PEACE-MAKER After some 50 years in Philippine partisan politics and 20 years in political party- and parliamentary diplomacy in Asia and the international community, this columnist, now almost 87, has spent these past three years just observing political events and developments. Indeed, the last...
PEACE-MAKER Cambodia has broken a historic ground with the imminent election of the Khuon Sudary as the first woman president of the National Assembly. A veteran parliamentarian, she currently serves as vice president of her country’s lawmaking body. She is also one of our steadfast allies...
PEACE-MAKER In the Asian region and in the world, we need to develop pragmatic and creative methods that will try to rebuild relations and advance the cause of peace, without allowing our differences to get in the way. Our world is interconnected and rapidly evolving, thus the need for...
PEACE-MAKER Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the longest-serving leader in Asia, is stepping down from his position to give way to his eldest son, Hun Manet, who won his seat in parliament in last Sunday’s general election. Many younger lawmakers are also said to be appointed to ministerial...
PEACE-MAKER As our modest contribution in strengthening partnership and linkages between Asia and Europe, we in the 350-member International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) together with the European People’s Party (EPP), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), and...
PEACE-MAKER In the course of our modest ventures into political party and parliamentary diplomacy in Asia and the international community, we consistently spoke about the need to develop a system of ideas and ideals that will make globalization work for all our peoples. In our view, the East Asian...
PEACE-MAKER Since the bloody conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began in Khartoum in the middle of April this year, nearly three million people have been displaced, including some 650,000 who have fled to neighboring countries. About 3,000 people have been...
PEACE-MAKER The lingering conflicts and potential flashpoints in Asia, with possible wide-ranging catastrophic consequences, obstruct our region’s progress and peaceful development. While there exists a number of mechanisms to promote peace and resolve conflicts, we believe there is a need to...
PEACE-MAKER We wish to express our profound appreciation to Dagupan City and our fellow Dagupenos, led by the dynamic and indefatigable Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, for bestowing us the Biskeg Na Baley Diamond Award, “the highest honor,” during the 75th Diamond Jubilee of Dagupan last June 19,...
PEACE-MAKER In October 2010, we travelled to San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, following our trip to Buenos Aires two years earlier, where we explored ways and means of cooperation between our Asia-wide organization, ICAPP, the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, and...
PEACE-MAKER As the whole world celebrates Father’s Day next Sunday, June 18, we wish to pay tribute to our beloved father, the late Jose Ravago de Venecia Sr. After World War II, our father served as Judge at Large for the entire Bicol region, appointed by the late President Manuel Roxas, first...
PEACE-MAKER The recent happenings in the Lakas-CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats) brought back memories of the beginnings of the party as well as the many challenges and struggles we and our partymates faced together. When we, together with then former Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos and former...
