Month: March 2016

Bam: Pambansang Kahihiyan ang Pagnanakaw sa Bangladesh

Transcript of Phone Patch Interview at News to Go

 

Q: Ano po ang inyong assessment o pananaw sa naging pagdinig sa senado kahapon?

Sen. Bam: Maraming mga real [inaudible] kasi nakadalo na rin si Kim Wong.

Noong unang mga hearing palagi mine-mention si Kim Wong at parang sa kanya naka focus ang spotlight noong wala siya, pero noong pumunta na siya kahapon, parang lumabas kaagad na mayroon talagang specific amount of money na hindi pa talaga na-a-account.

May P59 million na nasa casino and I’m happy to say that the casino wanted to return it. Kim Wong also said pwede niya rin ibalik and definitely priority dapat natin na maibalik ang pera.

Kahapon na napansin ko, iyong testimony ni Phill Leng is that $18 Million and P600 Million ang kanilang binigay kay Kim Wong at kay Wang King Tzu.

Sabi naman ni Kim Wong ang nakuha lang nila ay $5 Million at P400 Million. Kumbaga may balanse na $13 Million at P200 Million.

Napakalaking halaga niyan. Dalawang panig nag a-agree kung saan napunta ang pera na iyan. sa totoo lang it’s either Kim Wong o Philrem at iyon ay isang malaking bagay na na-reveal kahapon.

Iyong isa pa siguro is yung pera na nasa casino kaya naman nila i-trace. Kung tutuusin may kakayahan na kunin ulit ang pera na iyon through other legal preceding kasi galing ang pera na iyon sa nakaw at sinangayunan naman tayo ng AMLC na may kakayahan at kapangyarihan sila na kunin ulit ang pera na iyon.

Sa totoo lang 3rd hearing na natin ito at ngayon lang natin pinaguusapan kung paano pwede ibalik ang pera sa Bangladesh.

 

Q: Ano naman ang consequences kung hindi nga maibalik ang perang ito?

Sen. Bam: Nakaw kasi ang perang ito. I don’t think there are legal consequences in our country pero para sa akin isang pambansang kahihiyan ito na nasangkot ang mga kababayan natin sa ganitong klaseng nakawan.

We know na Bangladesh ay parang Pilipinas din yan na isang bansa na nagsisikap umangat rin. Ang perang yan ay halos P4 Billion din kasi. Bilyon bilyon din sa pera ng Bangladesh iyan at kailangan nila ang perang yan.

Sabi ko nga kung ginawa ito sa Pilipinas, ganun din ang magiging galit natin sa bansang iyon. I think it’s imperative, it’s a priority na kung ano ang pwede natin ibalik sa kanila ay ibalik na kaagad at pagplanuhan na kung paano pwede ibalik ang perang yan kung ang pera ng Bangladesh ay andito pa sa Pilipinas kasi definitely napakalaking na en-cash at andito pa yan sa ating bansa.

Ang casino operator, ang Eastern Hawaii na pag-aari ni Kim Wong, parang nandito pa rin ang perang iyan.

Iyong sa Solaire nalipat na nila sa isang foreign operator na pinatawag namin sa susunod na hearing. Malalaman natin kung nandito pa ang perang iyan.

It is important na i-prioritize natin na kahit malaking porsyento o sana lahat as soon as possible ay maibalik sa Bangladesh.

 

Q: Correct me if I’m wrong pero ang pagkakaintindi ko, ang mga pera na hindi pa nagagastos ay kaya pa isauli, pero ang pera na naisugal na ay mahirap na i-recover?

SBA: Ang mahirap i-recover that something I think na kailangan natin tingnan pa kasi siyempre ang mga casino sasabihin nila “natalo na yan, tapos nay yan”. Pero we cannot forget na if it’s proven, tainted fund yan.

That’s why I’m asking Executive Abad yesterday kung may kapangyarihan ba sila na kunin ito. Hindi din ganoon kaklaro ang sagot. Sabi naman niya meron but kung ano ang legal remedy ang pwedeng gamitin. But even if it’s in the casino, pwede pa itong makuha. Titignan natin sa susunod na hearing.

 

Q: Since the story broke, Senator, ang spotlight napunta nga sa casino na may nagsasabi na it’s kind of a black hole for being laundered or stolen from places around the world. So kasi exempted daw ang mga casino sa AMLC, hindi sila kailangan mag report sa mga awtoridad tungkol sa mga perang malalaking halaga na pumapasok sa kanilang sistema.

 Sen. Bam: Sa totoo lang, isa sigurong kadudulutan nito is really amendment sa ating AMLA law. Iyong mga exempted, siguro iyong paghigpit sa mga loyal customer, ang pagiging clear rin sa kung ano ang pagtaas ng mga chain of command ng mga bangko saka kailangan maklaro rin iyon ng BSP.

Coming from this experience, mukhang marami din talagang kailangang reporma pang kailangang gawin pagdating ng 17th congress at una diyan ang paninigurado na hindi na gagamit ang ating legal institutions dito sa ating bansa para sa masasamang bagay.

 

Q: Ok. Nagkaroon din ng focus sa mga Remittance Center o mga kumpanya katulad ng Philrem. Hindi rin sakop ng anti-money laundering act o AMLA, isa rin ba iyan sa kino-consider ngayon na pumasok din iyan sa ilalim ng AMLA?

Sen. Bam: Isa rin iyan sa mga pinag-uusapan. Isa pa ang pagklaro sa bank secrecy law. I think natapos ang aming hearing kagabi sa isang debate kung pwede bang buksan ang suspicious account. Of course may magkakabilang panig iyan. Inaaral iyan ng mga Senate lawyers natin.

Pero para sa akin, kung klaro naman na hindi legal ang mga ginamit na identification sa pagbukas ng account and may problema na mismo ang account to begin with kasi sa mga IDs na ginamit ng 4 suspicious persons ay wala naman talagang ganun na government ID and they used the Driver’s License.

Kung mapatunayan naman kung fictitious ang ginamit na pagbukas ng account ay baka naman hindi na ito sakop ng Bank Secrecy Law.

Our Senate lawyers especially the Blue Ribbon Committee are studying kung puwede pa ito pagbuksan.

But then again sabi nga ng AMLC, naibigay na rin nila ang datos na ito sa Committee.

 

 

Bam on the $81M Hearing: Nakakahiya sa Bangladesh

Transcript of the Ambush Interview after the Senate Hearing

 

Q: There seems to be growing frustration on your end. You’re the only Senator before Sen. Koko Pimentel spoke that really focused your attention on how to get the money back. It’s all about trying to dissect what happened and who is involved but to you, it’s really about getting the Bangladeshi people’s money back.

Sen. Bam Aquino:

That’s right. In fact, in all of the hearings, the ambassador of Bangladesh is there. To be frank, nakakahiya that we talk about everything but we’re not talking enough about how to get them the 81-million US dollars back.

 

I don’t think the previous hearings were able to cover where exactly the money is currently. Earlier, we found out that there is discrepancy in the testimony of Kim Wong and Philrem on the cash that was given out.

 

At the same time, we found out that some of the money was actually still in the casinos through their junket operators. We’re hoping to get to the bottom of this and if we can actually get that money back for Bangladesh.

 

Q: What’s your reaction to what the AMLC said about getting information before they file a freeze order to the court of appeals? Isn’t that putting a lot of layers to the bureaucracy when at this minute we have Kim Wong saying I can just give you the money and bring it to the BSP for safe keeping.

 

Sen. Bam Aquino:

Exactly. Many of these questions have not been asked and I understand that the focus would be the Filipino actors who were part of this scam. But I think, first and foremost, we should focus on securing the money, making sure it’s intact, and giving it back to the people of Bangladesh.

 

Can you imagine if that happened to the Philippines, if 81-million dollars of our money was stolen elsewhere? The first thing we would want to ensure is that it gets back to our own treasury.

 

I think the minimum that we need to do is to go through AMLC, go through the motion, and ensure that whatever money is found is held and eventually returned to Bangladesh.

 

Q: Do you feel that we have the moral obligation not only to investigate the matter but really return the money to the Bangladeshi people?

 

Sen. Bam Aquino:

Yes, yes. Definitely. And hopefully everyone will cooperate. If Eastern Hawaii through Kim Wong is willing to cooperate, that’s great.

 

Hopefully, we get to the bottom of how much cash was given out because currently it’s a contradictory story of how much was encashed and how much was given to Kim Wong and Weikang Xu.

 

If there is Bangladesh money in our casinos then maybe our casinos can also cooperate and be willing to return the money without going through a lengthy court procedure. AMLC said it is within the powers of the current laws to get the money and eventually file civil forfeiture cases against those involved.

 

But I hope we don’t reach that. If the money is still there and if it can still be returned, we should return it at the soonest possible time.

 

Q: We’ve already proven that the bank accounts are fictitious so what is there for the bank secrecy law to protect?

 

Sen. Bam Aquino:

Exactly. That was the subject of the first part of the hearing and Sen. Osmena was very frustrated with the answers given to him regarding the bank secrecy law specially considering that these are fictitious accounts and, more or less, it has been established that the money came from a theft or a heist.

 

So the Senate lawyers are looking into this further. Of course, it’s the position of the bank right now that even if it’s fictitious, you can’t disclose any of these amounts but definitely the committee and our offices are looking into this further.

 

Q: 3rd day of the hearing, who are you most likely to believe at this point?

 

Well, we don’t want to pre-judge. We’re often accused of pre-judging everyone. But if you listen to the hearings, it’s becoming clear that this could not have been perpetrated by just one person.

 

I don’t want to talk about guilt or innocence at this point but definitely you need a lot more people and a lot of moving parts to get this to happen. Whether they’re guilty of theft, money laundering, or negligence, that’s something we will uncover in the next few hearings. And AMLC is doing a parallel process to go after the people who perpetrated this crime.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Techie Negosyo

Mga Kanegosyo, pa­milyar ba kayo sa salitang “technopreneur”?

Ito ay ang mga negos­yanteng nakasentro sa kasalukuyang teknolohiya, gaya ng computer, Internet at cellular phones.

Isa sa mga mga tanyag na “technopreneur” sa bansa ay si Nico Jose “Nix” Nolledo, president at chief executive officer ng Xurpas Inc., isang mobile content provider.

Marami ang nais sumunod sa yapak ni Nix bilang “technopreneur” nang maging bilyonaryo ito kasunod ng pagpasok ng Xurpas Inc. sa stock market.

***

Ngunit tulad ng iba pang mga kuwento ng tagum­pay, hindi naging madali para kay Nix ang tinatamasa niya sa kasalukuyan.

Nagtapos siya ng kursong Business Management noong 1998 na nataon namang nasa kasagsagan noon ng Asian financial crisis.

Nahirapan siyang makakuha ng trabaho dahil ayaw ng mga kumpanya noong kumuha ng bagong graduates.

Kaya naman nag ikut-ikot siya sa iba’t ibang kumpanya sa Makati at nag-apply ng trabaho.

Nang walang makitang trabaho doon, sa mga restaurant naman siya lumapit. Kinuha siya ng isang fastfood chain bilang assistant store manager sa sangay nito sa SM North.

Sa trabahong iyon, naranasan niyang utusan ng manager na maglinis ng kubeta ng fastfood chain. Sa isip niya, hindi ito ang trabahong iniisip niya nang nag-aral siya.

Gayunpaman, sinunod pa rin niya ang utos ngunit ito ang nagsilbi sa kanyang hamon upang magpursigi.

Noong 1999, itinayo niya ang Pinoyexchange na mula sa ideya ng kanyang kapatid na Internet-based message board.

Sa tulong ng puhunang P9,000 lang, paglipas ng anim na buwan, ito na ang pinakamalaking online community sa Pilipinas.

Nakita ng Ayala ang potensiyal ng sinimula niyang community kaya agad nila itong binili at kinuha pa siya bilang kabahagi nito.

Sa kanyang pakikipagpulong sa matataas na opisyal ng Ayala, nakakuha pa siya maraming ideya.

Isa rito ang katotohanan na mas maraming cellphone sa bansa kumpara sa mga personal computer.

Kaya naisip niyang ituon ang pansin sa cellular phones. Doon na niya itinatag ang Xurpas noong 2001 sa capital na P62,500 kasama ang dalawa pang kaibigan.

Makalipas ang 14 na taon, ang Xurpas ngayon ay mayroon nang market capital na $400 million at ang tanging consumer tech company na nakalista sa Philippine Stock Exchange.

Mula nang magpatala sa PSE, nakapag-invest na ang Xurpas sa mga kumpanya sa Estados Unidos, Indonesia, Singapore at dalawa pa sa Pilipinas.

Kabilang sa kanilang tinututukan ngayon ay ang paggawa ng digital products tulad ng mobile games.

***

Ayon kay Nix, isa sa mga susi sa tagumpay niya ang patuloy na paghahanap ng makabago at kakaibang produkto na makakaakit sa customer.

Sa tulong ng mga bagong produkto, mananati­ling angat ang kumpanya sa mga kakumpitensiya sa merkado.

Kung mananatili na lang sa lumang ideya, mapag-iiwanan ang negosyo sa mabilis na takbo ng teknolohiya sa merkado.

***

Mga Kanegosyo, nagpapasalamat tayo sa Go Negosyo sa pagbabahagi ng ilan sa mga kuwento natin para sa kolum na ito. Kung may tanong kayo sa pagnenegosyo, mag-e-mail kay Kanegosyong Bam sa negosyonowna@gmail.com o mag-iwan ng mensahe sa fb.com/BenignoBamAquino.

Pangarap nating makamit ninyo ang tagumpay sa pagnenegosyo!

Not a Victimless Crime

Boardrooms, dinner tables, and coffee shops are abuzz with theories explaining the $81-million heist, which involved funds of the Bangladesh central bank being transferred to local RCBC accounts and eventually into our Philippine casinos.

The public is visibly intrigued and the media has covered the story as eagerly as our national campaigns.

Who were involved? Who is the mastermind? Who are the hackers and how did they get past the U.S. financial system’s safeguards? What does the branch manager know? Are bank officials involved? Who profited from this audacious crime? Is there a political angle to this heist?

These and many more questions have our minds occupied and keep casual conversations lively and engaging.

We are hopeful that throughout the course of our investigation in the senate, the truth will be revealed, the perpetrators will be brought to justice, and most of these questions will be answered.

But, sadly, no one is asking about Bangladesh.

So for the next few paragraphs, allow me to write about the real victims of this crime – the Bangladeshi people.

There are nearly 160 million people in Bangladesh as of 2015 with over 30% or 48 million living in poverty. In the 2015 Rankings of the Poorest Countries in the World based on GDP, Bangladesh ranked 46th poorest, while the Philippines ranked 68th.

Like in the Philippines, Bangladesh is dealing with issues that are rooted in poverty, such as hunger, sanitation, improved access to education, severe congestion of urban areas, and delivery of basic government services, among others.

The Bangladesh government and civil society groups are aggressive in their efforts to create better opportunities and greater wealth for the masses and they have churned out interesting, effective solutions.

One example is the world-renowned Grameen Bank spearheaded by economist and social entrepreneur Muhammad Yunus that pioneered the principles of microcredit and microfinance utilized around the world today

The government has also made leaps in improving access to government services with their ‘Digital Bangladesh, Vision 2021’ program that seeks to make all government services, public records, and even text books accessible through online channels by 2021, which sounds like the Freedom of Information (FOI) and the Open Government Partnership efforts.

They hope that ICT and an all-encompassing digital system in government will curb corruption – another one of our common adversaries.

Naturally, like in the Philippines, there is still a lot of work to be done before Bangladesh can eradicate poverty. But a key element to getting things done is adequate funding.

Can you imagine how far the stolen 81-million US dollars, which is equivalent to 6.35-billion Bangladeshi taka, could have gone to address hunger, livelihood, education, or health?

Now imagine if the tables were turned.

Think of billions of pesos worth of Philippine tax money stolen and siphoned off to the pockets of unscrupulous foreigners.

Billions of pesos that could have been used to fund infrastructure projects, livelihood programs, or improvements in government services are hacked then digitally wired to foreign nationals.

Picture the outrage in our streets and the frenzy on our social media feeds. What racist remarks will spew? What will the Philippine public demand? And what could ever appease hearts broken by this injustice?

Many of us, including politicians like myself, are caught up with the audacity of this heist, the intriguing anecdotes of the revealed personalities, and the tarnished image of the Philippines.

It is our nature to focus on the Filipino side.

But as a member of the global community and as a country known for its heart and compassion, we must realize how valuable the stolen money is in improving the lives of the millions of poor Bangladeshis.

With this in mind, it is imperative that we continue to push for reforms in our financial system, institute tighter and stricter policies, ferret out the truth, bring the perpetrators to justice, and most importantly return the stolen 81-million US dollars to the Bangladeshi people.

If this happened to us, we would expect nothing less.’

First Published on Manila Bulletin

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Big ‘Splash’ sa Merkado

Mga Kanegosyo, sino ba ang mag-aakala na ang isang kick-out sa paaralan ay makakapagbuo ng isang negosyo na ngayo’y nagkakahalaga ng bilyun-bilyong piso?

Muntik nang hindi matupad ni Roland Hortaleza ang pangarap na maging duktor nang paalisin siya ng isang paaralang nakabase sa Morayta dahil sa mababang grade sa kanyang pre-medical course.

Lumipat si Roland sa kalapit na paaralan at tinapos ang pre-medical course bago tuluyang nakuha ang diploma bilang duktor.

Pumasok siya sa larangan ng ophthalmology upang makatulong bigyan ang kanyang pasyente ng mas malinaw na paningin.

Pero para sa kanya, malabo ang kanyang hinaharap bilang duktor.

***

Kung pamilyar kayo sa apelyidong Hortaleza, dahil noong dekada otsenta ay pumatok ang kanilang negosyong, “The Original Hortaleza Vaciador and Beauty Supplies”.

Sa kanilang pitong sangay, makakabili ng gamit pampaganda, lalo na ang pang-manicure gaya ng acetone at nail polish.

Dahil madalas siyang nagpupunta sa tindahan noon para maghatid ng pagkain sa kanyang mga magulang, nagkaroon siya ng interes na gumawa ng sariling acetone.

Gamit ang puhunang P12,000 at sa tulong ng kanyang asawa, nagtitimpla at nagre-repack sila ng acetone sa mga bote at ibinebenta sa mga tindahan ng Hortaleza.

Nang mauso ang spray net, isa sa mga naunang nagbenta ng lokal na bersiyon nito ang Hortaleza.

Subalit napansin ni Roland na nasa bote lang ang ibinebentang spray net kaya nagpasya siyang ilagay ito sa magandang lalagyan o iyong deo-hair spray at ibenta ito sa mas murang halaga.

Pumatok sa merkado ang ibinentang hair spray ng Hortaleza. Dahil tumaas ang demand, nagpasya si Roland na palitan ang pangalan nito. Doon na isinilang ang “Splash”.

Maliban sa hair spray, pinasok din ng Splash ang merkado ng skin cleanser, na dominado noon ng isang produkto na may mukha ng sikat na aktres.

Upang makaagaw atensiyon, gumawa ang Splash ng produkto na may avocado at pipino, na agad namang pumatok sa mga mamimili.

Sa patuloy na paglaki ng kumpanya, dumating ang panahon na kailangan nang pagandahin niya ang sistema.

Hinawakan ng kanyang asawa ang pinansiyal na aspeto ng negosyo habang si siya naman ay nag-aral ng Management Program sa Estados Unidos upang epektibong mapatakbo ang kumpanya.

***

Ngayon, ang Splash Corporation na ang pinakamalaking negosyong Pilipino sa bansa pagdating sa personal care products.

Ayon sa kanila, kung minsan, ang tagumpay sa negosyo ay hindi nakikita sa mga bagay na ating gusto. Wala sa hinagap na papasukin nila ang ganitong larangan.

Ngunit napukaw ang kanilang interes nang makakita siya ng pagkakataong puwedeng pagkakitaan, tulad ng acetone, spray net at facial cleanser.

Maliban dito, mahalaga rin daw na may matinding determinasyon upang magtagumpay sa negosyo na pinasok.

Sa tulong ng determinasyon, malalampasan ng sinumang negosyante ang mga kabiguan na kanyang sasapitin sa biyahe tungo sa tagumpay.

Kaya naman, malaking “Splash” ang nilikhang negosyo ng mag-asawang Hortaleza sa merkado.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Bagong Tulong sa Negosyante

Mga Kanegosyo, umiinit ang pulitika sa bansa ngayong nagsimula na ang kampanya para sa mga national positions, kabilang ang pagka-pangulo, pangalawang pangulo at mga senador.

Kasabay nito, natuon na rin ang halos buong atensiyon ng taumbayan sa mga kandidato at sa mga isyu at kontrobersiya na kanilang nililikha, na minsa’y wala namang naidudulot na maganda sa bansa.

Kaya naman halos walang nakapansin nang naisabatas ang isa sa mga panukala na isinusulong ng inyong lingkod para sa maliliit na negosyante sa bansa.

Ito ay ang Credit Surety Fund (CSF) Cooperative Act, na ngayo’y kilala na bilang Republic Act 10744.

***

Mga Kanegosyo, ilang ulit na nating nabanggit sa kolum na ito isa sa malaking hadlang na kinakaharap ng mga nais magnegosyo ay ang kawalan ng pagkukunan ng pautang para gamiting puhunan.

Sa kasalukuyan, may microfinance institutions (MFIs) na nagpapautang mula P5,000 hanggang P150,000 para sa maliliit na negosyo gaya ng sari-sari store.

Para naman sa mga medium at large na negosyo, naririyan ang malalaking bangko na nagpapautang ng higit sa limang milyong piso.

Subalit, iilan lang ang nagpapautang sa gitna ng mga ito, ang mga small entrepreneurs na nangangailangan ng puhunang naglalaro mula P200,000 hanggang P5 milyon para makapagsimula ng sariling negosyo.

May iilang financing institutions na nagbibigay ng pautang para sa mga negosyanteng ito, ngunit ito’y nangangailangan ng kolateral, na kadalasan ay titulo ng lupa.

Subalit kakaunti lang ang kumukuha ng nasabing loan sa bangko dahil karamihan sa ating mga negosyante sa estadong ito ay wala pang kolateral na ibibigay bilang garantiya.

Ito ang tinatawag “missing middle”, na layong tugunan ng Republic Act 10744.

***

Itinatakda ng batas na magtulungan ang lokal na pamahalaan, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Cooperative Development Authority, mga kooperatiba at mga government financing institutions (GFIs).

Magsama-sama sila para bumuo ng paunang pondo kung saan maaari itong gamitin na miyembro ng kooperatibang kasamang bumuo ng paunang pondo bilang alternatibong garantiya para sa uutanging puhunan sa bangko.

Sa tulong nito, puwede nang mangutang ang ating mga negosyanteng nangailangan ng kolateral.

Kailangan lang na ang negosyante na nais gumamit nito ay kabilang sa kooperatibang bumuo ng paunang pondo.

Inaalay ko ito sa aking namayapang tiyuhin na si dating senador at congressman Agapito “Butz” Aquino, na siyang ama ng kooperatiba sa Pilipinas.

Mga Kanegosyo, ito na po ang ikawalong batas ng inyong lingkod sa ating unang tatlong taon sa Senado. 

Ang Credit Surety Fund Cooperative Act ay bahagi ng ating pangakong tutulungan ang ating maliliit na negosyante para mapalago nila ang kanilang kabuhayan at makapagbigay na dagdag na trabaho sa ating mga kababayan.

People Power Is In Our DNA

Bumper to bumper traffic, honking buses, the scent of exhaust, startling potholes, and the allure of bright billboards… This is the EDSA we experience today.

30 years ago though, EDSA meant something more. EDSA, especially to my generation, meant courage in the face of fear and oppression, unity for a greater good, and the willingness to sacrifice for your fellow Filipinos. 

EDSA meant People Power. But now, some of our countrymen say that People Power is dead.

These Filipinos proclaim that the EDSA Revolution is just a ghost, whose remains have long been buried and its essence wasted.  

But these Pinoys who have lost faith are mistaken. EDSA cannot die; People Power is in our DNA.

Haven’t we all come across the iconic depiction of men and women lifting their neighbor’s kubo on their shoulders, selflessly bringing the house to safety?

During times of crisis, when a super-typhoon, massive flood, or earthquake hits our country, don’t we rush to a volunteer center with donations and a strong desire to reach out to those affected?

Do we not find joy and fulfillment in building homes for poor Filipino communities, carrying blocks of cement and painting walls with bright, happy colors along with friends from Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity?

These are all manifestations of the bayanihan spirit that is woven into our cultural fabric.

Around the country, we find strangers united in noble missions that extend beyond family ties, tapping a shared humanity and nationalism.

In the world of social enterprise, I have seen firsthand how social entrepreneurs, government agencies, corporations, microfinance institutions, cooperatives, and NGOs come together to find solutions to lift our countrymen out of poverty through business.

These mini-movements transformed the lives of the farmers turned agri-preneurs in Nueva Ecija, who now supply to Jollibee, the urban artisans of Rags2Riches, and Hapinoy’s successful sari-sari store owners.

In the youth sector, we see organizations made up of eager young Filipinos seeking to uphold noble values and uplift marginalized sectors.

Every year since 2002, we would award the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO Awards) and, just this year, we met the SOLACE organization that protect the rights of forgotten Filipino detainees in Mandaue City as well as the Kanlaon Theater Guild from Bacolod that educates communities on disasters through their talent, creativity, and volition – just two of thousands of youth organizations that have joined the TAYO search.

Finally, when the legislature was rocked by the Napoles-PDAF scandal two years ago, we still saw thousands upon thousands of our countrymen congregate to decry the corruption and push for reforms in an overly abused system.

The commonality is, much like in the EDSA Revolution, these people took matters in their own hands and took a collective stand, not against a dictator, but against violence, poverty, corruption, and suffering.

These are modern-day examples of the EDSA spirit, the bayanihan instinct, and People Power.

Call it what you will, these revolutions, however sizable or small, are alive and thriving in the Philippines.  And to deny that this exists is simply misleading and fraudulent.  

Much has changed over the last 30 years. From being one of the poorest countries in the 80s, we are the fastest growing economy in the ASEAN.

Then considered one of the most corrupt countries in the world, we have pushed for justice against the most powerful in all of the three branches of government.

People Power has also evolved from being centralized and primarily focused on political reform to one that includes a social and economic agenda and is dispersed throughout our country.

Historically, People Power was the well we drew upon when things took a turn for the worst; when corruption was at its highest, the rule of law least respected, our human rights and freedoms abused and trampled upon by the few for their own gain and benefit.

The challenge today is to evoke this revolutionary spirit not only in times of crisis, but in moments of opportunity as well.  

The challenge is to never forget that there is greatness in us.  And that if we stand together, much like 30 years ago at EDSA, even the most insurmountable can be overcome.

First Published on Manila Bulletin

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