I would like to thank everyone who supported me especially my volunteers and those who gave up their limited resources as a manifestation of trust in my brand of leadership and track record.

I ran a very truthful, straightforward and candid campaign and thought we could run on the basis of our platform, track record and volunteerism.

I would like to congratulate all the winners and pray that they serve our country well.

We accept the will of the people.

Today, we have a victory for democracy with the successful exercise of our first nationwide automated election despite naysayers and doubters.

The fight for this country goes beyond this day. Let us forge on in building a Bagumbayan for our people.

Related posts:

1. Why Dick Gordon? By Rochelle Sy Chua Senator Dick Gordon has a track...
2. Gordon sues SWS, Pulse Asia. “Surveys rob the people of their right to vote wisely” Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon today formally...
3. (PCOS STATEMENT) GORDON: FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. “Failure is not an option,” said Bagumbayan presidential candidate Richard...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

“Focus and get to work. If it is necessary to move the election date by a week to ensure reliability of the machines, then do it. Work on the solution.”

“These are tough decisions but they have to be made. Any CEO knows that problems arise at the last minute but panic is pointless because it does not solve the problem.”

“I hate to say ‘I told you so’ but that seems to be the case. I pushed for partial automation as proof of concept from the time we started committee hearings in 2005 until 2007, and if we had done so in May 2007 in 2 provinces and 2 cities as required by the law, or even during the barangay elections in October 2007, we would have caught these glitches sooner. But in the Senate I was practically alone in my advocacy.”

The Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the automation law in December 2006, and the law was passed in January 2007. No pilot test of automation was done until the ARMM elections in August 2008.

“All that is in the past. Now we need to fix the problem, not fix the blame. I’m calling on the Comelec, the automation Advisory Council, and Smartmatic to step up to the plate. Stay the course, solve the problem. Failure is not an option.”

Related posts:

1. Gordon sues SWS, Pulse Asia. “Surveys rob the people of their right to vote wisely” Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon today formally...
2. Why Dick Gordon? By Rochelle Sy Chua Senator Dick Gordon has a track...
3. Local Maritime Industry All Thumbs Up for Gordon Presidency Ask any key stakeholder in the local maritime industry, be...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Bayani Fernando is seen by many as a no nonsense new breed of politician.

Our country badly needs transformational change. With that in mind, Bayani Fernando as a vice presidential candidate together with running mate Dick Gordon, have dubbed themselves as ‘the Transformers‘.

‘The Transformers’ is not just a label. Bayani Fernando has a lot of achievements tied to his name to prove that he can transform our country to a better one. When he first came into the political scene, he ran for and won, as the mayor of Marikina city back in 1992. He was re-elected twice by the people of Marikina. It is clear why they kept voting him back into office.

In Marikina, people saw a leader that could deliver. At the start of his term, Marikina was a 4th class municipality. But by the end of Bayani Fernando’s term, he made Marikina a model city. He led with great political will, with focus & determination and never waivered on his principles. He was able to help more than 30 thousand families who were squatters and at the same time get rid of the squatters problem in Marikina’s public places & near the edges of waters.

He implemented programs and reforms so that relocation was not the end goal, but providing means so that families could be self sustaining was the ultimate goal. He has indeed succeeded in being able to turn around Marikina during his terms in office as mayor.

I can clearly remember when I first visited Marikina and my friend was telling me how different it was in Marikina. He said it’s like entering another dimension, you won’t even believe it’s part of Metro Manila. He was very confident in saying that there is almost zero crime rate in Marikina, very clean & disciplined city, how the place was transformed by a Bayani administration. And I believed him because I noticed the same thing when we went to Marikina.

And you’d think that this would be enough, but results are what matter, and is clearly seen in the rise in revenue collection during Fernando’s term. Rising from Php77 Million to Php1 Billion. If there’s anything you take away from Fernando’s terms in office as Mayor, it is this astounding number. Just imagine what he would be able to do with the whole of the Philippines.

His father was also mayor of Marikina back when he was just child, but his love of math, numbers, and building things is what made him pursue mechanical engineering. He would later use this experience as a mechanical engineer in his own construction company, and later on, in heading the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

In 2002, Fernando would again utilize his skills for reforms, coupled with his leadership and management style, not to mention his unwaivering political will, and he would take up the call of being Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman. It would be this position that would greatly increase his profile, but more importantly, it was this position that proved just how important a key leader in a key position could be when it came to making a positive change in the lives of Filipinos. Being a mechanical engineer has helped Fernando greatly as he has put a structured approach in his management of the MMDA. He has begun the streamlining of the infrastructure of Metro Manila.

The experience that he has garnered as chairman of the MMDA can be translated on a greater national level. Programs that the nation so desperately needs. With the MMDA, Fernando has been able to implement and utilize traffic programs, urban transportation programs, traffic engineering, and the Urban Transport Integration Project. All of which focus on the transportation sector. But by far, a key focus that should also be highlighted, and probably not even downplayed as MMDA chairman is his leadership in bringing programs that deals with flood control and drainage management. Again, Fernando’s ability to get to the actual problems, and dealing with them squarely is yet another sign of his management style.

Bayani is a man of few words. I bet he’s not the best debater or speaker out there but his actions are undeniable. I noticed this first-hand when I interviewed him a few months back. As I already know his achievements, I decided to ask him very light questions.

Read the rest of the article at Blogwatch.ph.

References:
Video – http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F09121C347E76CE2
Pictures – http://www.flickr.com/photos/rochellesychua/sets/72157623132171783/

Taken from: http://www.rochellesychua.com/2010/05/why-bayani-fernando.html

Related posts:

1. Laws are the solution for our problems – Bayani “Following the laws is the simple solution to the problems...
2. AFTER 2010, BAYANI EYES FOR 2016 PRESIDENCY Bagumbayan Vice Presidential Candidate and former MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando...
3. Gordon-Bayani embarks on crusade vs ineffective governance BAGUIO CITY – Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Senator Richard J....

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Senator Dick Gordon has a track record to prove that he not only deserves the presidency, but that Filipinos deserve a president like him.

Dick Gordon has so many achievements to his name that I know I won’t be able to write them all in this article. But one thing is for sure, the great factor pushing Gordon in achieving those things is his love for the Filipino people. He has gone to great lengths to make sacrifices so that everything he has touched has made a difference in the lives of the Filipino people.

At a young age, Dick Gordon became a lawyer and then became mayor of Olongapo City. Even before all of this, he has had experience in the corporate world, successfully holding a position with Procter & Gamble as brand manager. He would later utilize this expertise as Tourism Secretary and transforming that department and branding the Philippines as a great tourist destination.

Olongapo City Mayor
During Dick Gordon’s three terms as the mayor of Olongapo City, he transformed “sin city” to a model city by implementing key programs and focusing on major policy initiatives. By focusing on police accountability, he was able to ensure the safety of the citizens of the city as well as maintain high level of confidence in the police force. He was also instrumental in the improvement of transportation, as he ensured that measured such as the strict implementation of color coding be followed.

His administration during his three terms not only focused on safety and transportation, but also on proper health and sanitation as well as waste management. Key focus on the cleanliness of Olongapo city was also a great reason why the citizens gave him the votes to continue in making the city a “model city”.

Chariman of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, 1992-1998
When faced with an overwhelming problem, Dick Gordon steps up to the challenge. This was evident back in 1992, when the Americans vacated Subic and many people lost jobs and businesses lost revenues. All of a sudden, Gordon had to shoulder the burden of finding a way to make up for the millions of dollars in lost revenue, not to mention the thousands of jobs that would be lost.

Gordon quickly pushed for the creation of the Special Economic Zone, and was successful in this advocacy. He became Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman, and was able to gather and woo investors. Not only was he able to convince investors, but also Fortune 500 companies, because of his leadership and his ability to communicate where Subic was headed. The result was a staggering USD2.1 billion of investments and around 200,000 jobs created during his term as chairman of the SBMA. Subic Bay, to this day, remains a model of turnaround from one source of income and jobs, to a totally different and sustainable model.

Secretary of Tourism, WOW Philippines
Who doesn’t know about WoW Philippines, and its great initiative in the promotion of tourism in the Philippines? Under Dick Gordon, despite the challenges that the Philippines faced because of terrorism, kidnappings, bombings, and political unrest, the Wow Philippines campaign was still able to boost tourism during his time as Tourism Secretary. His Mantra is, “Tourism means jobs; where tourism advances, poverty retreats.” Indeed, during his terms he was able to affect change in the department, and mostly by marketing the Philippines in the international arena, he was able to even garner travel and tourism awards.

The WoW Philippines campaign won awards and recognition at the ITB Berlin Convention, the leading Travel Industry Think Tank, as well as the World Travel Market (WTM) which is staged annually in London and is the premier global event for the travel industry.

Due to the great media campaign waged with Wow Philippines, and the tireless efforts of Gordon, tourism indeed increased, and we saw a glimpse of how tourism could affect a positive change in the world views of the international body.

Red Cross
There is no other presidential candidate, or even any other public official, with the vast experience that Dick Gordon has when it comes to disaster preparedness, providing relief effort, and initiating humanitarian and even first aid relief to the families and individuals affected by natural calamities and internal unrest in conflict zones.

In a nation that has known decades of internal fighting with warlords, terrorism, and extremists elements, including the fighting that still continues with the military and rebel groups, it is important to realize that experience in this area is highly needed. Dick Gordon can positively say that he has such an experience.

With over 40 plus years as a volunteer with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), as well as being the governor of the PNRC since 1986, he has overseen and coordinated on many disasters as well as lead humanitarian efforts on a great many events during his decades being part of the PNRC.

The flash floods of Ormoc, the killer earthquake in Cabanatuan, the Pagoda Fluvial Parade tragedy, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, super typhoon Didang, and even the collapse of Guzman Technology institute, he was instrumental in the operations and rescue efforts in these tragedies. His management and leadership, and great heart has touched a great many lives during his years at the PNRC.

From coordinating the efforts and even being on the ground personally during the efforts for Typhoon Reming and Typhoon Senyang back in 2006, he has shown time and again why in these tragic moments, he is able to keep a level head and manage a great amount of resource, a vast network of volunteers and staff to get things done.

Even in the recent Typhoon Ondoy, where we saw massive floods, displacement, not to mention many families being affected, Dick Gordon was instrumentel in providing logistic support, disaster relief, aid relief, as well as providing great leadership in a time of great calamity
He also realizes the importance of equipping the citizenry and in 2006, launched Project 143, I Love Red Cross, to train communities to be self-reliant and ready in the face of calamities and typhoons.

Senator Gordon (2004-2010)
As a Senator, Dick Gordon has kept his focus on key issues that he believes will uplift the Filipino people. His legislative record is long, and his participation in Congress is almost limitless. In his first half of his 1st term as Senator, he authored 79 bills and 29 resolutions. The second half was even more impressive as he was able to author 106 bills and 56 resolutions. He has made it a point to focus his legislative efforts on political reform, justice, job creation, education, and disaster preparedness.

He has been able to pass numerous bills as well, a true testament to his leadership in getting support from his fellow lawmakers. He has passed the holiday economics bill in order to spur domestic tourism, employment and socio-economic growth. And he was even able to pass the new automated elections system law for fast, accurate, and credible elections.

The contribution of Dick Gordon as a legislator is immense, varied, and important. He has been able to push for Republic Act 9367, the biofuels Act of 2007. And in terms of taking a lead on a great many committees, he has been chairman in important committees such as (i) constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws (ii) Government corporations and Public Enterprises (iii) Tourism. He knows the importance of government in helping alleviate the problems and issues that plague our nation. This is why he has pushed for the Renewable Energy Act, the Magna Carta of Women, as well as the Act Penalizing Violations against international humanitarian law.

He knows the importance of tourism, which is why he also passed the Tourism Act of 2007 which provides for the strengthening and formation of Tourism Enterprise Zones.

Indeed, he has transferred his vast expertise and knowledge as Mayor of Olangapo, Governor of the PNRC, and even Tourism secretary and has put it to excellent use as a Senator. We could go on forever in terms of his accomplishments as a legislator, but the most important thing to take away in his 6 years of service as a Senator is that he has been a man of action and a public servant that is diverse and able to tackle a great variety of issues that are important for our nation and for our people.

In a blogwatch event, I asked Dick Gordon about our long conflict with our Muslim brothers. My question exactly was this “You have said in past forums, that one of the first steps of solving the Mindanao problem and the conflicts that arise in that region is to understand our Muslim brothers and sisters. In your years of service, and in going to Mindanao, do you yourself understand their situation? What is your understanding then, and what can you convey to the rest of The Filipino nation, and to us today, so that we can start this process of solving this long conflict in the south?”

His answer was this:

First of all, it’s not Mindanao but it’s the Muslim situation. so Mindanao is okay, it’s just a certain portion of Mindanao that you have a problem with. And I didn’t say just understand it, but I said respect, understand and accept. You know, you have to respect our Muslim brothers, principally because even before the Spaniards came, they were already here.

And when the Spaniards came here, they asserted their character.

Lapu lapu, Sorogan, Sultan Kudarat, they were never beaten by the Spaniards except for Sultan Kudarat for awhile. So, when I look at it, I pay respect to that. [And realize that the Muslims came before the Spaniards]. Lapu-Lapu is the 1st Asian to beat the colonial invader, he is both Tausug and Visayan.

So you have to accept also their ways. Remember that the Islamic culture is one of the most fantastic culture in the world. They brought us algebra, they brought as a lot of things, designs. And they influenced Spain for that matter. The patios, all these arches that you see. The churches are even influenced by them. Design, even dresses. That’s really part and parcel of the Muslim people.

Now when you look at our Muslims here, they were marginalized, because when Spain came here, they discovered, “oh, it’s the Muslims again, it’s the Moros again”. They call them Moros in Spain. They were conquered for 800 years.

So when Magellan was demolished by Lapu Lapu, defeated. And we say that in our national anthem, “sa manlulupig, di ka pasisiil”. They said, “oh no, it’s the Moros again”. They made the Muslims, those who weren’t converted, as our enemies. The same way they did in Spain. So, naging kalaban natin ang dapat hindi nating kalaban. So, kapag nakita niyo ang mga fiesta natin, mga moro moro, parang kalaban natin, kalaban natin ang mga Muslim.

To make the long story short, what has happened since then… Remember that the Sultan of Sulu was one of the most fantastic Sultinates of the world. They were able to help Brunei and Borneo get Saba.

So, you see, you have all these things happening in our country. And all of a sudden, they are marginalized and excluded. That’s the beginning of the problem. You exclude them, and you distinguish them as the enemy, then what happens. They will slowly be marginalized, until you eventually have – When you go to Sulu, it has become impoverished. Kids can’t even go to school with good teachers out there. Takot magbigay ng exam ang Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC).

So volunteer teachers sila, I had to report that to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Kita mo because of the gulo there, [there has been the the strong presence of armed groups and military].

We always fight but we don’t try to fix the problem. So, education is a problem, health is a problem, lack of infrastructure is a problem. They cannot even sell their products. This once proud race, who beat Spain, are now – you try to make them farmers, but even if they farm they cannot sell their goods. And so, ayaw pumunta doon ang Department of Trade, natatakot.

And so, they get poorer and poorer. And because they get more poor, they go back to the guns.

So, to make a long story short, this situation has forced itself upon our nation. And they have been made to be seen as the enemy.. We have never really tried to uphold their dignity, uphold their education.

When you try to develop a country, you move forward, and if the adaptability of the change isn’t there, and if the opportunities of change is reserved exclusively for Christians and not to Muslims – what happens is conflict and exclusion.

There’s a lot of pain out there, and you have to assuage that pain. There’s a lot of anger also on the many people who were kidnapped, so you have to find a way to put in investments.

If I were president, one of the first things that I might do is to get an island in Sulu, and show them that it can be a tourism destination. Bring domestic tourism there.

If you show, na pwedeng kumita other than the gun, that they can make money out of the tourism business – of course you have to invest in it – I think that there will slowly be a difference in attitude.

One of the manifestations of this is I introduced funding, created a monument for Lapu Lapu, pushed for the Islamic Cultural History of the Philippines in Intramuros, etc.

Another thing that I would like to do is to bring Muslim children and have them live with Christian children in Christian homes, make them do things together. We don’t have the tension like other countries like Israel and Palestine, but still it is always better to try and engage. Enable, engage, and ennoble. Respect, understand, and accept.

Need I say more? I believe Dick Gordon is the most qualified candidate to run the Philippines. Together with another man of action, Bayani Fernando, I’m positive we’ll be on our way to a better Philippines.

Taken from: http://thepoc.net/blogwatch-features/6423-why-dick-gordon.html

Related posts:

1. Unfazed by recent bombings, Gordon goes to Basilan (Isabela City, Basilan)—Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Sen. Richard J. Gordon...
2. Gordon sues SWS, Pulse Asia. “Surveys rob the people of their right to vote wisely” Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon today formally...
3. Local Maritime Industry All Thumbs Up for Gordon Presidency Ask any key stakeholder in the local maritime industry, be...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

“We filed the case today and asked for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on all their surveys. These surveys serve no public purpose except to rob the people of their right to be able to engage in a mental exercise where they can gauge their candidate’s capability. It is mental conditioning in no uncertain terms,” Gordon said.

On Thursday, Gordon, through Atty. Christian Diaz, filed a civil case against the Social Weather Station, Inc. (SWS) and Pulse Asia, Inc. for damages with application for TRO and/or Writ of Preliminary Injunction at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

The senator explained that he filed the case practically not just for himself but in behalf of the Filipino people whose choices will be affected by these surveys. He demanded P100,000 for nominal damages, and P500,000 for exemplary damages—both will be donated to the Philippine Red Cross.

“We have been damaged. The country has been damaged. I’m not interested in the money, otherwise I would have asked for P100 million so I can give more to the Red Cross. I am protecting the public. The public must be made to think through the exercise of the most important right in a democracy—to vote wisely,” Gordon said.

The Bagumbayan standard-bearer stressed that the case was filed against SWS and Pulse Asia because they refuse to disclose the details of their procedures, only indicating sample size and margin of error. Without regard to the Fair Election Practices Act and the Code of Professional Standards and Ethical Practices, SWS and Pulse Asia have failed and refused to disclose the sponsors who commissioned them, the methodology and sample design used in their surveys, the questions asked and the order they were asked.

Furthermore, he found it dubious how these two survey firms come up with results almost every few weeks if they actually used scientifically and statistically sound methodologies.

He added that the sample of respondents is far from representative of the population of registered voters. He echoed the observation of one scientist that the SWS survey sample size of 2,100 at a 2% margin of error assumes a population of only 13,125 registered voters nationwide, while the Pulse Asia sample size of 1,800 at a 2% margin of error translates to only 6,429 registered voters.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has a registry of more than 50 million voters for the May 10 elections.

“When the media commits a mistake, they can be sued. But why can’t we sue the survey firms? In 2004, they said GMA (President Gloria Arroyo) would win in Luzon, but it was otherwise. They said I was no. 29 when I ran for the Senate, but after the elections I came out no. 5,” Gordon said.

“Are we supposed to accept the results of the surveys as gospel truth? What if they are wrong? They can just get away with it? I have nothing against the conduct of the survey per se, but if they would publish the results, they must include all necessary information and they must be accountable,” he added. (30)

Related posts:

1. Gordon: Don’t be fooled by surveys, ads MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon on Friday took...
2. (PCOS STATEMENT) GORDON: FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. “Failure is not an option,” said Bagumbayan presidential candidate Richard...
3. Why Dick Gordon? By Rochelle Sy Chua Senator Dick Gordon has a track...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Gordon was not only the presidential candidate who saved hostages in Basilan, but he was also the only one who brought his campaign to Basilan, where a series of bombings, including an attack on the Cathedral occurred this month.

“Ako lang ang tumatakbong presidente na pumunta dito sa inyo. Hindi ako katulad ng iba na natatakot dahil magulo daw dito. Paano mo maaayos ang peace and order situation dito sa Basilan kung hindi mo pupuntahan,” he said at a town hall meeting held yesterday (April 21) at the Basilan State College.

“The bombings are just isolated incidents. I have been to Basilan several times and it has always been a peaceful town. What is needed is for the government to give attention to the province so that it would develop and its people will be uplifted. We should develop Basilan’s tourism industry and create a Freeport zone here,” he added.

In 2000, Gordon saved a number of hostages from the clutches of the Abu Sayyaf. Some of them attended the town hall meeting and committed to support Gordon’s presidential bid. Christinely Diva and Nova Verallo were not in the event but their relatives were there—sister Leonilyn and father Birang, respectively.

Gordon pointed out that in order for the country to progress, people should shed their regionalistic attitude.

“We should always think as one nation. Dapat isipin natin na Pilipino tayong lahat, hindi yung Kristyano kami, Muslim kayo. Lahat tayo magkakapatid,” the Bagumbayan standard-bearer said.

“We just have to give our Muslim brothers respect, understanding and acceptance. And there should be effective governance,” he added. (30)

Related posts:

1. Why Dick Gordon? By Rochelle Sy Chua Senator Dick Gordon has a track...
2. Batangas City barangay execs support Gordon Batangas City—Barangay leaders of Batangas City committed to support the...
3. (PCOS STATEMENT) GORDON: FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. “Failure is not an option,” said Bagumbayan presidential candidate Richard...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Ani Bayani, sa halip na humawak ng pwesto sa gabinete nanaisin pa niyang maging ‘bastonero’ ng presidente o taga-disiplina ng mga kawani ng gobyerno upang masiguro na ang lahat ay magtatarabaho at magiging produktibo.

“Hindi po tayo nagbibiro. Iikutan natin ang lahat ng ahensya at sisiguraduhin na ang lahat ng kawani ng gobyerno ay makakatupad sa kanilang tungkulin at makaabot sa kanilang tinakdang target,” seryosong pahayag ni Bayani.

Bagama’t isa siyang engineer na kwalipikadong humawak ng mga ahensya gaya ng Public Works and Highways at Transportation and Communication, desedido siyang bantayan ang lahat ng departamentong nangongolekta ng buwis gaya ng Department of Budget and Management at mga ahensya ng Bureau of Internal Revenue at Bureau of Customs.

Tututukan din niya ang Department of Agriculture upang wakasan na ang problema ng mga magsasaka lalo na sa patubig. Gayundin ibibigay niya ang serbisyo bilang inhinyero sa pagpapatayo ng mga gusaling paaralan at medium-rise na pabahay para sa mga squatters.

“Maaring hindi ako maging popular sa gagawin ko ngunit iyon ang dapat nating gawin upang masiguro na ang publiko ay maserbisyuhan ng tama. Tigilan na natin ang pakitang tao sa pagrereport ng mga datos na hindi naman totoo. Magtrabaho tayo sa initan kasama ng ating mga manggagawa,“ mariing pahayag ni Bayani.

Si Bayani ay tumatakbong bise presidente at ka-tandem ni Bagumbayan Standard Bearer Senador Richard Gordon.

-30-

Related posts:

1. EPEKTIBONG EARTHQUAKE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM ISUSULONG NI BAYANI Bilang paghahanda sa lindol na maaring maganap anumang oras, isusulong...
2. BAYANI SWAK NA MAGING ‘POWER CZAR’ NG BANSA Kung ang batayan ng New York-Based Think Tank na Global...
3. Makabagong tren mula Ilocos hanggang Bicol isusulong ni Bayani BAGUIO CITY- Inihayag ni Bagumbayan Party Vice Presidential Candidate at...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

In short, Bayani Fernando wishes to become the most unpopular man in the next administration.

When our group of media women asked him if there was anything he ever regretted in the course of his campaign, Fernando said it was “listening to my advisers.” And what piece of advice did he regret most? “That I smile constantly.”

When we asked who gave him such advice, he pointed to his wife, outgoing Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando, who simply smiles back.

“I’ve had my old posters printed and will be hanging them up soon,” he tells us, referring to the posters that came out while he was still chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority, showing him sternly looking down from the posts of overhead rails, admonishing motorists and pedestrians. “My new slogan is,” he declared, “Hindi ako nagbibiro. Titino tayo. (I’m not kidding. We’ll shape up.)”

It’s clear Fernando is not just running to snag the No. 2 post of the land (with presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon of the Bagumbayan Party). On his agenda are not just the usual platitudes about good governance, fighting corruption or eradicating poverty. Instead, he wants to create a new Filipino society, one motivated by different values, especially a new work ethic and a commitment to excellence.

* * *

IF critics say Fernando wishes to bite off more than he can chew, he can always point to the transformation wrought in Marikina where he served as mayor for three terms and then was succeeded by Marides.

In the 18 years of “Fernando rule,” Marikina, once a small riverside city ruled by the single industry of shoe-making, has grown into a city with a diversified line-up of industries, clean streets even along the market, brightly lit parks and promenades, and an impressive network of social support systems.

But beyond the new infrastructure, the cleanliness, and the renovation of what used to be eyesores, including the once-polluted Marikina River, the transformation of Marikina is most impressive for what experts have dubbed the “social engineering and cultural change” led by the local government leaders.

In a book on the many governance innovations established in the city, Fernando (“BF” to his constituents) is quoted as saying that he “would like to be remembered as a builder of character and not just a builder of infrastructure.” And in the city, he began where it mattered most: in the mayor’s own milieu of City Hall. The bureaucracy was motivated (by carrot and stick) to respond quickly and efficiently to the citizens’ demands, and to deliver basic services as efficiently and completely as possible.

During a visit to Marikina City Hall a few years ago, Mayor Marides pointed to the various glass-walled offices. When asked about the glass walls, she quipped: “For more transparency!”

With office transactions open to public view, with no room for secret hanky-panky, city hall workers couldn’t but do their jobs in the best and fastest way possible.

* * *

BF had a chance to expand the vision he and Marides first made palpable in Marikina when he was appointed chair of the MMDA.

In this post he has been less than a total success, given that Metro Manila’s 13 cities are much larger and more complex than Marikina. But given the many obstacles he faced, including the refusal of some mayors to cooperate or even heed MMDA regulations, BF can be said to have made quite an impact still.

He is quite proud that the numbers—including the savings accrued in fuel and time saved—have borne out the wisdom of his policy of replacing intersections with U-turns, cutting down the time vehicles used to spend idling before traffic lights.

He was most controversial for his policy of “disciplining” sidewalk vendors and informal settlements (which he persists in calling squatter colonies). BF went on walking tours with a demolition team, driving away vendors on sidewalks and even destroying small stalls that intruded into public property.

There was much TV footage of outraged vendors, haranguing authorities for destroying their property, including their wares. BF would later explain that they destroyed the vegetables and fruits on sale because they didn’t want it said that the MMDA was profiting from the produce they confiscated.

* * *

BUT even now, while he is courting the nationwide vote, Fernando refuses to pander to populist sentiment. In fact, he does quite the opposite.

If the Philippines is poor, he declares, it is because we Filipinos wanted it that way. “We have become so poor because we designed a society for the poor,” he says. “Let’s stop designing the country for the poor, let’s work instead to reach the optimum level, pull up the poor and make them work for their sustenance, or else all of us will end up suffering.”

Productivity, he says, is the top problem confronting the country and its people.

In his campaign, BF presents himself as the “engineer of change,” wearing a yellow hard hat which he says is the “symbol of construction workers,” although he has other hats in different colors.

If he does make it as vice president, we can expect BF to wear many hats as well: engineer of social change, advisor to the president, disciplinarian and national scold.

By Rina Jimenez-David
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:45:00 04/13/2010
Taken from: http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100413-264098/He-wants-to-be-the-bastonero

Related posts:

1. Why Bayani Fernando? By Rochelle Sy Chua Bayani Fernando is seen by many...
2. Laws are the solution for our problems – Bayani “Following the laws is the simple solution to the problems...
3. AFTER 2010, BAYANI EYES FOR 2016 PRESIDENCY Bagumbayan Vice Presidential Candidate and former MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

It is easy to surmise why Senator Gordon has drawn the all-out support of the entire local maritime industry. Among the presidentiables, he is the only one who knows the intricacies, the challenges, and practically the ins and outs of the maritime industry, like the palm of his hands.

Gordon has greatly shown this adept knowledge of the industry during the recent presidential forum initiated by the Joint Manning Group (JMG), the biggest conglomeration of the country’s manning agencies, the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), the biggest maritime union in the county, and the Filipino Shipowners Association (FSA).

In that particular forum, the entire local maritime industry got the opportunity to know the platforms or plans of actions of each presidential aspirant for the sector. Gordon not only outsmarted, outwitted, but overwhelmingly outpointed the other presidentiables in terms of overall grasp and doable plans for the future of the industry. He most certainly wowed the industry players with his extemporaneous and seamless words and thoughts, unlike the other candidates who had to resort to perusing to relevant documents or segueing to other political issues just to deflect major questions ask of them.

Gordon knows the industry not because he has read or studied it before but because he has been part or has been involved with the major issues that have beset or besiege the industry over the years including current issues being faced by the sector.

He was a major part of the Senate Committee that looked into the controversial Management Level Course (MLC) that was a thorny issue in the local maritime and seafaring community as early as 2006. Following a series of hearings at the Senate floor, an amicable and win-win implementation of the MLC in 2008 was agreed upon and as everyone in the industry has come to realize, the course is now doing wonders contributing immensely to address the officer shortage problem now being faced by the global maritime industry.
Following the spate of domestic maritime disasters that struck the country like wildfire late last year, Senator Gordon’s Blue Ribbon Committee was as the helm of it all, conducting a series of hearings and investigations at the Senate while practically every legislator in the country is enjoying their Christmas break.

At the height of the proposed revisions to Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers Act in the bicameral conference committee late in 2009, which, if and when approved, would prove detrimental to some extent to the local maritime industry, Gordon was there to take a stand again for the local maritime industry, making sure that the amendments are ‘de-prioritized’ and had to be given more serious thought and careful thinking before it is even calendared for discussion. Now the proposed revisions to the Migrant Workers Act have died a natural death in the 14th session of Congress and shall perhaps see the light of day in the next session. By then, the local maritime industry would most likely be consulted and is ready with their well-thought arguments.

Senator Gordon also got himself busy talking with leaders of Somalia during the Holidays with the end in view of re-establishing governance in the African state. Somalia has been besieged by chaos, civil disobedience and poverty, thus many of its people resorted to piracy and started victimizing merchant vessels traversing Gulf of Aden. Unfortunately, almost 30% of the entire seaborne manpower population of the global merchant marine industry is made up of Filipinos thus almost each vessel had Filipinos on it. The end result – the most number of seafarers being held hostage onboard captured vessels off Somalian waters or even farther are Filipinos.

In partnership with the some key stakeholders in the local maritime industry, Gordon has thought of a possible way to address the issue right from the root. What’s more the Filipino seafarers would be able to contribute in the problem. It would be irony at its best – the victims helping out their captors back to the path or righteousness again.

Gordon is most certainly what the doctor ordered for the local maritime industry and it is no longer a secret why he is tops among the major players, associations, the Filipino seafarer lot and their families.

Taken from: Source: Tinig ng Marino

Related posts:

1. Unfazed by recent bombings, Gordon goes to Basilan (Isabela City, Basilan)—Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Sen. Richard J. Gordon...
2. (PCOS STATEMENT) GORDON: FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. “Failure is not an option,” said Bagumbayan presidential candidate Richard...
3. Why Dick Gordon? By Rochelle Sy Chua Senator Dick Gordon has a track...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Bagumbayan standard-bearer Sen. Richard Gordon said on Monday that with the campaign period entering the homestretch, media companies should be organizing more debates, particularly among presidential candidates.

“The media is losing by default and our people are the biggest losers,” said Gordon.

TV network ABS-CBN was supposed to air a presidential debate live two weeks ago but this was scrapped two days before air time after some candidates backed out.

Gordon, who had confirmed his attendance at the debate, said upon learning of the cancellations: “Those who refuse to join debates show that they cannot stand the pressure of facing the people.”

On Monday, he told reporters that candidates who declined invitations to debate were “idiots.”

It is the right of the voters to question those begging for their votes, according to Gordon.

“Can’t we ask Noynoy (Aquino) what his track record is? Can’t we ask (Manny) Villar about the C-5 controversy?”

“Candidates should demonstrate not only their ability to spend money or their ability to use their family (to campaign) but also their capability (to lead),” he added.

He said the scandals involving Villar and Aquino would continue to hound them even if one of them became president.

“How could they concentrate on working if there are issues they could not answer [in debates]?” he said.

He said Aquino should explain why his family owned more than 4,500 hectares of land when ordinary Filipino families could not afford 50 square meters.

He said Villar should also explain the big loans his companies received from the Government Service Insurance System for his subdivisions that got the GSIS into financial trouble.

He asked: “Who would you rather look for jobs for our people? Who has the credibility to get business for this country –Noynoy, Villar or Gordon?”

By Edson C. Tandoc Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:12:00 04/13/2010

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100413-263894/Gordon-to-media-Where-have-all-the-debates-gone

Related posts:

1. Gordon bats for foreign investments in RP media ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Philippines—Lamenting that his “message” for the country...
2. Expats, envoys think Gordon is best person to run RP MANILA, Philippines—Foreign business executives and members of the diplomatic community...
3. Gordon accuses Villar of bribe attempt, buying off media MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Richard Gordon Tuesday accused Sen. Manuel Villar, one...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.