Tag: equality

Past Speeches [before the 17th Congress]

Serving Others by Creating Equal Opportunity

Speech during the Phaltra National Conference and Seminar, The Manila Hotel

If I am not mistaken, this is the third time that I am speaking before this audience.

Not only that. I am sure I have met many of you either in Naga City or Cebu Provincial Capitol Building during the public hearings on the Land Valuation Reform Bill, as well as the discussions on the RESA bill, where a group of officers of the Philippine Association of Municipal Assessors, the Philippine Association of Provincial and City Assessors, and the Association of Treasurers and Assessors of Metro Manila visited my office last year.

The combined intrepidity of Ching Agcaoili, Pearl Segovia, Lina Isorena and Nino Alvina among others, not to mention the strong endorsements coming from PHALTRA, ASTRAMM, PAPCA and PAMAS will certainly leave the 14th Congress no choice but to pass these two important bills, hopefully before Congress goes on sine die adjournment on June 6.  Continue reading “Serving Others by Creating Equal Opportunity” →

Past Speeches [before the 17th Congress]

Investing in good governance in the interest of equal opportunity for all

Speech during the 8th Annual Convention, Philippine Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, The Manila Hotel

Thank you for inviting me to share my experience in public service, almost two years as chief of our national police and seven as a Philippine legislator.

There have been extraordinary strides in health practices during the last fifty years – vaccines, better equipment, we even have the opportunity to reclaim the fountain of youth.

We, who are present in this pavilion, are living in relatively blessed circumstances for outside this place, real problems beset a great number of Filipinos.  Continue reading “Investing in good governance in the interest of equal opportunity for all” →

Past Speeches [before the 17th Congress]

Serving Others by Creating Equal Opportunity

Speech before the Rotary Club of Manila, Manila Polo Club, Makati City

After I accepted your invitation as your guest speaker today courtesy of Mr. Mon Pedrosa, a hearing on the WB mess was subsequently scheduled on this same day. So I requested Rotarian Mon if I could arrive just a little late, 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., so I would be able to participate and spend more time asking questions in the WB hearing.

What I got from Mon was a big flat ‘No,’ with the threat that if I arrived late, he would be very embarrassed and be left with no option but to resign from the Rotary. I love Rotary, being a Rotarian myself, and I cannot allow Mon, a good Rotarian, to resign from the Rotary. In fact, I am a proud Rotarian. I used to be a very proud Rotarian until Jocjoc Bolante barged into the scene.

When it came time to choosing a service organization, I quickly identified with the Rotary because of its motto: Service above self.  Continue reading “Serving Others by Creating Equal Opportunity” →

Past Speeches [before the 17th Congress]

Patas na Laban, Para sa Lahat: Towards a Society of Equal Opportunity

Speech at a symposium organized by the Political Science Society, Far Eastern University, FEU Auditorium, Manila

Let me begin with a true story.

Once upon a time there was a couple from Cavite who had eight children and making both ends meet was a constant struggle. The husband’s ancestors were of the landed gentry in Iloilo and how their side of the family got to Luzon is another long story altogether.

The father was a jeepney driver. And so the wife had to augment the family income by selling dried goods in their town’s public market. There were times when the couple had to forego their share of the day’s meals because the brood of eight always came first.  Continue reading “Patas na Laban, Para sa Lahat: Towards a Society of Equal Opportunity” →