A most inspiring personal journey:
There is hope for the Philippines
16 April 2009
by Grace Padaca
Governor, Isabela
Governor Padaca's speech at the 2009 PMAAAI Convention
Wednesday, 1 April, 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, 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 TURNOVER 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-HANDICAP PED RADIO BROADCASTER WOULD
ONE DAY REPLACE THE VERY POWERFUL MEN OF THE DYNASTY 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 DY-NASTY'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 COUNTRY'S 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 DY-NASTY 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 DY-NASTY THAT LORDED
OVER US THAT THE BATTLE IS NOT YET OVER. WE MAY
HAVE DEFEATED THE DY-NASTY 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 IF THEY 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 NPAs, 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 PAOs, 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
IT'S 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 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 THESE 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 TELL 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 ENORMOUS POWERS. ONE
SIGNATURE OF MINE CAN CAUSE THE RELEASE OF
MILLIONS OF PESOS. ONE YES OR NO THAT I SAY
AFFECTS THE LIVES 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 KAPANGYARIHANG 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
WHAT'S 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, SPECIALLY IN SCHOOLS
TRYING TO ENGAGE THE YOUNG 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
POLL-WATCHING 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 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 SUNK 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
NATION-BUILDING. 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.
Gov. Grace Padaca,
Province of Isabela
