June 1, 2012
Integrity Determines Freedom
Tips on campaigning were shared among 30 electoral candidates,
congressional chiefs of staff and political officers at the
Strategic Political Communications Workshop in Tagaytay
City on May 30 to June 1, 2012, the most important of which was
keeping one’s integrity intact. integrity-determines-freedom.htm
 AIM-CDM
Associate Dean Mike Luz |
“Determine the parameters of your morals. Know what are you
willing to do and not willing to do, and always hold yourself accountable
to your actions. Funds are crucial in campaigns but you still have
to be selective on whom to get financial support from. This will
reflect your freedom in making decisions even beyond the campaign,”
said Bureau of Customs (BoC) Commissioner
Ruffy Biazon
who talked about Politics of Principle at the workshop. Biazon ran
in the 2010 senatorial race. 12 slots were open and he ranked 14th.
The activity was designed to impart new campaign strategies especially
on promoting certain advocacies and encouraging public ownership
of issues. Presidential Communications Development and Strategic
Planning Assistant Secretary Jan Mikael Co emphasized
that “effective political communication means elevating
discussions to issues that reflect aspirations.” Asian Institute
of Management Center for Development Management (AIM-CDM) Associate
Dean Mike Luz, in his presentation on Developing
Issue-Based Campaigns, also stressed the importance of having
a clear platform that could be realistically carried out after
an election victory. He proudly noted that the 10-point education
agenda that he, together with the National Institute for Policy
Studies (NIPS), the liberal think tank, crafted for the Aquino
presidential campaign is now being implemented.
 (L-R)
Former Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, Rep. Jun Abaya and Rep.
Bolet Banal |
The participants were divided into working groups where they translated
liberal principles into actual programs on education, health, anti-corruption,
poverty and human rights. The proposals mainly focused on enabling
access to equal opportunities like basic education and health care,
and justice. Aspiring electoral candidates also delivered practice
speeches where their messages and even gestures were evaluated by
Co and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) speechwriter
Francis
Capistrano. Case studies of local campaigns was among the
highlight of the activity. Representatives
Jun Abaya
and
Bolet Banal acknowledged that the untarnished
public service record of their fathers helped boost their campaigns,
but their own impeccable profile endeared them to the people even
more. Former Isabela Governor
Grace Padaca also
shared her campaign experience. "The flyers that we produced
were thought-out. We answered issues, public and personal, through
print and fortunately, people read them. They wanted to know what
their options were, and they even kept those flyers in their wallets
for years," she said. In 2007, Padaca toppled the dynasty that
ruled Isabela for three decades. However, in 2010, she lost the
gubernatorial post by a little over 3,000 votes back to a member
of the dynasty.
 Workgroup
exercise |
Another central discussion in the workshop was Media and Politics.
Senate Media Director
Sammy Santos pointed out
the dos and don’ts with the media. “Please shun away
from ‘envelopmental media.’ Real journalists do not
write stories because of your money,” advised Santos. Web
2.0 applications were also underscored. Social media expert
Abe Olandres underlined the power of social networking
sites, with the Philippines being among the highest ranking facebook
(8th) and youtube (6th) users in the world. Production of entertaining
yet substantive videos was accentuated as well because people tend
to believe more what they see on the screen.
The activity was facilitated by Dutch communications expert Pam
Evenhuis. It was organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation
for Freedom (FNF), a German liberal foundation. “Liberalism
originated from the intention to protect the individual against
the institutions of power. Through activities like this, we hope
to develop leaders who will allow people to experience greater
freedom,” said FNF Country Director Jules Maaten.
Photo
Gallery: Strategic Political Communications Workshop
