Journey to the Philippines Part 2: The Senate of the Philippines and the Philippine National Red Cross

FJ Volume 21, Number 17
September 05 - 20, 2007

Mabuhay! In Part 1 about my journey to the Philippines July 12th - August 10th, I reported on the Ambassadors’, Consul Generals’, and Tourism Directors’ Tour (ACGTDT) and my Field Practicum questionnaire for my Master’s in Public Health exploring the migration of Filipino doctors and health care workers to Canada. If you haven’t responded to the questionnaire yet, please take the time to do so (askdrdenise@mts.net or http://www.askdrdenise.blogspot.com/) as your much-needed input could form projects and initiatives to address the many difficulties Filipino HCWs face in Canada. Thank you po!

This issue chronicles my amazing experiences at the Senate and the Philippine National Red Cross with presidential candidate, Department of Tourism’s Wow Philippines “spear-header”, and humanitarian “extraordinaire” Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon. I had the great fortune of being seated on the flight to Manila close to Senator Dick who overheard me speaking of my ambitious project and graciously offered any assistance while in the Philippines. My project leads were proving difficult to contact, so I decided to take him up on the offer, just missing the opportunity to watch President GMA’s State of the Nation Address (Sayang naman!!). My disappointment was quickly assuaged by an invitation to check out the Senate the following day! So on July 24-25th, I had the privilege of witnessing the first Session for the Fourteenth Senate of the Philippines where the main issue was the discussion surrounding further action following a resolution by 17 of the 22 senators asking that the Senate support newly elected Senator Trillanes, to be able to sit at the Senate and perform his functions. The problem is this: in July 2003, a group of 321 armed soldiers who called themselves “Bagong Katipuneros” led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala and Lt. Antonio Trillanes IV, of the Philippine Navy took over (and apparently rigged with bombs) the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center service apartment tower in Makati City to show the Filipino people the alleged corruption of the GMA administration. This Oakwood mutiny effort was quickly thwarted, and Trillanes is currently incarcerated for an alleged criminal charge. Following this, he ran for senator, and won with more than 11 million votes. Interesting dilemma. Dissecting this issue further reveals many insights into the checkered and complex political and cultural history of the Philippines. I got to hear many compelling arguments from the various senators, ranging from the popular notion that he represents the people by such strong public support, that not allowing him to sit in the senate could be perceived as a human rights violation, the precedent of previous politician Mantolo being allowed to sit his duties, minimization of any harms that Trillanes would pose by letting him do his duties (unlikely flight risk, he’d only be 1 of 22 senators so his influence would be “diluted”, options for security and teleconferencing), etc. Hmmmm. I also heard from the four senators (Gordon, Arroyo, Enrile, and Santiago) who voted against the resolution—mainly the separation of powers of jurisdictions, the gravity of the charge, the importance of accountability in the definition of courage, the slippery slope argument, the moral problem with the senate stepping outside its jurisdiction, the inherent conflict of interest in a senate essentially allowing one of its own to “be above the law”, and much more. I got to discuss the ethical and moral facets of the issue with Senator Gordon, before his final speech—this would not even be happening in Canada!-- and I must say, we were all proud that he “nailed it” by getting his points across so passionately and eloquently. There are 5 clips of his speech (with me in the background trying to tape it!) on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKhUi7vSE98. The ante was upped when it was suggested each senator reveal the reasons for her/his vote, and though the resolution was passed, it was exciting to witness government in action, as well as see the media frenzy that followed the session.

Afterward, I saw his dedicated staff work late into the evening while he met with Filipinos who came to ask for his help and guidance, did an inspiring interview (and mini cultural and history lesson) with an Italian-Filipino initiative called Stila Magazine, foto-op with a Filipino-American hip-hop group, another interview with a group of elementary students, and a general debriefing with his staff. On top of all these great experiences and learning opportunities, Senator Gordon facilitated my project work with the Dept of Labour and Employment/Philippine Oversease Employment Agency as well as some time with the Philippine National Red Cross.

I sat in on a teaching session he held with his PNRC staff on Disaster Response Planning, and I got to put my two cents in on what some of the Canadian programs do. I also got to attend the meeting of the Board, which Senator Dick chairs. What an illustrious and welcoming group! Discussing the ins and outs of humanitarian work and the challenges of administering and managing public care and aid through the PNRC were both educational and inspiring to me as a budding public health specialist. My heart grew with pride when a couple of Filipinas from Canada dropped in to give a donation.

At the end of the meeting, we found that former President Fidel Ramos was at the PNRC getting his blood pressure checked! My blood pressure went through the roof as I joined the crowd to meet “Steady Eddie”, the beloved president I read about in my (and the first) Philippine Studies Institute class only a couple of weeks prior. He cajoled the gang and the foto ops and smiles were endless. I was able to set up an interview with him, so more about him soon.

To crown off the evening, I joined Senator Dick’s staff in catching the tail end of the year-long-awaited nail-biting basketball game between the rival universities - Ateneo vs De La Salle. The standing-only half-green (DLSU), half-blue (ADMU) crowd went wild the whole game, which went (close match in over-time) to Senator Dick’s home team, Ateneo.What a rush!

All in all, I was really impressed with Senator Gordon and what he stands for, especially his continually connecting Filipino history, culture—identity--to the future of the Philippines in a positive light, particularly with the young Filipinos who often need reminding of our colourful past and why things are the way they are in the Philippines. Looking at the difficulties in life Filipinos face, it seems so easy to forget or even divorce from the country’s past, and embrace the “new” whether out of a sense of shame or survival. This man, through his example to everyone he meets, has given me a true appreciation for the different pieces of a puzzle I’d been trying to work out for quite some time now: tourism/economy and social business, history, culture, human rights and humanitarianism, health of individuals and populations, hard individual work with collective spirit and mentality, all mixed with a fierce love of two countries. I learned so much, and I could see how he ignites others to be their best. I feel very blessed to have been able to see so many great facets of the Filipino people, and to experience Filipinos working in earnest to better the country. Thank you, Senator Dick!

Well, that about caps up this article. So, folks, please remember that your health (physical/body, emotional, spiritual, mental) is foremost in your own hands; health starts at home. Alagaan ninyo ang katawan at kalusugan ninyo! Until next time, take care, and mind your health!