GAPO LAUNCHES MEN OPPOSED TO VAW EVERYWHERE (MOVE)

The City Social Welfare and Development Office has spearheaded the launching of Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE), an organization in Olongapo City of men who are advocates of violence against women and commenced in partnership with joint local Inter-Agency Council for Anti-trafficking and Violence Against Women, Women’s Council and other programs.

“ We make a difference here in Olongapo, and I’d like to congratulate the men of our city in pursuit to eradicate gender violence and discrimination,” Mayor James Gordon, Jr. said during the flag raising ceremony on Monday, July 13, 2009.

MOVE is an organization of principled men from various sectors of society whose primary aim is to actively contribute to the advocacy to eliminate Violence Against Women (VAW) everywhere. For the past two years, MOVE has participated in a number of advocacy activities, both local and international, initiated capacity building undertakings, established its organizational structure and internal mechanisms and formulated its plan of action.

“We are encouraging men to join and be a part of this organization, let us show that Olongapo City is a place where women can live in a violence-free environment,” CSWDO head Gene Eclarino said.

It can be recalled that the Center for Women of Olongapo City is the first city government-run women’s center in Region 3. This was constructed in response to the spirit of Republic Act 9262 or Anti-Violence Agaisnt Women and their Children.

As of this date MOVE has already gathered 30 members and still increasing. Abused women may get in touch with CSWDO and Jimmy Mendoza, MOVE coordinator at telephone number 224-8390 loc. 4123.

Mayor James Gordon, Jr. listens attentively while Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE) advocate Pastor Albert Anciano shares his thoughts about the newly organized group in the city on Monday July 13, 2009 at the Rizal triangle Multi-Purpose Center. Other male advocates lined up at the back part of the photo.

Volunteers donate to Bagumbayan

A week after its grand launching and national convention on April 27, donations to the Bagumbayan Movement have started to pour in.

Bagumbayan officials said some 2,000 delegates and guests who attended the convention gave financial contributions to the group.

Bagumbayan president Leon Herrera said that it was a strong indication of the people’s confidence in the movement and were putting their stake in its bid to change the country.

“Ordinary people are supporting change and that is the bigger story than the amount of money coming in. Instead of candidates footing the bill for the movement,it is the members of Bagumbayan who are supporting its candidates,” said Bagumbayan officials Sen. Richard Gordon.

He pointed out that this shows a transformation in the way people think of parties a major paradigm shift.

Herrera said donations for Bagumbayan to participate on the 2010 polls started pouring in four days before the movement’s launch.

“The day after the event, we were surprised to find out more donations had come in and continued to come in. This is a very strong indication that the bayanihan spirit is alive,” said Herrera.

-Philippine Star

Gordon to address Bagumbayan delegates, volunteers for change at the Manila Hotel

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon will address tomorrow (April 27) more than 1,500 delegates of the Bagumbayan Movement - Volunteers for a New Philippines on its Grand Launching and National Convention at the historic Manila Hotel.

Leon Herrera, president of the Bagumbayan Movement, said Senator Gordon will deliver the keynote address before their delegates due to his decades of experience in Filipino volunteerism and his transformational style of leadership.

Gordon will also be joined by other speakers, to wit: world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr., CNN Hero nominee Efren Penaflorida, Journey band lead vocalist Arnel Pineda, and Chikka.com founder Dennis Mendiola.

"Bagumbayan seeks genuine changes in our country from being transactional to transformational. We want our nation to climb out of the quagmire that it has sunk into. Achieving this necessitates a radical change," he said.

"For our launching and convention, who is more fitting to be our speaker than Senator Gordon? With his impressive track record in bringing about positive changes wherever he went, Gordon's forward-thinking ideas tie in with our aspirations,' he added.

As mayor of Olongapo, Gordon was widely credited for implementing programs that were in line with his vision for transformational politics and was able to remove from Olongapo the stigma of being a "Sin City".

He managed to turn Olongapo into a "Model City" with many of his programs copied by other local government units nationwide.

Later on, he was appointed chairman and administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) where he transformed an abandoned military facility into an international Freeport.

As tourism secretary in 2003, Gordon led the reinvigoration of Philippine tourism that resulted in foreign tourist arrivals to 2 million a year from a low of 1 million in 2001, due to his efforts to promote Philippine tourism abroad, notably the "WOW Philippines!" campaign.

The influx of foreign and local tourists drew more investors into the country, created more jobs and brought much-needed revenue for the national government.

As a Senator, Gordon likewise laid the groundwork for the country's transformation through the laws he authored, among them the amended Automated Elections System Law which would put an end to wholesale vote manipulation.

He also authored the Tourism Act of 2009 which will enable the country to compete with tourism giants, such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. President Arroyo is scheduled to sign it into law on May 12.

Herrera said the launching and convention to be held tomorrow coincides with the 488th anniversary of the historic "Battle of Mactan" where Lapu-Lapu defeated Ferdinand Magellan and became the first Asian to beat a colonial invader.

He added it will be held in another historical site, the Manila Hotel, because it had been a witness to many important events in Philippine history, including the sessions of the 1971 Constitutional Convention, where Gordon, one of the inspirations of Bagumbayan, was the youngest delegate.