PIA head urges info. officers to be catalysts of change towards national development

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) director general Jose Mari Oquiñena urged government information officers to be catalyst of change towards national development.

“Public information officers should not only be disseminators of information, but also catalysts of change towards national development,” Oquiñena told government information officers who attended the Skills Enhancement Seminar and Climate Change Forum held June 18-20, in Baguio City.

Oqui?ena  also  reminded the participants  not just to inform but also to form and  “help empower the nation through  leadership, stewardship, and innovation.”

He also added that “information officers must seek the truth and think of the responsibility to their fellowmen; one should stand up not only for himself, but for others, for his community, and for his country as a whole.”

The event  gathered public information officers (PIOs) from national government agencies (NGAs)-NCR regional offices, as well as PIOs from Metro Manila’s local government units (LGUs) with the aim of re-strengthening their skills in press release writing, media relations, and crisis communication--- skills necessary to be effective communicators of relevant and timely information to the public.

Information officers from Regions 1, 2, 3, and CAR were also present in the activity.

Updates on the government’s initiatives for climate change adaptation and mitigation were also discussed in line with government agencies’ concerted efforts to address the growing concern on climate change, its ill effects, and possible interventions to weaken the threatening repercussions it could bring.

Invited resource speakers are respected names from the country’s top publications and institutions: Dulce Sanchez of the Philippine Star, Joseph Voltaire Contreras of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Sammy Santos of the Public Relations and Information Bureau of the Philippine Senate.

The speakers re-acquainted the participants with the basics in journalism— sometimes overlooked even by veteran writers. These range from the data gathering task of a writer to writing effective leads, sustaining the readers’ interest without losing conciseness in one’s articles, and being always accessible to media for clarification and updates on one’s stories.

The challenge is how to package one’s information in an effective and useful manner, and how to manage possible miscommunication .

Philippine Star metro editor, Ms. Dulce Sanchez, who gave tips on “How to Get One’s Press Releases Published,” emphasized the importance of being always grammatically impeccable as a simple misuse of preposition could change everything, with risks of ruining one’s credibility.

She also warned against the use of long and highly-ornamented press releases; she advised writers to always be on-topic, and to highlight what is relevant and beneficial to the readers.

Philippine Daily Inquirer metro editor Mr. Joseph Voltaire Contreras, who gave a talk on “Re-strengthening Media Relations” underscored the importance of establishing good relations with media partners, as well as with the journalist’s first-hand sources of information which include government heads and their press relations officers.

 He also advised information officers to maximamize the use of modern technology such as websites to maximize the exchange of correct information to their media counterparts.

He also emphasized the importance of providing substantial data to support one’s claims in his or her press releases—“something writers forget to do,” according to him.

 Mr. Sammy Santos, director for print media , Public Relations and Information Bureau, Philippine Senate  discussed “Media and Crisis Communication” put emphasis on “fast, speedy, and responsive” as necessary qualities in crisis communication. He said that in crisis management, one “should be able to anticipate crises from arising, armed with necessary interventions that are commensurate to the issue being resolved.”

From the government side, Ms. Harriet Tauli represented the Climate Change Commission-- lead agency for climate change monitoring in the country. She tackled the agency’s climate change national action plan that provides for a roadmap in the government’s monitoring of its climate change initiatives which are expected to continue until the year 2028.

The Climate Change Forum is among the many projects of PIA-NCR and DENR-NCR that are slated to be undertaken this year as they embark on a massive climate change advocacy campaign in the National Capital Region.

This year’s advocacy for climate change adaptation and mitigation has the theme “Nagbabago na ang Panahon; Panahon na Para Magbago.”

The activity was also in cooperation with the Association of Information Officers in Metro Manila (AIMM) whose members are information officers from  17 LGUs in Metro Manila regional information officers from national government agencies’  regional offices of NCR.

The AIMM was founded in 1997 by PIA-NCR Regional Director Riza J. Baldoria with the objective of uniting Metro Manila’s LGUs and NGAs towards the dissemination and communication of government, programs, projects, and activities in the region.

The AIMM also serves as the mouthpiece of the public and the government through its feedback-mechanism and query-response activities. 

PIA-NCR, DENR-NCR hold forum on Project NOAH and Greening Program as part of Climate Change Advocacy

A forum on the government’s Project Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH), Earthquake Preparedness and the National Greening Program (NGP) was held today at the Ecology Center Compound in Diliman, Quezon City.

Participated by city environment and natural resources officers (CENRO) as well as disaster management unit officers in Metro Manila’s local government units (lgus), the forum aims to educate city officials on earthquake preparedness given the existence of the West Valley Fault traversing certain areas in Metro Manila; as well as in the use of the DOST-created application/ website named Project NOAH as an early warning tool for typhoon preparedness which aims to assist the public in disaster prevention.

The forum also aims to give a background to the participants on the government’s National Greening Program or the Executive Order 26 which aims to plant some 1.5 Billion trees for a period of six years (2011-2016), and the harmonizing of this initiative in Metro Manila.

Among the invited resource speaker in the forum is Mr. Jeffrey Perez, Supervising Science Research Specialist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PhiVolcs), who discussed the possibility of a strong earthquake in Metro Manila with the existence of the West Valley Fault, as well as other calamities caused by the country’s geographic and geologic setting.

He said that certain areas in Metro Manila such as Quezon City, Marikina, Makati, Pasig, Taguig, and Muntinlupa would be directly affected with the West Valley Fault traversing the said areas.

Mr. Oscar Victor Lizardo, Chief Science Research Specialist from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), gave an overview of the tool Project NOAH which provides for an accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system, especially in high-risk areas in the Philippines.

He discussed the different warning signals that could be seen in the tool, which could serve as guide to the public in identifying disaster-prone and/or calamity-affected areas.

Regional Technical Director Antonio C. Manila presented implementing activities of the various LGUs in the National Capital Region (NCR) in compliance of the National Greening Program.

The forum is a joint project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-NCR) and the Philippine Information Agency-National capital Region (PIA-NCR) in response to the growing threat of climate change which affects the world today.

DENR-NCR Regional Executive Director Lourdes Wagan in her welcome remarks said that the activities (including the said forum) that would be implemented by PIA and NCR are all climate change mitigation and adaptation activities that would help the public prepare for disasters brought about by climate change.

PIA-NCR Regional Director Riza J. Baldoria in her keynote speech said that the forum is among the series of activities to be implemented by DENR and PIA as part of the national and regional campaign for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The project is a product of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)- PIA Secretary Sonny Coloma which provides for a partnership between the two said agencies in the campaign of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

RD Baldoria said that the different activities lined up throughout the year which include various fora, mural painting, AVP launch, Puppet Theater presentation, social mobilization activities such as “Happy birthday, Tree, Youth Camp, among others, would provide for the necessary information to shed light on climate change as a product of human activities.

She said that while these activities would educate the public, these are also aimed at making the people realize the role they have to play to address climate change, as they are guided by the campaign’s battlecry “Pabago-bago na ang panahon, panahon na para magbago.”

She ended her speech by leaving a quote which aptly summarizes the reality about the man and the environment: “The earth doesn’t belong to man; Man belongs to Earth. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.” 

PIDS forum tackles alternative jobs expansion and policy to lead PHl towards inclusive growth

The Philippines needs to explore other alternatives that would lead to an expansion in secure jobs with decent wages among the Filipinos.

This was the key message in the seminar-forum on the PIDS Economic Monitor conducted Thursday (April 3) by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS)  at the PIDS headquarters in Makati City.

With the theme “The Jobs Challenge: Choosing between the Beaten Path and Its Alternative”, the forum discussed the macroeconomic trends in the country and in developing Asian countries, important policy updates in key economic sectors, and the proposed 12-point agenda—referred to as the Jobs Expansion and Development Initiative (JEDI) for poverty reduction.

With more emphasis on the JEDI which seeks to expand gainful jobs through the acceleration of labor intensive production, to improve investment in education and other human capital development, and to sustain total productivity gains; the forum underscored the necessity of taking a different development path, and explore other approaches to get a “better chance at reducing poverty.”

Seminar speakers Dr. Vicente Paqueo and Dr. Aniceto Orbeta, PIDS Visiting Research Fellow and PIDS Senior Research Fellow, respectively, discussed the deleterious impact of minimum wage being implemented in the country on income and poverty status of households, particularly those coming from the marginalized sectors.

The talk also tackled the current labor regulations and practices as “costly, inconvenient, with long conflict resolution processes; (this is aside from) the tripartism, inadequate representation of the poor, disadvantaged, and unorganized labor, as well as confusing regulations in labor practices”.

The seminar-forum addresses that aspiration for secure jobs with decent wages is well-recognized; however, it also challenges the concept of minimum wages and other labor regulations which are of existence in the country today. The recommendation: To leave the beaten track and try new approaches.

This is where the JEDI, with its 12-point program was discussed by Dr. Orbeta, which as he explained “would re-balance current labor laws and practice to expand gainful jobs and minimize unintended consequences that are detrimental to the poor, the young, the women, the less educated and the unorganized workers.”

Among the labor reforms included in the JEDI are:

1.   Simplifying labor dispute resolution processes to cut the time, cost, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved usually spent in labor dialogues;

2.   Making the rules on hiring and firing more flexible, and leaving the firms and workers to negotiate and work out agreements that are mutually beneficial;

3.   Instituting measures that would minimize the imposition of labor regulations and practices detrimental to and discriminatory against the poor and the other disadvantaged population;

4.   Allowing firms to hire low skilled and poor workers who want to voluntarily opt out of the mandatory minimum wage norm, though, it should be ensured that the workers’ acceptance of the offers is voluntary and well informed;

5.   Adapting and experimenting with a Singaporean style scheme providing income supplement to targeted ultra poor workers to close the gap between market wage and decent wage norm;

6.   Transforming the consultation process from a tripartite into a quadripartite system that would give the poor, unemployed, underemployed, and self-employed direct representation in the determination of labor regulations and policies;

7.   Encouraging labor unions to focus on raising the competencies and productivity of workers as a means to achieving decent wages;

8.   Lengthening from six months to two years the compulsory regularization of young workers to expand their learning experience and build their skills on the job;

9.   Ensuring quality implementation of the K-12 reform; undertaking institutional reform of TESDA; and pursuing ongoing CHED initiatives aimed at improving access to quality higher education and the production of good research;

10. Implementing the extension of demand-side education assistance of Pantawid Pamilya to high school students and complimenting it with policies and programs that facilitate on-the-job training and employment in private enterprises;

11. Promoting research and development activities; and

12. Facilitating the emergence of well-organized coalition for stakeholders devoted to finding and promoting approaches that effectively advance the interest of the poor workers now being excluded from gainful job opportunities.

The JEDI, in a nutshell, puts premium on alternative solutions such as better education, increased labor intensive manufacturing, and greater opportunities for training on the job to reduce poverty from a labor standpoint.

Government response such as the strengthening of social protection programs which would provide a direct and temporary income subsidy was also recommended as such an approach would “be both efficient and equitable as it conforms to the general principle of public economics that a public good should be financed by general tax revenues,” according to the PIDS report.

Meanwhile, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Senior Economist Dr. Akiko Terada-Hagiwara presented the growth forecast for Developing Asia for 2014 and 2015, which is seen to have a positive trend in the said years. Projected growth rate is 6.2 per cent in 2014, and 6.4 per cent in 2015, respectively.

This increase is complemented by the increase in the growth rate of advanced economies such as the United States, Japan, and Europe, whose growth rate is projected at 1.9 per cent for 2014 and 2.2 per cent for 2015.

Dr. Hagiwara also said that inflation rate will remain under check at 3.7 per cent in 2014.

She recommends that Asia, though the individual country’s government, has yet to spend more on equity-promoting programs such as in education, healthcare, and social protection so as to lessen the inequality gap.

PIDS Senior Research Fellow Dr. Adoracion Navarro said that the Philippines will experience a lower GDP rate in 2014, though despite the risk of higher interest rates, “there is still sufficient slack in investments and wide room for productivity improvements,” she said.

GDP rate in 2014 is projected at 6.6 per cent, from 7.2 per cent in 2013.

Dr. Adoracion reported that policies and institutional reforms such as good governance and anti-corruption initiatives have “resulted in a strong macroeconomic framework that has provided stability and investor confidence, and has primed the economy for sustained growth.”

She ended by saying that “bolder efforts must be exerted in increasing infrastructure investments, expanding the industrial base, introducing a competition policy framework, reforming regulatory institutions, and addressing labor market issue”—all of which to lead the country to achieve the goal of inclusive growth.

“Death March” opens yearly commemoration of Veterans’ Week

The country is observing Philippine Veterans’ Week on April 5-11, 2014, simultaneous with the 72^nd “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor).

With the theme “Balik-tanaw sa Sakripisyo ng Beterano, Gabay sa Landas ng Pagbabago,” the commemoration aims to present our country’s veterans as among our national treasures, and to revive the “culture of heroism” by looking at our veterans’ valor and selfless sacrifices to oppose foreign colonizers in the country.

Pre-commemoration of Philippine Veterans’ Week kicked off yesterday (March 24) with a showing of “Death March”—a critically-acclaimed film directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr.-- which showcases poignant moments during the World War 2 Bataan Death March where some 70,000 prisoners of war were forced to march by Japanese guards 65 miles from Bataan to Capas, Tarlac.

The film, which was shown at the AFP Theater, tackled war veterans’ personal experiences of the war, through their individual vantage point—with others experiencing hallucination, reverie, illnesses, great discomfort, atrocity, and death in the hands of Japanese forces. In the end, the movie carries with it themes of valor, courage, and hope amidst hardships brought by war, and the fall of Filipino soldiers in Bataan.

Director Alix said that the film is a “recreation of the early 1900s, where the death march experience could be treated as either a nightmare or liberation.”

War veteran Dr. Edmundo Nolasco, a survivor of the death march, gave his own accounts, through a poem, of the grueling march.

Through verse, he said that while the war veterans had been mocked by the Japanese soldiers, they (veterans) remained strong and intent in their dream of Philippine liberation.

He also said that it has always been the goal of the veterans to establish a society that is God-fearing, humane, and just (“Maka-Diyos, makatao, at makatarungan”), and it is through their firm resolve to achieve this that the country was able to set free from the shackles of Japanese regime.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP Public Affairs Office Chief, urged the public to “remember the veterans who were living regular lives, but sacrificed their lives in defense of the country.”

Zagala said that through the featured film, “Death March”, the younger generations are reminded of those who have valiantly fought in Bataan, and that our veterans, with their discipline and patriotism, should be emulated by the youth of the present times.

He also added that the film “should inspire the youth to understand the importance of remembering the past so as not to commit the same mistakes in the future.”

The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), headed by Lt. General Ernesto Carolina, has lined up a series of activities in observance of Philippine Veterans’ Week.

Activities vary from photo exhibits, golf tournament, fun run, medical and surgical mission, and the “Sunrise, Wreath-laying, and Sunset” ceremonies to be held on April 5-11, all in memoriam of all our Filipino Veterans—the living and those who have laid to rest already.

The commemoration is also a way of promoting, preserving, and memorializing the principles, ideals and heroic deeds of the Filipino veterans as a means to enhance patriotism and love for country, especially among the youth.

PIA receives PQA recognition for performance excellence

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) is among this year’s recipients of the 16^th Philippine Quality Award (PQA)- Recognition for Commitment to Quality Management.

Conferment of the award was held earlier today at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang Palace, where four other institutions, namely the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)- Region XI; Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU)-Manila; Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA); and Zamboanga Polymedic Hospital, Inc. were also bestowed the same recognition.

President Benigno S. Aquino III presented the trophy to the recipients, assisted by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) President Antonio D. Kalaw, and Philippine Society for Quality, Inc. President Florendo Maranan, among others.

In his keynote speech, President Aquino (PNoy) commended PIA for its steadfast dissemination of relevant and useful information especially in times of calamities, which in turn has saved lives of many Filipinos caught in disasters.

PNoy also lauded all PQA awardees for their pursuit of quality in their processes, services, and organizational management as it would greatly contribute to the improvement of the quality of lives of Filipinos.

The President challenged this year’s recipients to “continue to uphold a culture of quality and competence, and shun mediocrity, as this would help Filipinos achieve empowerment, progress, and prosperity, in a society of inclusiveness and opportunity.”

Meanwhile PIA Director General Jose Mari Oquiñena, in an interview, said that the award is a recognition of PIA’s excellence in providing the Filipino people with the right information that they need in decision-making and in becoming empowered citizens. “The PQA is a recognition of this (PIA’s) core value”, he said.

DG Oquiñena cited the task of the agency during super typhoon Yolanda where PIA, through its Text Blast facility, website, and social media accounts such as the Weather Watch, provided advance information to the public about the incoming typhoon.

The aftermath of the typhoon was also a crucial time for the agency, he explained, as it served as information hub for inquiries on lost relatives, instructions on how to avail of government services, and for inquiries on other government services as well.

Oquiñena also mentioned the vital role of the Media Center formed by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Sonny Coloma as the convergence of all of PCOO’s attached agencies such as PIA, PTV4, PBS, and PNA, among others, strengthened the government’s communication among its task force for search, rescue, and relief operations; as well as in the information dissemination for victims of typhoon Yolanda, as well as to the public all throughout the country.

Government media, according to him, “bridged the information gap between the government and the Filipinos,” and this will continue in the years to come as “PIA will widen its information reach by engaging the barangay level information officers, and by conducting more dialogues through “Kapihan” and similar media outlets to intensify its information campaign,” he added.

The PQA, which was created through Executive Order 448 on Oct. 3, 1997 and was institutionalized in 2001 through Republic Act 9013, provides for a standard of excellence to help Filipino organizations achieve world-class performance in quality management and overall organizational performance and industry competitiveness.

The PQA Committee is composed of leaders from respected government agencies and private entities, with the Department of Trade and Industry as the Award Implementing Agency. 

“I’m a LifeLine” and universal health for Filipinos

The Philippines witnessed yet another event of national importance last February 28 as the country attempted to enter the Guinness World Record for Most Organ Donor Registrants in one site and multiple sites, within one and eight hours, respectively.

Under the branding “I’m a LifeLine”, the activity sought to gather as many Filipinos to pledge as organ donors through a simultaneous registration activity. The project aimed at promoting organ donation among Filipinos as a noble act of helping their fellow Filipinos in need of body organ.

This advocacy campaign is part of educating the people on facts about organ donation as well as the help it could give to the life of the recipient.

The campaign is a project of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PhilNos), in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

There were a total of six sites nationwide for the mass organ donation sign-up, of which include Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Manila, Quezon City Memorial Circle, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in La Union, Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in Naga City, L. Mamba Gym in Tuguegarao, and Almendras Gym in Davao City.

The target: to beat the record set by Prakash Gurjar & Madadgar Parivar in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India in September 2013 for the one (1) hour-single site; as well as the eight (8)-hour single site record achieved by Indian National Students Organisation – INSO (India), at the Sir Chhotu Ram Stadium, Haryana, India, on December 1, 2013. The following recorded a total of 2,755; and 10,450 organ donor registrants for the one-hour and eight-hour –duration, respectively. Another goal is to set a new record for the most number of organ donor registrants in multiple sites for one and eight hours.

On February 28, 10AM, PUP-Manila was able to gather a total 3,548 registrants in one hour, while La Union had a total 2,978 signees – both sites beating the set record in India.

Other sites were able to enlist 1,134 donors (for Tuguegarao); 944 (Davao); and 788 (QC) in one hour. Naga has yet to finalize their final tally.

DOH Undersecretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa said the campaign aims to intensify public awareness on the importance and benefits of the medical procedure. According to him, the ongoing campaign welcomes everyone who wants to make a pledge by registering at the established registration site. He also said that once listed, a lifeline identification card will be given to the potential organ donor.

He also said the campaign is meant to “institutionalize a registry for potential donors amid the rising demand for organ donors in the country.”

In a statement, Usec. Herbosa said, “Organ donation saves lives, and it is very important that every person has the power to save a life by becoming an organ, tissue or eye donor. It is a noble gift because you can give someone a second life. Organ transplant offers a better quality of life to chronic renal disease patients and I encourage everyone to register and become an organ donor and help save many lives. By having more organ donors in the country life-saving transplantations will be made possible for more patients every year.”

The successful conduct of the “I’m a LifeLine” project is evidence of the openness of the minds of Filipinos to organ sharing. For months, the lead government agency, DOH, has been strongly pushing for this project, with the assistance of partner agency, PIA in providing advocacy and information campaign to make sure that  Filipinos understand the wisdom of this activity that would ultimately change mindset among Filipinos as far as organ donation is concerned.

PhilNOS Program Manager Dr. Antonio Paraiso said that being a LifeLine is leaving a legacy to the Filipinos who are given another chance in life. “By donating your organ, you extend life; you give life— and what is supposed to be of no use when one dies becomes something useful to others”, Paraiso said.

The “I’m a LifeLine” is among the projects of the government that seeks to actively engage Filipinos in the pursuit of better health conditions and services available to all. This is also in support of the Health Agenda of the Aquino administration which aims to improve the health of Filipinos through a universal health program implemented by the DOH. Among these programs are Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP) through a refocused Philhealth; construction and rehabilitation of, and support for public health facilities; and the attainment of Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6 (reduction of maternal, neonatal and infant mortality; eradication of public health diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and dengue). The program also aims to raise health standards through the upgrading and modernization of the facilities through public-private partnership (PPP). 

Manila commemorates Bonifacio@150, launches “Pondohan” project

MANILA CITY, Nov. 30 (PIA) – Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay led the simultaneous flag-raising and wreath-laying activity at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Shrine, Taft Avenue in Manila City in commemoration of national hero Gat Andres Bonifacio’s 150^th birth anniversary.

With the theme “Bonifacio: Dangal at Kabayanihan”, the ceremony started at 8:00 in the morning and was followed by the raising of the Bonifacio-era flag which was known as the symbol of the “Haring-Bayang Katagalugan” (Sovereign Tagalog Nation).

On the second part of the program, Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada in his speech said that Gat Andres Bonifacio should inspire the Filipinos to unleash the hero in us.

He said that the commemoration of our national hero’s sesquicentennial is not only to recall Bonifacio’s love for country, but to encourage us to “emulate Bonifacio’s patriotism and heroism as he fought, struggled, and died to liberate the Philippines from the forces of Spanish colonizers.

Estrada said that by being like Bonifacio, the Filipino person could build better future for himself or herself, and for his or her fellow Filipinos.

On another note, the mayor articulated his vision for the city of Manila where national hero Bonifacio was born (in Tondo).

He said that he aims to revive and add more vigor to the city which was once the country’s premier trade and financial center, but over the years has been reduced into a basket of criminality, poverty, and unemployment.

Through the city’s “Urban Renewal”, the mayor said that it would be possible to bring back the city’s glorious past which it enjoyed 40-50 years ago.

Among the rehabilitation projects sought to be undertaken by the Manila City government is the cleaning of the name of the Police force and changing its image as Metro Manila’s finest.

Another activity of the urban renewal is the massive clean-up of Manila which consists of the implementation of effective Solid Waste Management, as well as the cleaning of esteros and waterways in the city to mitigate flooding.

The restoration of the city’s peace and order, and cleanliness is one way to attract investments to the city.

The urban renewal project is a fitting project to give importance and due recognition to the historic city of Manila which during the time of colonialism served as the cradle of Philippine revolution which in the end led in the country’s attainment of liberty and independence from the Spanish regime.

Mayor Estrada also launched the “Pondohan ng mga Anak ng Bayan”--- a discussion area (pook pulungan) at the back of the Gat Andres Bonifacio Shrine in Manila City where government members, groups from the different sectors of the society, youth, women and other organizations could hold discussions which are aimed at national, personal, and local development and progress.

Similar to the olden days during Bonifacio’s time, a Pondohan was also used as venue for discussions, brainstorming, and planning of Filipino leaders spearheaded by Bonifacio for the country’s attainment of freedom from foreign forces.

At the latter part of his speech, Mayor Estrada urged the young to give importance to education.

He said that lacking formal education shouldn’t be a barrier to one’s development and enlightenment.

One should always widen his horizon through self-study and discovery—something that he and Bonifacio were able to do as they quest for further learning.

The Mayor ended his speech by underscoring Manila City government’s urban renewal project which will transform Manila into a much-improved city, guided by its battlecry “Manila Forward Ever, Backward Never.” (AKG)