THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL SITUATION (14 MAY 2016)

Politics is at the center of our national consciousness, for the moment. How are we doing?

It seems that the 2016 national and local elections stirred more than the usual partisan divide among the people.

One, there was an uprising of largely unorganized, volunteer electoral machineries that supposedly delivered votes for their respective candidates.  This seemed evident in the cases of Duterte and Robredo. Duterte run under the PDP-Laban but it was observed that most of his campaign materials and supporters were not part of the party itself. In some regions for example, tarpaulins were printed and set up by volunteers themselves. Robredo, although running under the administration LP, was also propelled by networks of volunteers including farmers, urban poor, etc. who were never members of the party.

Two, the regions delivered the votes for the winning candidates. Although a huge chunk of the voters are from Metro Manila, It should be noted that the most defined volume of votes delivered for the leading candidates came from the Mindanao and Visayas islands, while the Metro Manila and Luzon votes were divided over the various contenders. An evident manifestation of a growing clamour by regions in the countryside to get political and economic power from the Metro Manila. A sensible message to the elected officials: focus your efforts towards regional development that can ultimately propel the political and economic upliftment of the nation.

Three, the people elected a president and vice president that stands for and represent a sentiment towards change. So the status quou is never perfect and there have always been talks of social change. But this is the first time that the sentiment for change manifested in a vote for both the president and vice president. Duterte is anchored on his unorthodox approaches and staunch anticrime stance while Robredo is very vocal on her advocacy for transparency and peoples empowerment towards participation in governance.

So somewhere in these must be a message from the people. Probably any of the following? (1)Dismantle oligarchs and political dynasty so that genuine political discourses focused on ideological and developmental paradigms, programs, and issues can be at the hear tof electoral campaigns. (2)Review the political and economic empowerment of the countryside vis-a-vis the monopoly of power and resources by the national capital region.(3)Enhance government service with efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and peoples participation.

Anyway the next six years will be a period of continuing discernment and hopefully, national development.

Hit the target, miss the point?

Two-pronged fundamental objectives of campaigning: (1)introducing the candidate to the voters, and (2)convincing the voters to elect the candidate.

And to attain these, there is a variety of tools for political action employed by individuals and organization involved in electoral campaigns. In many instances, lobby, propaganda, boycott, and even violence are effective tools for campaigns.

Unfortunately, there are some who  believe that these tools are the fundamental reason for the campaign. Totally forgetting the fact that campaigns are supposed to make candidates known to the voters so that the latter can decide intelligently.

I cringe whenever I see campaigners and partisans going after each other's throat, as if the victory of thier respective candidates is dependent on who prevailed in their bickerings. I am uncomfortable with people so obsessed with the propaganda and packaging while totally ignoring the character and personality of the candidate.

To my mind, a viable check to this situation is the adoption of a credible party system that puts premium on programs and directions instead of personalities and propaganda. If you want to occupy public office, convince the public during the campaign that where you will bring them(through your party programs and directions) is the best option for everyone.

Unless we embark on this very important electoral reforms, our campaigns will continue to miss the point for the entire electoral exercise. And our democracy will continue to be more of the "form", missing the "substance".

Campaigns: controversies vs. performance, propaganda vs. facts

I think political campaigns must consciously gravitate towards performance and facts. I have noticed an alarming trend wherein being controversial is becoming the path to being elected, and astute propaganda is the vehicle for effective campaign. Both of these are not really the essentials for public service. I wish campaigns are more anchored on actual performance and facts. Otherwise, it will not be an electoral  victory for the people but for professional hecklers and propagandists instead.

Living and learning: lessons and life

As I feel myself advancing in years, I become more aware of the experiences and lessons they bring across time. For example, multitude of faces/persons have come into and have been gone from my life.Some I genuinely liked, others i really loathed. But the amazing thing: there is always a memory retained. Both the good and the bad ones. I just realized that it didnt matter whether the person was good to me or not. Bottomline is that whether we like it or not, the persons that we meet in this lifetime leaves a footprint in our being.

2016 Elections

Electoral contests in this countrty have become a "protracted" struggle, stretching for more than a year. In fact, several years. 

At this point, there seems to be at least three emerging candidates for President of the Republic of the Philippines: Grace Poe, Jojo Binay, and Mar Roxas, I assume more will be declaring soon.

The local level, on the other hand, is also a flurry of election-related activities. Selection of standard bearers, finalizing of line up, and most importantly, establishing campaign networks.

As I get on with this blog again, we will look into the dynamics and prospects for the national and local elections.  Watch out for the next blog entry.

Graduation

Much as we may desire to prolong this symphony of intellectual pursuit and camaraderie...
Much as we may preserve untouched this picture of oneness...
The time has come when all these will only remain reminiscences of a memorable chapter fought with joy and sorrow, laughter and tears, happiness and pain...
We only hope that someday, somehow, our dreams of meeting again will be a reality. And that reality be filled with nothing but sweet recollection of our days then.

I remember.

Action. Reflection. Action.

There are times when I hated words and opted for immediate, relevant, and effective action. Di sapat ang panay salita, mga teorya, at konsepto. But indeed there are also times when I groped for words to express elation or frustration and articulate learnings over specific actions and experiences. Di sapat ang panay aksyon at gawa kapag walang pagninilay. Action. Reflection. Action. The cycle of life. Also shows how each of us and the lives we lead are so nuanced that it cannot be reduced into simplistic, sweeping generalizations.

STATEMENT ON THE MAMASAPANO INCIDENT AND THE PEACE PROCESS

February 24, 2015professorsforpeace

We, the undersigned academics, teachers, public intellectuals, policy analysts and researchers are issuing this joint statement to call for sobriety and more evidence-based discussion and debate to inform the country’s next steps on the peace process in Mindanao.

We join many others in demanding justice for our fellow Filipinos who died on 25 January in Mamasapano — not just the 44 men of the PNP-Special Action Force (including 2 Muslim officers), but also the 18 men from the MILF, and the 5 civilians living in the area.

We commend the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for their professionalism and sacrifice in defending the Constitution, protecting all Filipinos, and preserving the peace agreement.

We are alarmed by the hatred and bigotry surfacing in both traditional and social media; and we call on all media to pursue more stringent fact-based reporting at this critical point in the peace process and in the nation’s history.

We call on all our citizens to learn more about the challenges faced by our fellow Filipinos in Mindanao, the peace agreement and the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and the ways we can all contribute to a lasting peace and inclusive development throughout the country. All of us citizens should engage in order to improve our understanding of the peace process, and better appreciate the difficult steps necessary to sustain and strengthen that peace over time.

We urge the youth — Christians and Muslims and Indigenous — to work together in building stronger solidarity and a shared vision of nationhood.We urge them to voice their opinions on the peace process in which they have the biggest stake. It is for the youth that we offer a continuing quest for peace because peace is a legacy that we, adult Filipinos hope to bequeath to the succeeding generations.

Rather than divide the country, the tragedy in Mamasapano should strengthen our resolve to continue on the path to peace, building on the over 3 years of no armed incidents between the MILF and government, prior to Mamasapano, and starting in 2012 when the peace talks between the government and the MILF resumed. Even this brief period has allowed incipient development to occur in formerly troubled areas, and the country has been able to focus its attention on larger external threats to its security and territory, rather than waging war on itself.

An inclusive, fair and just society can only be achieved with peace. The history of all successfully negotiated peace settlements elsewhere, from Northern Ireland to South Africa, tells us that it is impossible to right all the wrongs committed in the past by both sides. Yet it is still possible to end the vicious cycle of conflict, by sparing future generations from war, and by immediately addressing the wide social, economic and other divides that feed the cycle of conflict and underdevelopment so poignantly revealed by the Mamasapano tragedy.

We believe that the true path to national unity lies not in retribution and vengeance, rather in the greater understanding that we are raising a future generation that will grow up in an environment of peace and inclusive development. We urge our leaders especially in government – from across all branches – to continue to strengthen the peace process.

Let us redouble our efforts to give our youth a chance one day to build that cohesive and united society that we all aspire for.

Signed:
1. Patricio N. Abinales, PhD, Professor, School of Pacific and Asian Studies, University of Hawaii-Manoa
2. Tomas P. Africa, Philippine Statistical Association
3. Michael Alba, PhD, President, Far Eastern University
4. Jose Ramon Albert, PhD, President, Philippine Statistical Association; Professorial Lecturer, De La Salle University and Holy Angel University
5. Fernando Aldaba, PhD, Ateneo de Manila University
6. Eduardo Araral, PhD, Assistant Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
7. Corazon G. Anzano, PhD, Chair, Department of Economics, University of San Carlos
8. Edilwasif Baddiri, JD, Commissioner, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos
9. Glenn Banaguas, Senior Research Scientist/Head, Environmental and Climate Change Research Institute, De La Salle Araneta University
10. Jay Batongbacal, JSD, UP College of Law
11. Romeo Bernardo, Board Director, Philippine Institute for Development Studies, and Institute for Development and Econometric Analysis
12. Horacio Borromeo, PhD, Dean, W SyCip Graduate School of Business, Asian Institute of Management
13. Maria Veronica G. Caparas, PhD, Professor, Asian Institute of Management
14. Calixto Chikiamco, Economist and Entrepreneur
15. Kevin C. Chua, PhD, Assistant Professor, Center for Economic Research, Shandong University
16. Edna E.A. Co, PhD, Director, Center for Integrative and Development Studies, University of the Philippines
17. Julian Concepcion Jr., PhD, Professor, Farleigh Dickenson University, Vancouver
18. Nieves Confesor, Professor, Asian Institute of Management
19. Cesi Cruz, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, The University of British Columbia
20. Jose Mari Daclan, Technical Manager, Earthquakes and Megacities Initiatives
21. Clarissa David, PhD, Assistant Professor, College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines
22. Emmanuel de Dios, PhD, Professor, UP School of Economics
23. Edilberto de Jesus, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Asian Institute of Management
24. Leland Joseph R. Dela Cruz, PhD, Assistant Professor, Development Studies Program, School of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University
25. Manuel de Vera, Professor, Asian Institute of Management
26. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, MD, Professor, Asian Institute of Management
27. Ronald D. Holmes, Assistant Professor, Political Science Department, De La Salle University
28. Ching Jorge, Managing Trustee, InciteGov
29. Antonio La Vina, JSD, Dean, Ateneo School of Government
30. Nora L. Licup, PhD, Dean, Graduate School, Bicol University
31. Mussolini Sinsuat Lidasan, Director of Al Qalam Institute for Islamic Identities and Dialogue in Southeast Asia, Ateneo de Davao
32. Ricardo A. Lim, PhD, Professor, Asian Institute of Management
33. Mario Antonio Lopez, Professor, Asian Institute of Management
34. Gerardo T. Los Banos, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines
35. Juan Miguel Luz, Dean, Zuellig School of Development Management, Asian Institute of Management
36. Mahar Mangahas, PhD, President, Social Weather Stations
37. Ronald U. Mendoza, PhD, Executive Director, AIM RSN Policy Center for Competitiveness
38. Gemma Teresa G. Narisma, PhD, Associate Professor, Physics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
39. Adoracion Navarro, PhD
40. Gladys Navarro, School of Accountancy and Business Management, Saint Louis University
41. Stella Luz Quimbo, PhD, Professor, UP School of Economics
42. Amina Rasul-Bernardo, President, Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy
43. Lila Ramos Shahani, Assistant Professor, Ateneo School of Government; Assistant Secretary and Head of Communications, Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster
44. Ned Roberto, PhD, Chairman and CEO, Bayan Social Marketing Research & Organizational Development Foundation
45. Filomeno Sta. Ana III, Action for Economic Reforms
46. Joel E.Tabora, SJ, President, Ateneo de Davao University; Vice President, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines
47. Julio Teehankee, PhD, Dean, College of Liberal Arts, De La Salle University
48. Erwin Tiongson, PhD, Professor, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
49. Bruce J. Tolentino, PhD, Deputy Director-General and Secretary, IRRI Board of Trustees
50. Benjamin Tolosa, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
51. Wilfrido V. Villacorta, PhD, Professor Emeritus, De La Salle University

Members of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP):
52. Bro. Jun S. Erguiza, FSC, President, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; De La Salle Araneta University
53. Rosario O. Lapus PhD, Chairperson, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines National Tertiary Commission; President, Miriam College
54. Msgr. Michael Feliciano I. Veneracio, Chairperson, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines Superintendents Commission; Superintendent, Diocese of Cabanatuan
55. Fr. Aureo Pati-an, Trustee-at-Large,Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; Superintendent, Diocese of Iligan
56. Msgr. Manuel S. Bravo, Region 1 Trustee, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; Superintendent, Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan
57. Fr. Elmer Dizon, Region 3 Trustee, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; Superintendent, Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga
58. Fr. Alain P. Manalo, Region 4 Trustee, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; President, St. Jude Parochial School
59. Fr. Rex Andrew C. Alarcon, Region 5 Trustee, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; Director, Naga Parochial School
60. Msgr. Ely Rafael D. Fuentes, Region 6 Trustee, “Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; Archdiocesan Commission on Catholic Schools; Chairperson, Archdiocese of Jaro
61. Fr. Enrico Peter A. Silab, OAR, Region 7 Trustee, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; President, University of San Jose-Recoletos
62. Bro. Wilfredo E. Lubrico, FMS, Region 12 Trustee, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; President, Notre Dame of Marbel University
63. Fr. Romeo S. Saniel, OMI, ARMM Trustee, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; President, Notre Dame of Jolo College
64. Fr. Roland P. Buyagan, CAR Trustee, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; Superintendent, Diocese of Baguio
65. Fr. John Christian U. Young, CARAGA Trustee, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; President, Fr. Saturnino Urios University
66. Msgr. Gerardo O. Santos, Ed.D, NCR Trustee, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; President, Pasig Catholic College

Additional signatories:
67. Engelbert Calimlim Pasag, PhD, Assistant Professor, International Business Administration, College of International Studies, Dankook University
68. Marissa Maricosa A. Paderon, PhD, Director, European Studies Program, Ateneo de Manila University
69. Nicole Curato, PhD, Post-doctoral Research Fellow, University of Canberra
70. Gillian Ann Stevens, Professor, Asian Institute of Management
71. Albert E. Alejo, SJ, Ateneo de Zamboanga University
72. Michael Purugganan, Professor of Biology and Dean of Science, New York University
73. Ronald T. Chua, Professor, Asian Institute of Management
74. Bonn Juego, PhD, Post-doctoral Researcher, “Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
75. Hamid Aminoddin Barra, PhD, Professor, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization, International Islamic University Malaysia; Mindanao State University
76. Gaston D. Ortigas, Jr., MBA, Associate Professor, Asian Institute of Management
77. Antonio Formacion, Jr., Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Law, Kyushu University
78. Nathalie Africa-Verceles, DSD, Chair, Department of Women and Development Studies, University of the Philippines
79. Peter Lee U, PhD, University of Asia and the Pacific
80. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, PhD
81. Romulo Virola, Former Secretary General, National Statistical Coordination Board
82. Matthew George O. Escobido, Faculty, Asian Institute of Management
83. Karel San Juan, SJ, PhD, President, Ateneo de Zamboanga University
84. Mary Racelis, Research Scientist, Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University
85. Federico (Poch) Macaranas, PhD, Professor, Asian Institute of Management
86. Loreta Navarro-Castro, Professor of Peace Studies and Peace Education, Program Director, Center for Peace Education, Miriam College
87. Francisco A. Magno, PhD, Director, Jesse Robredo Institute of Governance, De La Salle University
88. Solita Collas-Monsod, PhD, Professor Emeritus, UP School of Economics
89. Dionisio M. Miranda, President, University of San Carlos
90. Emma E. Porio, Professor, Ateneo De Manila University
91. Tanya Lat, LL.B, LL.M., Executive Director, Philippine Association of Law Schools
92. Toby C. Monsod, PhD, Associate Professor, UP School of Economics
93. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ, President, Ateneo de Manila University
94. Aileen S.P. Baviera, PhD, Professor, Asian Center, University of the Philippines
95. Ellen Palanca, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Ateneo de Manila University
96. Antonio A. Alfonso, PhD, Affiliate Faculty, Central Luzon State University
97. Maria Emma D. Liwag, PhD, Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University
98. Corazon Dee, PhD, Associate, Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, Erasmus University
99. Germelino Bautista, Professor, Ateneo de Manila University; Director, Ateneo Institute for Mindanao Economics, Ateneo de Davao University
100. Emmanuel Luna, Professor and Director, College of Social Work and Community Development, University of the Philippines
101. Rafaelita M. Aldaba, PhD
102. Rogel Nuguid
103. Jaremilleta Arawiran, Assistant Professor, Holy Name University
104. Cecilia Pe Lero, PhD Candidate, Department of Political Science, University of Notre Dame
105. Paz Verdades M. Santos, DA, Ateneo de Naga University
106. Romeo V. Labios, PhD, Scientist II (Agronomy), International Rice Research Institute
107. Maria Corazon A. De Ungria, PhD, Head, DNA Analysis Laboratory Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines
108. Fermin D. Adriano, PhD, Professorial Lecturer, College of Public Administration, UP Los Banos
109. Amado Mendoza, Jr., PhD, Professor, College of Social Sciences & Philosophy, University of the Philippines
110. Eric Punzalan
111. Evangeline P. De Peralta, Director, Lasallian Formation & Mission Department, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School
112. Hansley A. Juliano, MA, Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
113. Eleanor De Roha, Public School Head
114. Rene Salvador R. San Andres, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Ateneo De Manila University
115. Marilu N. Cardenas, Department of Education
116. Rene Ledesma, Executive Director, Center for Student Affairs, University of Asia and the Pacific
117. Karen Llema Rodrigo, Lecturer, College of Liberal Arts, De La Salle University
118. Emma Delgado, Assistant Professor, International Studies Department, De La Salle University
119. Anita M. Celdran, Program Director, Zuellig School of Development Management, Asian Institute of Management
120. Maria Aurora Urgel, former NGO worker and Entrepreneur
121. Cornelius R. Bascara, Professor, University of the East
122. Kenjie E. Jimenea, Assistant Professor I, Political Science Department, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Nueva Caceres
123. Josephine C. Dionisio, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
124. Kristoffer B. Berse, PhD, Assistant Professor, National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines
125. Roselmo Z. Doval Santos, MD, Chancellor’s Management Team, UP Manila
126. Christine V. Lao, Faculty, International Studies Department, College of International, Humanitarian, and Development Studies, Miriam College
127. Pedro Simon T. Ledesma, PhD, College Dean, La Salle College Antipolo
128. Rene Villadolid, Consular and Diplomatic Affairs, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
129. Violeta Villadolid, PhD, De La Salle University
130. John Paul Villanueva, Faculty, Brent International School Baguio
131. Lily Mendoza, Associate Professor, Oakland University
132. Annabelle Reyes-Silvosa, practicing accountant and external auditor of coops and NGOs in Mindanao
133. Saturnina Rodil, Professor, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology
134. Michael Mustapha, MBA, President, Aviation Technical School of Cotabato
135. Almahdi Alonto, Bradford University
136. Johnjoan A. Mende, OIC City Director, DILG Lapu-lapu City
137. Bai Hejira M. Limbona, PhD, Vice-Chancellor for Administration and Finance, Mindanao State University – Maguindanao
138. Josefa Catherine T. Bada, PhD
139. Tesa Casal De Vela, Assistant Professor, Chairperson; Department of International Studies. Miriam College
140. Marco C. Guiriba, Chairperson, Theology Department, Ateneo de Naga University
141. Nicky Templo Perez, Faculty, School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
142. Francisco G. Corpin, Assistant Professor
143. Lilian A. De Las Llagas, Professor of Public Health, UP Manila
144. John D. Forbes, BSF, MPA, Senior Adviser, American Chamber of Commerce
145. Allan Bernardo, PhD, National Academy of Science and Technology (Philippines)
146. Manuel Victor J. Sapitula, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of the Philippines
147. Cheryll Soriano, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Communication, De La Salle University
148. Christine May A. Torres, Educator
149. Eirene Jhone E. Aguila, Professor, FEU Institute of Law
150. Dario Mando, Med, Director, Student Affairs Office, St. Theresa International College, Bangkok, Thailand
151. Jesilyn Tadeo
152. Krizia Katrina Leanne D. Talon, JSD, Instructor, Tarlac State University
153. Narzalina Z. Lim, former Lecturer, UP Manila and Far Eastern University
154. Eula Bianca Villar, PhD Candidate, Marie Curie Fellow, La Salle Barcelona – Ramon Llull University
155. Mangontawar M. Guubat, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Law, Mindanao State University
156. Sittie Noffaisah Pasandalan, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Mindanao State University
157. Winfer C. Tabares, Instructor, Department of Mathematics, School of Science and Engineering, Ateneo de Manila University
158. Enrique Nino P. Leviste, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ateneo de Manila University
159. Michael J. Liberatore, Theology Department, Ateneo de Manila University
160. Reginaldo M. Marcelo, Associate Professor, Mathematics Department, Ateneo de Manila University
161. Kardi Teknomo, Ateneo de Manila University
162. Sandra A. Lovenia, Assistant Professor, Department of Information Systems and Computer Science, Ateneo de Manila University
163. Emilyn Q. Espiritu, PhD, Department Chairman, Environmental Science Department, Ateneo De Manila University
164. Joseph Sedfrey Santiago, ESQ, Associate Professor, John Gokongwei School of Management, Ateneo de Manila University
165. Jasmin Nario-Galace, College of International, Humanitarian and Development Studies, Miriam College
166. Leovino Ma. M. Garcia, PhD, Department of Philosophy, Ateneo de Manila University
167. Agustin Martin G. Rodriguez, Chair, Department of Philosophy, Ateneo de Manila University
168. Arjan P. Aguirre, Instructor, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
169. Arnold Cesar O. Romero, Lecturer II, College of Management and Entrepreneurship, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
170. Emmanuel Serafica De Guzman, PhD, Researcher for Special Projects, Adamson University; Associate Professor, St. Vincent School of Theology
171. Modesto T. Chua, PhD, Institute Director, Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry; Professor Emeritus, Ateneo de Manila University
172. Josef T. Yap, Professorial Lecturer, UP School of Economics
173. Angelina Bayaua-Alcazar, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Miriam College
174. Renne Gumba, Ateneo de Naga University
175. Rosario Margarita A. Aligada, Dean, College of Education, Miriam College
176. Agnes Brazal, Associate Professor, St. Vincent School of Theology
177. Adonis Elumbre, College of Social Sciences, University of the Philippines Baguio
178. Segundo Eclar Romero, Ateneo School of Government; Ateneo de Manila University
179. Norman Quimpo
180. Portia Silang, DPA Candidate, UP NCPAG
181. Meynardo Mendoza, PhD, Assistant Professor, Ateneo de Manila University
182. Ranilo Hermida, PhD, Associate Professor, Ateneo de Manila University
183. Pedro Abraham, Jr., retired Professor of Art Studies, College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines
184. Ludwig Federigan
185. Nelson Dino, Vice President, Kinabatangan Writers and Art Activists Club
186. Estelita Isabel Valdeavilla, Chair, Advocacy Team, Lasallian Master Teacher Association
187. Yusuf Roque Morales, Coordinator on Muslim Concerns, Ateneo de Zamboanga University
188. Meinrado Martinez, PhD, Lyceum University Batangas
189. Sheryl Sharima Ali Morales, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
190. Jaime Naval, MPP, Assistant Professor, University of the Philippines
191. Ernesto Anasarias, Senior Lecturer, Miriam College
192. Atty. Froilan D. Pagayatan, Assistant Professor, Mapua Institute of Technology – Makati
193. Atty. Reginald Alberto B. Nolido, Lecturer, John Gokongwei School of Management of the Ateneo de Manila University

The views and opinions expressed by the signatories do not necessary reflect those of the institutions they are affiliated with. They have all signed this statement in their individual capacity as citizens engaged in the education, research, and policy fields. 

For those who are interested in joining this effort, please send an email to peaceprofessors@gmail.com. The list of signatories will be updated every Friday until March 06, 2015.