The candidacy of dual-citizen Ted Aquino is a "building block" in the efforts of global Filipinos to take a more active role in effecting positive change in the motherland, according to Victor S. Barrios, convener and moderator of the Global Filipino Forum, and chair of the San Francisco-based Global Filipino Coalition.
"The winds of political change in the Philippines are blowing and the global Filipino community hopes that the winds will blow from beyond the motherland's borders and usher in substantive reforms," he added.
Barrios made the statement at a press conference to announce the launch of a triple initiative by Filipino Americans to seek a positive role in Philippine governance. In a Triple Launch on Feb. 24, the forum and coalition will unveil the Equal Rights Movement; the Philippine-U.S. Good Governance Foundation; and Ang Ating Pag-asa (Our Hope) political party at a fund-raising dinner dance at Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Burlingame, California.
Leading political figures, including Mike Defensor, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s current chief of staff and a senatorial candidate, and opposition stalwarts Rep. Francis "Chiz" Escudero and Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano have been invited to grace the event. Triple Launch organizers also invited Sen. Ramon B. Magsaysay, Jr. as “a statesmanlike member of the
Senate.”
Along with global Filipino candidate "Kuya Ted" Aquino, they are expected to speak on the role of the global Filipinos in the progress and development of the Philippines.
As for Ted Aquino's candidacy, Barrios said, "Global Filipinos will venture for the first time into the market for national office. No doubt there will be lessons learned, but more important, the first building block would have been put firmly in place."
Barrios said global Filipinos, defined to include those overseas and in the Philippines, "share the goal of most Filipinos for stronger public leadership, performance and accountability."
The Equal Rights Movement is a nonpartisan enterprise built on the principle that "once a Filipino, always a Filipino." The Good Governance Foundation was set up to harness resources to push the movement's initiatives. Its President-Executive Director is South San Francisco and one-time Philippine resident Charles McDougald.
The Ang Ating Pag-asa party is a separate and distinct entity sharing several of the principles and objectives of the Equal Rights Movement. Heading it are the leading Bay Area activists Carmen Colet and Leo Flores, with Prof. Cesar Torres as senior adviser.
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Fili-Ams getting involved in the political scene back home will be very good for the country. But they have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to clean the system, I hope they have a very strong stomach and ain't squeamish.
