There will be no Philippines without the Visayas - Mar Roxas

Senator Mar Roxas was in Cebu to grace the opening program of the 1^st One Visayas Culture and Arts Festival in the Cebu International Convention Center together with the governors and local officials of the 16 provinces of Visayas. The event showcases the bests of the Visayan provinces from their products to tourist destinations.

Senator Mar Roxas shares a laugh with Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia (center) and Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano (right). Photo courtesy of Cebu Online News

Roxas, being the guest speaker for the event, praised the Visayan officials for their unity. Visayas, composed of 16 provinces namely Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental in Region 6 (Western Visayas), Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Region 7 (Central Visayas) and Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar and Southern Leyte in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), has played a major role in the development of the country.

"...a fabric that will cradle each and every Filipino in the Visayas as well as in the Philippines, because even as Visayas still exists without the rest of the Philippines, there will be no Philippines without the Visayas.", Roxas said referring to the importance of the event.

Roxas was also impressed by the presence of governors and other high-ranking government officials during the launching and said that the celebration "is a sign of oneness that will definitely result to economic benefits in Central Philippines", as the effort will connect the Visayas provinces in terms of trade and transportation.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 | posted in gwen garcia, joseph ace durano, mar roxas, one visayas culture and arts festival, visayas | 2 comments [ More ]

Mar Roxas in Ati-Atihan and Sinulog

Whew! Actually, I was a member of the crowd control for the Sinulog celebration last January 20. It was really hot! I mean, the sun was hot! I was there from sun up to sun down near Jolibee Gorordo. I was not only the one enjoying the festivity. There's Senator Mar Roxas who joined the Ati-Atihan in Aklan and the Sinulog in Cebu (he was in the Cebu City Sports Complex with Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia). Many people are asking me for pictures, but I don't have one. I was not able to take pictures because I was, as I said, a member of the crowd control group. But yesterday, Ate Jenny Bugarin of Senator Mar's media staff sent me these pictures of Senator Roxas during the festivities:

Tuesday, January 22, 2008 | posted in blog, franklin drilon, gwen garcia, mar roxas, philippines, tomas osmeña, visayas | 0 comments [ More ]

It's Time

From http://www.panorama.com.ph/news.php?aid=1120

Our Times by Susan Ople

Red, blue, and white buntings declaring "Oras Na!" ("It’s Time!") with the Liberal Party logo decorated the Kalayaan hall of Club Filipino. Socially-relevant tarpaulins depicting scenes like a silhouette of a lonely soldier on a solitary trek with the words, "Honor and Dignity for our Soldiers," hanged along the sides of the wall. A huge video wall at the center of the stage was used before the high point of the program to show an audio-visual presentation regarding the history and personages of the Liberal Party.

Rich visuals, bold colors, and the theme of "Oras Na!" made the election of new party president Senator Mar Roxas a memorable event. Add to this, the gathering of friends and supports of the party and Roxas himself bolstered the impression that the LP has the capability of attracting a broad sector of society, including those with divergent views on how real change can come about.

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena, Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, Magsaysay awardee and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, former Bulacan Governor Josie dela Cruz, Rep. Jose Yap of Tarlac, former Representative Lu Antonino of General Santos City, Leah Navarro, Enteng Romano and Dinky Soliman of the Black & White Movement, UNO Spokesman Atty. Adel Tamano, Ang Ladlad leader Danton Remoto, former Cabinet Secretaries, Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna, Rep. Etta Rosales of Akbayan, and so many others came together to witness the passing of the torch from former Senate President Drilon to Senator Mar Roxas as party president.

I was huddled in one corner with close friends and family of Senator Roxas listening to him take his oath of office before the distinguished Senate President Jovito Salonga, when we heard the quiver in the senator’s voice. Perhaps it was the crowd, respectful yet obviously in adoration of the party’s perceived standard-bearer. Perhaps, it was the oath itself, which in part, states: "I will uphold the Liberal Party-- its Constitution and its founding ideals of conscience over ambition, principles over glory, and integrity above power-- as our instrument to attain the paramount national interest". Or perhaps it was just that precise moment – when thoughts of his father, Sen. Gerry Roxas and his grandfather, President Manuel Roxas, crossed his mind. There will always be other parties for other people, but for a Roxas, there can be no other party except the LP.

For his acceptance speech, Roxas focused on the theme of change and renewal. Addressing his fellow politicians and civil servants, it was time, he said, for everyone to "come along, roll up your sleeves, open your hearts and re-discover that wellspring of idealism that first brought us to public service." The lawmaker from Capiz also stressed the need for critical yet constructive engagement. "Whenever policy is wrong, we are the party that will say No/, and make an honest and determined effort to provide solutions. As important as it is to know the "whodunit", it is even more important for our future to know the "how-to-solve-it."

And partly to answer the oft-repeated questions about 2010, the new party president intoned:" I accept the challenge of building a strong, united, and modern LP – rooted in its founding principles, sharpening its purpose – and leading it to victory in 2010."

The event ended well, with confetti and numerous photo-taking sessions, and a press conference ably moderated by former Bukidnon Congressman Neric Acosta. Rep. Erin Tanada, former Education Secretary Butch Abad, party treasurer and Quezon Governor Raffy Nantes. Seventeen-year old blogger Kevin Ray Chua was around to chronicle the event for www.marroxas2010.blogspot.com. Davao City Councilor and LP member Peter Laviña of www.liberalpresident2010.blogspot.com met up with Kevin and chatted about political blogging.

The road to 2010 is still, as Roxas himself said, still "a ways to go." But I like it that we are not lacking in leaders who are strident about their willingness to be agents of change. It takes courage and a bit of zaniness to even consider being part of the body politic especially with our parochial way of politics. One needs a degree of self-flagellation to even contemplate a presidential run in 2010. People nowadays are quick to react, most of the time with little facts at their disposal, perhaps aided and abetted by the speed by which news travels.

The LP is the first party to have openly declared its standard-bearer in 2010. It would be interesting to observe and write about the forthcoming Nacionalista Party’s 100th anniversary dinner-show at the PICC. Like Christmas, the spirit of 2010 has started.

Saturday, December 8, 2007 | posted in blog, campaign, cheaper medicines bill, franklin drilon, gwen garcia, mar roxas, noynoy aquino, philippines, pong biazon, president, tomas osmeña | 2 comments [ More ]

Roxas-Garcia or Roxas-Osmeña?

Would it be a Mar Roxas-Gwen Garcia tandem in 2010 or a Mar Roxas-Tommy Osmeña?

Well, that's the current buzz here in Cebu after Liberal Party leaders Neric Acosta, Butch Abad and Emilio Abaya hinted a possibility of having a Cebuano as the next vice president in 2010.

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, whom I met during the LP National Convention last November 26, told SunStar that she and Roxas would be “more interesting as a love team rather than a political tandem—for now."

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said, “I am the son of a presidential aspirant before Martial Law. Sergio “Serging” Osmeña was the favorite choice of the Cebuanos. I realized that (running for senator) would hurt Cebu because all those who have ambitions would hurt Cebu. That is why (there are those) who consolidated my father’s enemies. They consider my father a threat to their ambitions. So if I will aspire for national office, Cebu will suffer, SRP will suffer, and everybody will try to run amok with our projects here.”

But wait a minute, Gwen and Tommy had been in feud after the land-swapping fiasco! Would this mean that if Gwen is chosen as Roxas' VP, Tommy would withdraw his support to Roxas? Or the other way around? That's spooky!

Given the record of Cebu with 3 million plus voters, it would really determine every Philippine election on who's gonna win. Garcia and Osmeña are potential candidates but it's up to them if they would decide to run for vice president.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007 | posted in campaign, gwen garcia, mar roxas, philippines, president, tomas osmeña, visayas | 0 comments [ More ]

Oras Na! Roxas Na!

(From left to right: Kevin Ray N. Chua, Senator Mar Roxas II, Councilor Peter Laviña and my dad Ronilo Chua)

Yesterday, I attended the once-in-a-lifetime election of Senator Mar Roxas as the new Liberal Party President, succeeding former LP President Franklin Drilon, in Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan City. It was a very stressful day for me actually. I woke up 4:00 AM together with my father. We ate our breakfast and hurried outside to ride a taxi. We arrived in the Mactan Cebu International Airport around 5:10 AM. Our flight was 6:15 AM. When we were in the plane, we slept a while to recover our energy a bit. We arrived in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, we went straight to the taxi area and rode a taxi to Club Filipino. When we arrived there by 9:00 AM, the place was still quiet with few guests around. By 10:00 AM, more and more people showed up thus increasing the crowd inside the vicinity. I met several personalities in the event namely: Ma'am Susan Ople, Ate Jenny Bugarin, Ate Thea, Prof. Danton Remoto, Mar's mom Judy Araneta-Roxas, Black and White Movement organizers Leah Navarro and Enteng Romano, Atty. Adel Tamano, Fr. Carmelo Caluag, former Senators Jovito Salonga, Bobby Tañada and Franklin Drilon, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Cory Quirino, Senators Kiko Pangilinan, Pong Biazon, Noynoy Aquino, former Congressmen Butch Abad and Nereus Acosta, Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, and many more to mention.

The Liberal Party is carrying the slogan "ORAS NA!", which I think is the prelude campaign slogan to bring back the old glory of the party in the upcoming 2010 elections and place a Liberal in Malacañang. I was also able to met my fellow Mar Roxas for President in 2010 blogger Peter Laviña in the event. I was also able to talk with Senator Roxas and called me as his "inspiration." Wow! That was a great compliment from my idol! I said that it was a stressful day for me, but the event was worth remembering.

BTW, thanks a lot to the entire Senate staff of Senator Mar Roxas headed by Ma'am Susan Ople for accommodating us, from the one who gave me coffee to the one who guided us to the Senate session hall, from the one who gave us our merienda to the one who drove us to NAIA. ORAS NA!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007 | posted in blog, campaign, cheaper medicines bill, gwen garcia, mar roxas, noynoy aquino, philippines, president, tomas osmeña | 1 comments [ More ]