Kapatiran a political party

My title for last Saturday’s column inadvertently said, “Ang Kapatiran Party List.” The title should have been, “Ang Kapatiran Party.” Because Ang Kapatiran is a political party, not a party list. Readers have called, texted, and emailed me about the mistake. “It’s important for people to know we are not a party list. We are a Comelec-registered political party,” my good friend since the 60s Nandy Pacheco, AKP founder and president emeritus told me on the phone.

Another good friend, Manny Valdehuesa, an Ateneo alumnus who lives in Cagayan de Oro and who represents Mindanao in the AKP senatorial slate, called the other night, then yesterday sent me a message by email. His message is as follows: “Nice talking to you last night… and good to know you yourself noticed the mistaken labeling of the Ang Kapatiran as a ‘party list’ group. Far from it being a mere party list, it is in fact about the only authentic national political party, with principles and platforms firmly grounded upon political reality, moral imperative and national priority…matched by fastidious attention to the integrity of its candidates.

 “I note though that your column is favorable and in no way denigrating to our Party … the way some in media makes it appear. I’m glad, for one, that you note the perception of its being snubbed by organizers of most presidential forums. It is bad enough that the traditional parties are infested with greedy oligarchs who wish to keep the political process to themselves if they can, it is worse when the media play along and betray its elitist bias.

“Did anyone see how democracy and the spirit of fair play was ill-served by the forums organized by (certain groups) or the Cebu Chamber? How dare they portray this year’s election as confined to a choice between contending vanguards of the rich, the already powerful, or the politically-entrenched? How dare they hijack the political process before the campaign period even takes off?

“Not least, much is being said about the fear of failure of elections — and it is defined in terms of technical failure, an electronic glitz here, humidity or weather conditions there, and so on. But no one brings up the more insidious failure brought on by the denial of a level-playing field, by the blocking out of disadvantaged parties, by their exclusion from what ought to be the most widely participated dialogue in the nation.

“Let’s face it: there is a determined effort by the elites to deny a level playing field for all contenders for the forthcoming election! And the media shares the blame for further bastardizing our democracy.

 “All the best!” — Manny Valdehuesa

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Visitacion “Chit” de la Torre has done it again! Surpassed many authors’ records by coming out with her 29th title. This time, her work is a 400-page, two-inch thick coffee table book entitled Outstanding Filipino Achievers. These achievers, says Chit, “have demonstrated that with a strong faith in one’s self, they have the power to dream, to dare, to determine the path they shall tread. The magic formula of hard work, perseverance and moral integrity is no magic nor illusion nor fantasy. These achievers have made the formula a day-to-day reality, a commonsensical reaction.”

These 101 achievers come from a cross-section of Philippine society —three Philippine presidents, senators, businessmen, musicians, a boxer, doctors, artists, a restaurateur, a house builder. They include Presidents Corazon C. Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; Senators Manny Villar, Dick Gordon and Loren Legarda, media mogul Felipe L. Gozon, Manny Pangilinan and Oscar Lopez, Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte, George Tan Young, Manny Pacquiao, Leonarda Camacho, former Sen. Juan Flavier, Washington Sycip, Zobel de Ayalas, Patricia Sto. Tomas, Mayor Sigfrido “Freddie” Tinga, Architect Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr., Mary Jane C. Ortega, Bishop Roderick S. Pabillo, Gov. Grace Padaca, Impy Pilapil and Vicki Belo.

In the three years that Chit was preoccupied with the production of this volume, she admits that meeting these achievers “has been a truly enriching experience . . . and worth emulating.”

Chit has an A.B. English-Journalism degree from St. Theresa’ College, a master of arts in linguistics from the Ateneo De Manila University, and a degree in Philippine Studies from the University of the Philippines. At present, she is a Ph.D candidate on Applied Cosmic Anthropology at the Asian Social Institute.

The book publisher, Genevieve Tan, is an achiever herself, carving as she did, a niche in the academe and the business industry. She is the chief executive mentor of Southville International School and Colleges and director of Career and Corporate Consultants. She writes that being with an achiever “is always an inspiring moment for me. Achievers have a mystifying way of prodding us to embark on a success journey with a clear focus, with undaunted determination, with a consistency of purpose, with a rock of courage working out blocks and making them stepping stones — all these through the example of their lives.” According to Genevieve, “The timeless adage spoken by great achievers have fascinated me through the years such as ‘It’s not just what you know that matters, rather, it is what you do with what you know’ and the popular line, ‘Seize the moment because time never comes back.’”

In her study of achievement, six qualities surface consistently among the lives of achievers, which she calls the 6 D’s of Achievement. The first D, is the do spirit; the second, drive; the third, direction, then discipline, then determination and dream.

The book is sold at Tower Book House. Email [email protected], or call 8154938 or 8156925.

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My e-mail:[email protected]