Detachment From TRAPO Politics. Finally, It’s Time For Change.

October 29th, 2009 | By admin

By Digoy Esguerra

The machinery provided by a political party is a great asset in any electoral campaign; in fact experienced political analysts and strategists would say without it, no candidate would stand a chance. A political party gives the advantage to generate more funds, recruit more support, and craft stronger loyalties. Being a member of a political party gives the leverage of greater influence for as long as they concur with the members of the party because a candidate simply has a political machine that works for him and machines are supposed to make man’s life easier.

A question must be raised given the current set up of political parties in our country: should the man or the machine run our nation?

Considering that our nation’s leaders has been determined depending on how strong and big their political parties are, the challenge of running a campaign without a political party backing you up is an immense obstacle. Basically, you have forego of everything I mentioned above and stand on your own.

At his press conference in Club Filipino today, Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the following statement as one of his reasons for resigning from the New People’s Coalition (NPC): “… sino mang tumatakbo, o tatakbo o magiging pangulo ng ating bansa, hindi po pwedeng nakakadena ang kamay at paa sa partido.”

“Hindi po pwedeng nakapiring ang mata, at nakabusal ang bibig. Dahil kung ganyan po ang mangyayari, dating gawi na naman at paano niya mareresolbahan ang mga problema ng ating bansa. Para po sa akin, hindi dapat idikta ng isang partido ang gagawin ng sino mang tatakbo. Dahil kung ganoon, paano niya mapapanagot ang mga tiwali sa gobyerno kung ito ay kagrupo o kasama niya.”

From his press release earlier today, I finally saw the man who, by his decision, could shift from traditional politics. A man who was suppose to be the standard bearer for NPC turned all the political machinery he would have needed down because he believes that by freeing his self from political ties from his party, he can spark up the much needed change in our nation. Most people would say that what he did was political suicide; instead, I applauded a man who finally put the concerns of our country before any political career or interests.

The most relevant and concrete example I could give regarding transforming this nation is Escudero’s stand on the pork barrel. First and foremost in his presidential agenda is addressing corruption in our government. He sees the government today is too bloated on the national government, an implication of which is the pork barrel. What he intends to do is to decentralize executive governmental functions by giving back the resources needed to the local government and not distributed through the national government and one way of doing so is eliminating the pork barrel. Rather than distributing the funds for each province, city or municipality through national government officials, the local government should directly receive these funds and use it. The pork barrel creates an undue burden and malicious discretion to our lawmakers, when in fact they should only be concerned in creating laws.

Swallowing the idea of eliminating the pork barrel is a change so drastic that no congressman or senator would willingly support. Escudero said that by staying in a party with congressmen and senators, he could not abolish the pork barrel and implement line item budgeting. From this, I saw that he was willing to compromise his aspiration and dreams of becoming the next president for his principles and beliefs on how he could make this country better. Finally, we have a possible candidate who has something else for us to hold on to.

To answer the question, it’s about time for man to take over the nation and put all these political machinery aside. Candidates should not be dependent on their political parties and stand on what they personally believe in because history has shown us that political parties are there, at the end of it all, to return and grant favors. Although political machinery provides a candidate leverage, it also gives the candidate excess baggage to carry later on. This is why I believe that it’s better to hunt as a lone lion than with a pack of wolves.

Some would say that it would be impossible for an independent candidate to win a presidential election but in a continuously changing society today anything can be possible. The implications of Escudero winning, if he decides to run for presidency in 2010 as an independent candidate, would mean that our society today has detached itself from traditional politics. But if otherwise, our government and nation will just continue to deteriorate from how it is today.

This is to any Filipino out there who is concerned about our country at all: tama na ang trapo at simulan ang pagbabago.

For another article related to this, visit this link: http://www.juancountry.com/chiz-leaving-the-npc-is-a-good-thing/

Bagong Sigla, Simutaneous Relief Concerts

October 11th, 2009 | By admin

Youth for Chiz joins Senator Chiz Escudero and the country’s top bands in a major fund-raising effort for the benefit of typhoon victims last October 09, 2009.

The concert, dubbed as “Bagong Sigla” featured Miguel Escueta, Chicosci, and Bamboo in Manila – simultaneous with concerts in Iloilo and Davao. Local bands were featured front acts in the three other urban centers with Cueshé in Iloilo, and Sponge Cola in Davao at the Damosa Market Basket parking lot.

Bagong Sigla’s message, especially to the youth, was to be an active force in making a difference in the country. We are suppose to be heroes for others. Dapat “maaasahan na ng bayan,” as Senator Chiz would say.

After the wrath of the storms, we saw our fellow countrymen move, help and sympathize with those who were hardest hit by flooding and destruction. Let us continue to be impassioned to do what we can to uplift and ease the burden of those who were affected.

Photos courtesy of Ayni Nuyda and Jilyn Almendros

Chiz at Ateneo Task Force 2010: Sabay sa Bayan

October 11th, 2009 | By admin

The Ateneo Task Force 2010 hosted the first “SABAY SA BAYAN” Leadership Forum last September 18 at the Colayco Pavilion in Ateneo de Manila University with Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

More than talking about the youth, development, and why he may be running for president in 2010, he said at the start that, “Hindi ako nandito para magspeech kundi para makinig at matuto sa kung ano ang mahalaga sa inyo.”

He emphasized the important role of the youth and the responsibility of each citizen to engage and talk to government leaders. “Keep on telling that person until his term ends,” says Sen. Escudero. Also, He says that it is important for elected officials and government leaders to answer the question of Filipino people from every sector of society, “What’s in it for me?”

During the dialogue, he also answered issues and questions that have been thrown at him (i.e., abolishing Mathematics, etc.) “I did not propose that Math be removed [from the curriculum] but [that it] be reviewed,” he explains.

At the end of the dialogue, Chiz underlined the role of the youth in society. He says that “Ang kabataan ang dapat maaasahan ng bayan,” as compared to the popular saying by Rizal that “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.” He adds, “Panahon na para gampanan ng kabataan ang kanilang responsibilidad sa bayan. Hindi kakulangan at kasalanan ang ‘maging bata’ kung may tunay namang hangarin para sa bansa.”

Photos courtesy of Kevin Tatco, Ateneo de Manila University student.

Bagong Sigla concert para sa pagbangon

October 8th, 2009 | By admin

“Sugod! Kilos!, Tayo ang Bagong Sigla,” October 09, 2009, Friday, 7pm at the Liwasang Ullalim (beside Folk Arts Theatre) featuring BAMBOO and other exciting bands! Bagong Sigla Concert is a simultaneous fund-raising concert in Manila, Dagupan (CSI Stadia), Iloilo (Freedom Grandstand) and Davao (Damosa Market Basket). All proceeds shall be given to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng.

Bagong Sigla was originally a free concert but since Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng left hundreds of people dead and millions more homeless, we decided to turn it into a benefit event.

Youth for Chiz will have a booth there. We invite all the energetic, passionate and those who want to chill –  come and join the fun while helping our brothers and sisters who were badly hit by the two Typhoons. Yes, by everyone’s help we can do something now. See you all there!

*To gain admission please bring some canned goods, a pack of rice, dry and usable clothing, bottled water, medicines, or simply donate a minimum of one peso at the concert gates for our fund drive.

Youth For Chiz

August 18th, 2009 | By admin

Escudero was born on October 10, 1969 in Manila , Philippines , the middle child of the three children of former Agriculture Secretary Salvador “Sonny” H. Escudero III and educator Evelina B. Guevara. His father was elected in 2007 to the House seat vacated by his son.

Escudero is married to the former Christine Elizabeth R. Flores who is a singer and stage actress. They have two children, fraternal twins, born September 7, 2007.

Education
Escudero attended the University of the Philippines Integrated School for both his Elementary and Secondary Education, and graduated in 1981 and 1985 respectively. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in 1988 and Bachelors of Laws at the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1993. He received his Masters in International and Comparative Law at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D. C. in 1996.

At the University of the Philippines , Escudero was Secretary General of the Association of Law Students of the Philippines from 1992–1993. He also joined the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity and was a member of the Alpha Phi Beta Debating Team which was the 1991 U.P. Open Debate Champion. A consistent honor student, he was a member of the Order of the Purple Feather or the U.P. Law Honor Society from 1989–1993.