NGO's and Political Parties

(July 2-15, 2005)
By Gov. Grace M. Padaca

Gov. Grace M. Padaca

I was one of twenty two (22) participants from different parts of the world who had the privilege of attending the Theodore Heuss Academy in Gummersbach, Germany from July 3 to July 15 of this year. The countries represented were Pakistan, Tanzania, Yugoslavia, Russia, Czech Republic, Mexico, Guatemala, Jordan, Malaysia, Palestine, Sri Lanka and Philippines.

Each country had two delegates, one representing political parties and the other representing NGO’s. For the Philippines, Mr. Lambert Rodriguez, Executive Director of the National Institute of Policy Studies or (NIPS) represented NGO’s while I represented political parties being a member of the Liberal Party. Frankly, however, there were times I would identify more with NGOs considering that I have been with civil society much longer than with political parties being just a year old as Governor of Isabela.

I can truly say that I learned a lot from my co-participants in the seminar because as our studies progressed, I realized I was the “youngest” in the field which I was representing. Having been a member of the broadcast media for most of my professional life, I deliberately avoided direct involvement before in any organization, more so political parties. This was important to maintain my objectivity and independence where news sources were concerned. Hence, my contributions in our discussions and working group assignments consisted mostly of my knowledge and perception of both NGO’s and political parties from an observer’s point of view. The seminar in turn gave me in-depth knowledge of both groups - courtesy of those who have devoted themselves to their respective organizations for so long and, as a matter of fact, have climbed the ladder of the hierarchy to become directors, presidents, regional coordinators.

At the beginning of the course, Mr. Rodriguez and I worked together in presenting the regional reports on the situations of political parties and NGOs in the Philippines. However, we were soon provided the opportunity to work with the other participants representing different countries, as we were grouped not just by our countries or regions of origin but also by our classification as either NGO or political party and also according to what the facilitators deemed best in order to fortify and expand our understanding of the lectures. For me, this was a very good opportunity not only to learn more on the particular subject matters but also to better understand how people from other cultures perceive, feel and act on issues and circumstances confronting them. Listening to their experiences, I realized that the situation in the Philippines is not that bad after all, and certainly, not the worst. At many points during the seminar, our “People Power” phenomenon became the object not only of curiosity but also of admiration and envy of the other delegates.

It was obvious that the seminar was aimed at giving us maximum opportunity to learn. I particularly like the fact that we did not only listen to the lectures of the facilitators, Dr. Rolf Freir and his partner, Mr. Zafarullah Khan. We certainly learned a lot too when we were made to hear straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, the extensive knowledge and experience of some of the best people in Germany who could talk on topics like lobbying (Ms. Juliane Linkerman), activating state (Dr. Henning Schridde of Institute of Political Science, University of Hannover), and making NGOs succeed (Mr. Ulf Birch). Still, greater impact was achieved when we listened to the success story of the Verdi trade union right in the very building which they have successfully put up for their members, and also the struggles and challenges of the Liberal Party in Lower Saxony right in the Parliament building where their activities revolve.

I am very thankful to the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung not only for giving me the chance to have this wonderful learning experience but also for its great understanding of my physical condition. I deeply appreciate the special arrangements (and great patience!) accorded me, most particularly in allowing me to go to the Academy with a companion, Gloria Cecilia Franco. While I was concentrating on the lectures, both inside and outside the Academy, she took a lot of video shots, copies of which we are sending to the Academy. The facilitator, Dr. Rolf Freir, told me these will be of valuable help in the making of a video presentation of the activities in the IAF. Certainly, our “bonus” educational field trips in Hannover (Tour of the Concentration Camp Bergen-Belsen and Tour of the City of Hannover) and Cologne (Cologne Cathedral, Museum and Old City of Cologne) that gave us welcome respites from the serious discussions are part of these video footages, in addition to the lectures of the facilitators, the working group discussions and even the relaxing beer-drinking sessions in the bar at the basement after the long days of study. By the way, the fact that the facilitators (Rolf and Zafar) always joined the group’s “fun” activities did a lot in making us feel more comfortable with them, thereby ensuring easier communication even when we were all back in the lecture rooms.

I was even able to tell Jörg Dehnert, the Director of the Academy about my “guilt,” as someone from a Third World country, whenever during meals, I could not finish everything in my plate because the servings were just too big. Having observed the very good practice of the Academy in the wise use of paper and other resources, I thought it would not be a bad idea for the IAF kitchen staff to serve food in smaller sizes. Those who are used to big servings can just have more of these reduced portions. Jörg said the suggestion can be considered.

Lastly, I am so thankful that I was in the IAF during the time that a big political crisis in my country was going on, affecting the very office of the President of the Philippines. I would have been so torn between, on one hand, the Liberal Party where I belong and on the other, my solid supporters in our locality. The former was calling for President Gloria Arroyo to resign while the latter was staunchly behind her. Thankfully, the issue has died down the moment we got back to the Philippines although the volatility of the situation remains. I just wish wrong things about the country and its leaders are not just swept under the rug. Otherwise, people will have to take matters in their own hands. As reinforced in my two-week stay in the Academy, the biggest difference between political parties and NGO’s is the ballot box. So it is with effective and lame duck political leaders.