Taking It To the Streets -- North Bus Terminal

Nicky Perlas was right. You come from your heart and show what is in your heart through your eyes and your smile, and they will see sincerity, care, passion, authenticity. Who can resist that?

He also said, that when connecting to your regular fellow Filipinos, especially the poor, there is no need for intellect and words, no need even for reason. They connect through a different intelligence -- through their heart, through their senses, through their intuition. They can smell truth-speaking and no b.s. right off the bat.

I had a direct personal experience of this yesterday at the North Bus Terminal. Many people were moving quickly to catch buses to go to homes in the province for the weekend; others waiting for their rides, waiting for a sale; still others just sitting and waiting, not sure for what.

After my initial trepidation at intruding on their preoccupations, I took a deep breath, approached a bench of what may have been bus drivers or operators sitting around, stuck out my first Perlas flyer and before I could run away, I dared myself to look them straight in the eye, and smile (admittedly, a little shakily).

"Unsa man na?!" demanded one of them, without extending a hand to receive my offer.

After a quick look around for my buddy who was by then nowhere to be found, I gulped and must have said something half-way intelligible (and maintained our eye contact!), because he straightened up from his I'm-busy/lazy-don't-bug-me slouch and said, "o sige beh, patan-awa ta ni-ana."

On cue, everyone else stuck their hand out to receive their copy. Phew! (And how heartwarming to see them actually reading it!)

So, yes, look them in the eye and smile with all your heart! That, and, your heart's deep knowing of the truth that Nicanor Perlas is our only hope for real and substantial change towards a better future for our Philippines...will get you everywhere! ;-)

NICANOR PERLAS’ SPECIAL CONNECTION

Nicanor Perlas pinning a volunteer tag on one of his "prayer warriors"

Outside the gates of the Basilica del Sto. Niño in Cebu City, you are bound to meet vendors, pushing their candles and images. There they were at the church entrance, just when we were coming out of a mass that culminated a whole day gathering of the supporters of NICANOR PERLAS. This time these middle-aged peddlers were there not out to sell their wares but to catch a better glimpse of a man inside the church that they felt was someone important. And they asked our help to connect with him.

Together with these urban poor women, we retraced our steps and waited for Nicanor Perlas to emerge from the prayer room. The minute they came face to face with the Presidential candidate, there seemed to be an instant connection. He smiled and looked at them in the eyes as they bared their life situations. He was the first political candidate who interacted with them- listened to their woes and inspired them with his vision. They lamented that they had no such opportunity with other political candidates whose bodyguards effectively screened them.

At nine o clock in the evening, these marginal earners still had to bring their day’s income to their families, living as far as Carcar, a town about 40 kilometers from the city. Yet, their mundane cares were brushed off like the dust from their worn-out slippers as they danced for heaven’s blessings. As they raised their candles to the Supreme Being, they became the prayer warriors for NICANOR PERLAS’ sublime intention - the rebirth of this nation.

Tito Nicky Gets Writer's Vote

My friend's nephew sent this....from Politics.Inquirer.net. I love how the youth are not as attached nor beholden nor socialized to "how things have always been", and therefore can recognize truth and heart-based reason when it is staring them in the face.

Hi,

I like this article. You can read more here

http://politics.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&article=20100220-254313

Quotes from the writer.

What does it matter if the candidate falls first or last in the surveys? What matters is that the voter believes. That is the logic of true democracy. Anything less than that is a compromise that measures the limits of democracy and the maturity of voters.

Voting is a moral imperative. The single person has an apparatus of judgment inside her. This is an apparatus ever so complex because it has been born out of millions of years of human existence. It expresses itself through a deep feeling for what is right. All humans know when a thing is ugly or beautiful. They can feel it. Stealing is ugly because it feels ugly. One can reason its ugliness but that comes after the feeling. This is why reason is always problematic and suspicious. Anything can be reasoned out, especially the act of voting for one who steals.

This is the logic of voting for Nicanor Perlas. Choice and voting are as sacred as birth itself. It is a way for humans to determine what comes closest to the truth for everyone. It is a way much more dependable than one writer sitting alone in front of a computer writing her own beliefs about what the truth is. This, even if the writer begins with: I lie. The Maker is wrong to muddle his mind with too much intellectual garbage. The moral purity of choice is the very foundation of modern democracy itself.

YOUR INVITATION to Join the Perlas Campaign Launch on February 13, 2010

We invite YOU to CELEBRATE WITH US
as We Launch Our Campaign
for Nick Perlas for President
Right here in Cebu City.

It's happening February 13th, 2010, and we want YOU to be a part of it!

All who are ready for a new and authentic way of living are welcome!

Questions or RSVP, please write us NOW at perlascebu@gmail.com.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE POSTER IMAGES BELOW

TO READ ALL THE DETAILS

OF THE CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT INVITATION

AND TO READ THE "SIX PILLARS" OF PERLAS' PLATFORM!

Our World's Most Promising Green Candidate

Dear Friends,

I wish to write you one last time, as the active Canadian Liaison regarding Nicanor Perlas, before the nature of my volunteer efforts as Liaison change and take on new forms once the political campaign begins officially in the Philippines and very shortly.

I thank you in advance for your time, patience and interest as well as for the support from those of you who reached out to actively volunteer, big or small.

Synopsis of Our World's Most Promising Green Candidate:

I) A Rare Pearl of the Philippines
Nicanor Perlas, considered the world's most promising Green candidate, officially announced in June of 2009 he was going to run for president.

[...] he has a deep understanding of political systems but is not personally tied into the systemic corruption of government in his own country.

He is entering politics as one of the highest representatives of civil society, an emerging movement of citizens seeking to empower themselves and renew social life. Think the earth's immune system response to social ills.


II) The First Victory for New Politics
In mid-January 2010, a victory was made for New Politics in the Philippines: a politics that is about participatory democracy, about governance over government. A politics that is deeply based in societal threefolding also known today as tri-sector partnerships.

After the commission on Elections at first disqualified Nicanor Perlas' candidacy based on unjust and undemocratic principles (among the reasons outlined were not enough money to run a traditional campaign), the world stood up and without skipping a beat circulated a petition signed by people from over 60 countries. [...] COMELEC finally decided to approve Nicanor's presidential candidacy signaling worldwide that politics not backed by dynasty, without "money-power" or the corrupt organization of self-interests, is indeed still possible!

III) Envisioning the Promise to Ourselves
Integral Sustainable Development is at the heart of Nicanor's New Politics. It can only come about with the will of the people. Its opposite, corruption at all levels, is a sign of an increasingly disempowered populace and it is our duty towards ourselves to ensure we do not choose lives clouded by ignorance about our own dignity as human beings or our essential roles in shaping our societies worldwide.

Though this political scenario is unfolding in the Philippines, its outcome will have global implications if the people choose Nicanor Perlas.

He has already drafted and delivered one of the most innovative policies on sustainable development in the Philippines known as PA 21 though currently it is not employed due to the corruption in government. His current and complete 24 page political platform outlines in detail the ways in which society can be rebuilt throughout all its sectors and the resources as well as innovative methods that his government will use to achieve this.



IV) Spearheading the Paradigm Shift
How do we as citizens far removed from this archipelago, known as the Pearl of the Orient, act to help this vision anchor itself more fully into our "local lives?" The obvious ways are no longer going to be valid once February 9th comes along and it is illegal to donate funds or interfere with the political process as a foreign organization or individual.

The answers are very simple: learn more about Nicanor and his work in the world!

Spread the word that there is a hope and a shift in the political landscape unlike any up to date in the history of Asia!

With people like Nicanor Perlas potentially coming into positions of executive leadership, "creatives" across the globe will find their voices represented in the world, in a way that has never yet been done. In a way that will bring us ever closer to our selves. To one more blessing on the road to achieving our highest potentials in life. Tayong Lahat! Ngayon!

Vassag Hovsep Baghboudarian
A People for Perlas
Global citizens supporting Nicanor Perlas for President of the Philippines 2010

Attached JPEG's and PDF's are for electronic distribution and private use only.
Do not print on behalf of a foreign organization after February 8th 2010.
Posters are made by individual Canadian volunteers.
Thank you.

Watching Our Intrepid Young Campaigner for Nick!

From Nurse Carlie's blogsite Viva La Vida Gabe, comes this blog post in between her speaking engagements and TV, radio and newspaper interviews. You gotta hand it to her, she's got spunk!

VOTE FOR NICANOR PERLAS FOR PRESIDENT!!!

ETA: OMG Mr Perlas tweeted about me! I'm happier than when I learned I passed the exam ::faints::

I'm a pretty low-key person (I really would have preferred to pass and finally get my license without all the fanfare), but I thought, "Hey, why not use all this once-in-a-lifetime attention to promote a cause greater and way more important than me?" So Rex (love of Pam's life), thank you very much for mentioning Nicanor Perlas, who needs all the press he can get. Your mentions made the entire media circus worth it ;)

An aside: I also brought up Mr Perlas at the end of a live radio interview with Bombo Radyo Cagayan de Oro, after which they promptly hung up on me without saying goodbye :((((( Another interview with a local paper:

Reporter: Naa ka mensahe nga ikadungag 'day?

Me: Sir pwede i-mention nga supporter ko ni Nicanor Perlas?

Reporter: ..............................

* * *

Perlas Challenges Philippine Air Force to Release Pogoy Immediately

The Nicanor Perlas campaign just issued the following important Press Release regarding Captain Joenel Pogoy's detention by the Philippine Air Force.  We felt it was important to post it here -- immediately -- in its entirety.

*********************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               4669520
Tuesday, February 2, 2010                                                  

PERLAS: CAPTAIN JOENEL POGOY AN ANTI-CORRUPTION WHISTLEBLOWER NOT A MILITARY CRIMINAL

ADOPTS POGOY AS GUEST SENATORIAL CANDIDATE

Presidential Candidate Nicanor “Nick” Perlas today challenged the Philippine Air Force to stop violating the human rights of and release Air Force Captain Joenel Pogoy from harsh detention. “Captain Pogoy is a victim of human rights violations not a military criminal. He is a whistleblower exposing widespread corruption in the Philippine Air Force. Pogoy has documented the selling by military officers of spare parts and inadequate maintenance, the kind of corruption that produces defective planes that then endangers the lives of people,” said Perlas.

“We should be honoring, not punishing, men who have the guts and courage to expose corruption at the highest levels of government. This is the reason why, upon mutual agreement, I have included Captain Pogoy as my guest senatorial candidate. I encourage the Supreme Court to affirm Pogoy’s candidacy,” continued Perlas.

The Perlas agenda of government includes the eradication of corruption and advancing moral and effective governance in society among its top priorities. “I encourage and support all whistleblowers, whether they be in government, business, or civil society. We have to have a concerted, society-wide effort to get rid of the deadly disease of corruption in this country,” asserted Perlas.

Perlas made his announcement in the wake of the recent crash of a Nomad N-22B twin prop airplane and media reports linking him to Captain Pogoy. The plane crash killed nine people in a residential area in Cotabato City.  The plane crash brought public attention once more to the allegation of Captain Pogoy’s of corruption in the Philippine Air Force.

Capt. Pogoy graduated from the Philippine Military Academy, Class 1999. He was last assigned with the 220th Airlift Wing in Mactan, Cebu. Capt. Pogoy has been under detention since October/November of 2008 and was only charged in March of 2009 before the military tribunal. The Philippine Air Force claims that Capt. Pogoy violated Articles of War 96 and 97 (Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and a Gentleman & Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline, respectively.)

Pogoy was detained after videos surfaced on the popular video site YouTube alleging massive corruption among Air Force officials including the cannibalization of airplane parts in lieu of the purchase of new materials.

Pogoy also cited in his Blog captainpogoy.blogspot.com, in a post titled “PAF Press Release against Captain Pogoy,” dated April 8, 2009, two instances of the Nomad being involved in accidents: 1) “years ago” when a Nomad was forced to ditch/crash because of fuel pilferage; and,  2) a Nomad 87’s landing gear collapsing which Pogoy attributed to cannibalizing “items from junked aircraft to replace the discrepant parts.” He added that “millions of pesos” are stolen because of these corrupt practices.
*************
 As always, we welcome comments on this at the end of this post.  We can assure you we'll quickly forward them on to Nicanor Perlas and the campaign team.

Family Reunion Leads to Perlas

So, I’m minding my own busy, full, rich life shared between caring for my beloved mother in the last phase of her life’s amazing journey and co-creating a presidential campaign of a lifetime, for our lives, when another seemingly innocent slew of emails begins to proliferate my email inbox.

It is all about the family reunion of the Bandala-Mangubat clan that’s happening this year in July. Like many of these, you can imagine what happens - connecting and reconnecting after many years absent, bringing up old-&-should-be-forgotten childhood memories, endless teasing, and finally, an honoring of our brilliant relatives out there in the world. We’re obviously a very proud clan.

Two of highest mention – so far! - are Chef Jay Cabatingan who won 1st place in another US national cooking competition in Ohio; and newly announced Topnotcher (#1) of the last Philippine Nursing Board Exams, Clarie Morales Bontol (in the photo at left) from Iligan City. So, okay, I’m a proud aunt – even if in truth, I’ve never met either of them.

So, you ask, what’s this got to do with the campaign of a lifetime?! Here’s what. I’m waking up at my now usual 3:30am check on Google Alerts for what’s new in Nick Perlas country and I came upon the lead piece in the Philippine Inquirer.net entitled Nursing exam topnotcher: “No drama, just all hard work" and I’m going, huh?! I mean, great, they’ve written about my niece, but why the link to Nick Perlas?

Check out the final paragraph of the article!


Upon realizing that the Inquirer took interest in her story, she made a special request: to mention that she is “a proud member” of presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas’ Pangmasa party.  

She said she would like to emulate Perlas, an environmentalist who chose to stay on in the country and serve the Filipino people.

Goooo, Clarie! Gooooo Nick! Goooooo Family! Goooooo Philippines!

Here’s the link to the whole beautiful article written about Clarie — not just of her achievement (sweet!) - but of her as a person, which makes me & my family even prouder!

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100201-250742/Nursing-exam-topnotcher--No-drama-just-all-hard-work

Does God work in mysterious ways, or what?!