He Has Nothing Against His "Ninang" GMA

By MEGS S. LUNN

Senator FRANCIS "Chiz" ESCUDERO graced as the guest speaker of the Rotary Club of Metro Iloilo during their 29th Induction and Turnover ceremonies. The affair was held at Sarabia Hotel and Convention Center, Iloilo City on July 14, 2007.

Senator Escudero started his induction speech by quoting the PREAMBLE of the Philippines Constitution thus: "We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution." He then proceeded to dissect each word such as justice, freedom, love, equality and peace. That the only way for us to attain this goal is thru our own language (Filipino); to understand each other by using the language/dialect we speak. It is a simple way of saying why Filipinos obey laws outside of the country but they can’t do it in their own country like the simple way to obey the traffic laws and the likes. He gave emphasis on the young leaders of the country to do their job and to hold on to HOPE.

He stressed, that he has nothing against his "Ninang" Gloria Macapagal Arroyo but rather, he is disappointed that she can’t simply do some changes. That as president of the Philippines, she has to simply follow the people’s conscience and to make changes; to point out what is wrong and what is right; to follow the laws, rules and regulations. He emphasized the two simple things to be a good Filipino and citizens of our country: to follow and obey the Constitution of the Philippines and other laws, and to speak our language to understand each other. That as leader, to teach and to follow, to talk your walk, and to walk your talk. Escudero asked the crowd who among the politicians are thinking of 2010? Who among them who has ambition to join the political arena and run for office in 2010? Those who will say "NO" to political position in 2010 are liars". He said, a true politician is true to himself and that there is nothing wrong with saying yes to 2010. To dream is free, to make ambitions is free.

According to Escudero, Filipinos, when they are out of the Philippines they do things right and obey the laws, rules and regulations of that country. However, most Filipinos in the Philippines, violate the laws, rules and regulations.

He advised the young leaders like Pres. John Michael "Kano" NG, President of RC Metro Iloilo being the youngest club president of District 3850 at age 26: to do his job, to support, to remind, to critic, and to serve as guide to his fellow young leaders.

Escudero stressed, his office is open to young leaders who have open minds, positive or negative; to tell him the right direction where to go and what to do because he believed that he was put to office by the mandate of the people to serve the people. He encouraged the young leaders to approach him because as he said, it is the obligation of the people to remind the politicians of their promises and their jobs, that people articulate to the leaders and that leaders must listen to them; to be open to criticism in order to learn; to listen to the constituent because they are the people leaders serve.

Escudero is a graduate of Political Science and Bachelor of Laws at UP Diliman, Quezon City. After which, he went to Georgetown University Law Center, Washington DC for his masters degree in international and comparative law. He captured the attention of all Rotarians and guests present with his sentence like: "to serve the poor, and that at the end of the day, to show his face with head up without being guilty."
He concluded his speech with a prayer quoted from St. Francis of Assisi as part of his challenge to Pres. Kano and the audience: "Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." As young achievers, Escudero exhibited his humility, that he is not a perfect individual, that he needs the guidance from above to guide him in his limitations and that his only dream is to serve the people.

Senator Francis Joseph Guevara Escudero or Chiz is raised by parents who are both educators. His father, Salvador H. Escudero III, was Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine UP; Director, Bureau of Animal Industry and served twice as Department of Agriculture secretary. His mother was also a professor in the College of Home Economics, UP Diliman.

He was a member of the House of Representatives, 11th Congress in 1998 and Assistant Majority Floor Leader and Senior Deputy Majority Leader in the 12th Congress in 2001 and in the 13th Congress as House Minority Floor Leader.

Being the third youngest senator of the Philippines, Chiz is cool and confident, quick with his words, and unwavering in his commitments and conviction, Chiz at 37, is in his prime. If his political mentors rewarded him with a smile and a pat on the back for what he accomplished as a boy of 28, they now regard him with respect and value his professional advices.

The Rotary Club of Kalibo was represented in the Induction Program of RC Metro Iloilo by its president Morris Morier and 10 other officers of the club. /MP