFERING TO OUR FARMERS AND POOR FAMILIES, LIKE WHEN THE DROUGHT IN 2007 DAMAGED THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR WHOLE PROVINCIAL BUDGET FOR THE YEAR.

I WORKED WITH OUR SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN AND THEY APPROVED MY REQUEST OF APPROPRIATING P8M OF OUR OWN MONEY IN ORDER TO HELP PUT A STOP TO THE UNABATED CUTTING OF TREES IN OUR PART OF THE SIERRA MADRES. OF THE ONE MILLION BOARD FEET WAITING TO BE BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE SIERRA MADRES WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN CUT BY PEOPLE CALLED BOGADORS, WE HAVE CONFISCATED ABOUT 60% OR 600,000 BOARD FEET. WE ARE SET TO AUCTION THIS OFF AND DENR SEC LITO ATIENZA AGREED TO OUR REQUEST THAT WE WILL USE THE PROCEEDS TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE ISABELA FOREST PROTECTION TASK FORCE. IT’S NO JOKE PROVIDING FOR THE MEALS OF OUR TASK FORCE MEMBERS MORNING NOON AND NIGHT AS WELL AS THOSE OF PLATOONS OF SOLDIERS, WHO ARE HELPING US A LOT IN THIS ANTI-ILLEGAL LOGGING FIGHT.

THIS REMINDS ME OF THE TIME OF RETIRED GENERAL ORLANDO SORIANO AS COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE 5TH ID WHEN HIS TASK FORCE LUNTIAN AND THE DENR’S OPLAN JERICHO CONFISCATED TRUCKS UPON TRUCKS OF ILLEGALLY CUT LOGS IN ISABELA. I REMEMBER NA GALIT NA GALIT SA KANIYA NOON ANG DY-NASTY.

LAST SEPTEMBER, IN COOPERATION WITH THE 45TH IB AND THE CASF ASSIGNED IN ISABELA, WE FLEW OVER THE SIERRA MADRES AND PROVED MY WORST FEARS, THE ONE MILLION BOARD FEET OF ILLEGALY CUT LOGS THAT WE HAVE BLOCKED IN THE TOWN OF ILAGAN IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE ESTIMATED TEN MILLION BOARD FEET THAT WE SAW IN THE TOWN OF SAN MARIANO, STILL A PART OF THE SIERRA MADRE NATURAL PARK .

TEN MILLION BOARD FEET … ONLY FOR THIS YEAR 2008?

HOW ABOUT ALL THESE PAST YEARS? HOW CAN I NOT TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THIS FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR FORESTS?

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS IN PHILIPPINE SOCIETY THAT WE HAVE TO FIGHT … CORRUPTION, POLITICS OF PATRONAGE, JUETENG, ILLEGAL LOGGING.

MANY TIMES I HAVE TALKED WITH MAYORS IN ISABELA ABOUT THIS ISSUES AND THEY’D ALWAYS TELL ME, GOVERNOR, WE HAVE NO CHOICE, BECAUSE SO MANY POOR PEOPLE COME TO US FOR THEIR URGENT NEEDS. THEY USE PEOPLE’S POVERTY AS A CONVENIENT EXCUSE TO RECEIVE BRIBE OR PROTECTION MONEY. MANY OFTEN REFUSE TO DO THE COURAGEOUS THING BECAUSE ARE AFRAID THEY WILL LOSE THEIR SOURCES OF FUNDS AND THE VOTES FOR THE NEXT ELECTIONS .

I HAVE SEEN MANY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS STOP SHORT AT DOING THE RIGHT THING. THEY JUST LOOK THE OTHER WAY, NO MATTER HOW STRONG THEIR FEELINGS ARE TOO ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE. THEY DO NOT ACT. THEY ARE IMMOBILIZED BY THEIR FEAR OF LOSING VOTES. SABI KO TULOY SUCH OBSESSION WITH RE-ELECTION IS EVEN MORE PARALYZING THAN POLIO.

SABI KO SA KANILA, KAYO NAMAN PALA ANG PILAY EH. HINDI AKO. DAHIL GANITO LANG AKO, KUMIKILOS AKO LABAN SA ILLEGAL LOGGING, SA JUETENG, SA MGA GUMAGAWA NG HINDI TAMA.

I REFUSE TO WASTE THE POWER THAT MY POSITION GIVES ME NOT TO DO WHAT ONLY GOVERNORS OR GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVES LIKE ME HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE POWER TO DO.

LET ME PLEASE TELL YOU ONE OF MY BIGGEST REALIZATIONS AS GOVERNOR.

AFTER HAVING BEEN IN THIS POSITION FOR 4 YEARS, I HAVE CONFIRMED FOR MYSELF THAT TRULY, PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT POSITIONS HAVE ENOURMOUS POWERS. ONE SIGNATURE OF MINE CAN CAUSE THE RELEASE OF MILLIONS OF PESOS. ONE YES OR NO THAT I SAY AFFECTS THE LIVE OF SO MANY PEOPLE. IF USED WELL, POWER CAN BE A GOOD THING. IT CAN MAKE YOU DO SO MANY THINGS TO UPLIFT THE CONDITIONS OF MANY POOR PEOPLE. IT CAN MAKE YOU GIVE STRENGTH TO THE WEAK. IT CAN MAKE YOU EMPOWER THE COMMON MAN.

BUT IF YOU ARE NOT GROUNDED, IF YOU HAVE NOT THE RIGHT VALUES, YOU CAN GET EASILY GET TEMPTED. LALONG NAGING MALINAW SA AKIN NA NAKAKATAKOT MAPUNTA ANG KAPANGYARIHAN NG PAMAHALAAN SA KAMAY NG MGA HINDI KARAPAT-DAPAT.

I AM WELL AWARE OF DISAPPOINTMENTS AMONG MANY PMAERS WHO VERY WELL KNOW WHAT SHOULD BE BUT DO NOT SEE IT IN SOCIETY, MORE SO IN GOVERNMENT.

MUKHANG PAGOD NA RIN ANG MGA TAO SA PEOPLE POWER AS WE KNOW IT AND OF COURSE COUP D’ETAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO MANY.

BUT WE SHOULD NOT STOP FEELING DISGUSTED WITH WHATS HAPPENING. WE SHOULD UNITE AND DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH OUR ANGER, WITH OUR FRUSTRATION. AS I HAVE SAID, WE WILL NOT HAVE PEACE OF MIND IF WE JUST ALLOW WRONG TO PREVAIL IN OUR DEAR COUNTRY WITHOUT LIFTING A FINGER TO HELP CHANGE THINGS.

FOR ONE, LET US NOT PUT ALL OUR HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS ON ONE PERSON ALONE. OUR COUNTRY’S ISSUES CANNOT BE SOLVED BY ASKING JUST ONE PERSON TO RESIGN OR REFORM. WE WILL ONLY BE FRUSTRATED. LET US INSTEAD WORK FOR THE ELECTION INTO OFFICE OF GOOD GOVERNORS, GOOD MAYORS AND EVEN GOOD BARANGAY CAPTAINS AND KAGAWADS SO THAT IF WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP, THERE ARE STILL THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RELY ON.

THAT IS WHAT OUR GROUP “KAYA NATIN” IS ADVOCATING. KAMI PO NINA AMONG GOV EDDIE PANLILIO OF PAMPANGA, MAYOR JESSE ROBREDO OF NAGA CITY, GOVERNOR TEDDY BAGUILAT OF IFUGAO, MAYOR SONIA LORENZO OF SAN ISIDRO, NUEVA ECIJA AND HARVEY KEH OF THE ATENEO SCHOOL OF GOVERNMET . KAYA NATIN IS A MOVEMENT FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND, ESPECIALLY IN SCHOOLS TRYING TO ENGAGE THEYOUNG AND EXPLAINING TO THEM THE NEED OF REGISTERING TO VOTE, BEING WELL-INFORMED OF ISSUES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MAKING THEMSELVES AVAILABLE AND READY WHEN VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE BETTER ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

I AM QUITE OBSESSIVE ON THE MATTER OF ELECTORAL REFORMS

BECAUSE EVER SINCE MY RE-ELECTION AS GOVERNOR LAST YEAR AND SEEING ONCE AGAIN HOW THE ELECTORAL PROCESS HAS GOTTEN EVEN DIRTIER, HOW VOTE BUYING HAS BECOME EVEN WORSE, I WOULD TELL ANYONE WHO’D CARE TO LISTEN THAT WE SHOULD NOT WAIT UNTIL JUST THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS TO CRAM AND DO OUR VOTER’S EDUCATION, TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERS AND NOT JUST LEAVE THE POLLWATCHING TO A HANDFUL OF SACRIFICING CWL OR LEGION OF MARY MEMBERS OR MOTHER BUTLERS AND LET ELECTIONS BE DOMINATED BY THE WELL PAID MACHINERY OF TRADITIONAL POLITICIANS.

SADLY, SOMETIMES, IT IS ALSO DURING ELECTION SEASONS WHEN POLICE AND MILITARY OFFICIALS ARE RELIEVED AND REASSIGNED IN A WAY THAT GOVERNMENT NEOPHYTES LIKE US CAN ONLY LOOK IN HOPELESSNESS AND SHOCK.

FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NOW GROUPS LIKE THE MGG OR THE MOVEMENT FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT COMPOSED OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WHICH AS EARLY AS NOW ARE WORKING FOR BETTER ELECTIONS IN 2010. IT IS GOOD THAT THEY ARE NON-PARTISAN, THAT THEY ARE INVOLVING THEMSELVES NOT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANY CANDIDATE BUT THE OVER-ALL ORDERLY AND CREDIBLE CONDUCT OF THE COMING ELECTIONS.

YESTERDAY, CITO BELTRAN WROTE ABOUT A PMA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CHAPTER IN MALACANANG, SAYING THAT THE PALACE HAS BEEN OVERRUN BY RETIRED MILITARY AND POLICE OFFICIALS WHO ARE ALL GRADUATES OF THE PMA. I DO NOT KNOW THE REASONS OF THE PRESIDENT FOR MAKING THIS SO BUT PERSONALLY, I DO NOT MIND GRADUATES FROM THE PMA JOINING THE GOVERNMENT, PERHAPS NOT BY SHEER APPOINTMENT BUT VICTORY THROUGH ELECTIONS . SAYANG NAMAN PO ANG GALING NIYO, AT ANG BABATA NIYO PA NAMAN KUNG NAGRE-RETIRE. MAS MAY “K” NAMAN KAYO SA IBA. NATURUAN NAMAN KAYO TODO-TODO SA ACADEMY TUNGKOL SA COURAGE, INTEGRITY, LOYALTY, NOT TO MENTION EXCELLENCE IN THE THINGS THAT YOU DO. I TAKE EXCEPTION THOUGH ON THOSE WHO, DESPITE BEING PMAERS, DID NOT OR ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIGHT JUETENG. SOMETIMES, THE MORE JUNIOR OFFICERS SERIOUSLY WANT TO ACT BUT THOSE IN THE HIGHER POSITIONS ARE THE ONES THWARTING THEIR EFFORTS. I HOPE ITS NOT TRUE WHAT I HEAR ABOUT THE “WAIT TILL YOU BECOME” SYNDROME. IF NOT JUETENG, IT IS TAKING PROTECTION MONEY FROM ILLEGAL LOGGERS OR DRUG LORDS. WHAT A WASTE OF THE GREAT POWER OF OUR DEAR SOLDIERS AND POLICEMEN IF THESE ARE USED TO PERPETUATE RATHER THAN STOP THE EVILS OF SOCIETY. THE DIRTY MONEY FROM JUETENG, DRUGS AND ILLEGAL LOGGING, ALL THESE YEARS, HAVE BEEN PUTTING SO MANY OF THE WRONG AND UNWORTHY PEOPLE IN WHAT I CONSIDER AS SACRED POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT.

LET US PLEASE CHANGE THE SITUATION. I KNOW THAT YOU FROM THE PMA CAN DO SO MUCH TOWARDS THIS END. WHENEVER I TALK TO OUR PEOPLE ABOUT POLITICAL DYNASTIES, I TELL THEM HINDI LANG NAMAN DITO SA ISABELA MAYROONG DYNASTY. MARAMI DIN NAMAN SA IBANG LALAWIGAN. PERO AT LEAST, SA IBA, PINAG-AARAL MUNA NILA MGA ANAK, PINAGDADALUBHASA, PINAPAARAL NG ABOGASYA O PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION KASI ALAM NILANG SILA ANG PAPALIT. DITO KASI SA ISABELA, SABI KO, YUNG MGA MYEMBRO NG PAMILYA HINDI NA NAG-AARAL KASI MANANALO LANG DIN SILA. MAGPAPAKASAWA MUNANG MAGING BUM, PAG AYAW NA MAKAISIP MAGING MAYOR, CONGRESSMAN AT NANALO. AT LEAST MAN LANG SANA, PAGHANDAAN DIN NAMAN NILA ANG MAGLINGKOD SA TAO AT SA BANSA.

WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS THAT PMAERS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT SO MUCH ABOUT LOVE OF COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE AND MANY OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED RELATING WITH THE POOREST OF OUR POOR IN OUR REMOTEST BARANGAYS. THAT CAN BE PUT TO GOOD USE, WELL, IF NOT IN DIRECT MEANS AS THRU ELECTIVE POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT THEN IN MANY OTHER AREAS WHERE YOU CAN CONTINUE USING THE KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM AND EXPERIENCES THAT YOU AS PMAERS HAVE BEEN UNIQUELY PROVIDED.

IF SOMEBODY SO DISADVANTAGED LIKE ME CAN MAKE IT DESPITE THE FACT THAT I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY, POLITICAL MACHINERY AND SOPHISTICATION WITH ELECTORAL CHEATING THAT TRADITIONAL CANDIDATES HAVE, IT MEANS THAT THERE IS STILL HOPE IN THE PHILIPPINES , THAT FILIPINOS CAN LOOK BEYOND WHAT IS WRONG AND USUAL, AS LONG AS WE GUIDE THEM, EDUCATE THEM, MAKE THEM SEE THE DIFFERENCE. WE HAVE TO BUILD ON THIS HOPE AND NOT LET IT SLIP FROM OUR HANDS.

IF I HAVE TO SAY SO MYSELF PLEASE LOOK AT ME, THIS HANDICAPPED PERSON WHO IS NOW THE GOVERNOR OF MY PEOPLE. LOOK AT ME AS THE EMBODIMENT OF THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE THROUGH THE BALLOT. WHAT ELSE CAN EXPLAIN MY BEING GOVERNOR THAN THE DECISION OF THE ISABELINOS TO USE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE DIFFERENTLY. MINE WAS ONLY ONE VOTE. WHAT MADE ME WIN WAS THE VOTE OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND OF OTHERS. THEY WHO MADE THE CHOICE AND BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT ISABELA NOW. LET US THEN WORK FOR THE WISE USE OF THE PEOPLE TO VOTE AND PROTECT AND RESPECT THEIR CHOICES.

LASTLY, PLEASE REALIZE THAT THE VERY FEW AMONG US WHO ARE SAID TO GIVE OUR PEOPLE HOPE, ALSO NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED, ALSO NEED TO BE UPLIFTED.

WE CANNOT FAIL. PLEASE HELP US NOT FAIL. WHEN I DELIVERED MY RESPONSE DURING THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARDS PRESENTATION CEREMONIES, I MENTIONED ABOUT BARACK OBAMA TALKING ABOUT THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, BUT MANY OF US, ASIANS, WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO MUCH MORE - AND HAVE ALREADY SUCCEEDED IN RISING ABOVE OUR MANY CHALLENGES, NEED NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE BURDEN OF THE BRAVE - THE NEED TO CONTINUE SUCCEEDING AFTER RAISING THE HOPES OF OUR PEOPLE. BECAUSE IF WE OURSELVES FALL SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS, THE LOWER STILL THAT WE HAVE SANKED THE FAITH OF OUR PEOPLE.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS I KNOW WELL ENOUGH THAT SO MANY OF OUR FELLOW FILIPINOS SUPPORT THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.

I KNOW IT FROM ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND CHEERS THAT I GET WHEN I MEET ORDINARY FILIPINOS - SALESLADIES IN DEPARTMENT STORES, SECURITY GUARDS, WAITERS AND WAITRESSES, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONALS, BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND EVEN AMONG OUR SOLDIERS AND POLICEMEN. AS LONG AS OUR KABABAYANS STILL FEEL OFFENDED AND DISGUSTED WITH THE WRONG THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AND AT THE SAME TIME CLAMOR FOR CHANGE WE WILL HAVE A BETTER PHILIPPINES .

LET ME END MY SHARING WITH YOU TODAY BY RELATING TO YOU ONE INCIDENT IN THE YEAR 2001, WHEN I FIRST DARED RUN AGAINST THE POWERS-THAT- DY IN ISABELA.

THERE WAS A CANDIDATES FORUM CALLED BY THE COMELEC AND THE PPCRV NAMFREL WHERE WE CANDIDATES WERE ASKED TO PRESENT OUR PLATFORMS OF GOVERNMENT. WE WERE GIVEN ONLY 5 MINUTES EACH .

SABI KO SA SARILI KO, NAKU, PAANO YAN, SA BAGAL KONG MAGLAKAD, BAKA UBOS NA IYONG FIVE MINUTES KO PAGDATING KO SA PODIUM.

WHEN I SHARED THIS STORY TO ONE OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE CANDIDATES FORUM, HE SAID, YOU DID NOT EVEN HAVE TO TALK, GRACE. YOU YOURSELF WERE THE MESSAGE.

THAT HERE IS SOMEONE WHO PEOPLE PERCEIVE AS SOMEONE WEAK, SOMEONE HELPLESS, BUT STILL CARES ENOUGH FOR HER COUNTRY TO HELP MAKE IT CHANGE.

THAT IS STILL MY MESSAGE. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ABOUT NATIONBUILDING. AND MY MESSAGE CONTINUES TO BE …. NO ONE IS EXEMPTED FROM THE DUTY OF DOING OUR SHARE SO THAT WE FILIPINOS CAN START TAKING CONTROL OF OUR OWN FUTURE AND WORKING TOGETHER FOR THAT GENUINE AND LASTING CHANGE THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE IN OUR COUNTRY. HOW MUCH MORE IF YOU ARE A PMAER? I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT. I KNOW TOO THAT MANY OF YOU WANT TO DO THAT. BUT BY THIS TIME, WE SHOULD KNOW WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOES NOT. WHAT WILL LAST AND WHAT WILL NOT. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE WITH YOU MY HUMBLE EXPERIENCE. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF LITTLE ME CAN DO SOMETHING, OUR BIG PMAERS YOU CAN DO A LOT MORE FOR OUR COUNTRY - BUT ONLY IN THE RIGHT WAY AND FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

MARAMING SALAMAT PO .
GRACE PADACA