Speech Delivered by Dr. Delmar Topinio Taclibon during the AVLACC (Association of Volunteer Lawyers Against Crime and Corruption) – Introduction of Keynote Speaker: Attorney Levito D. Baligod Association of Volunteer Lawyers against Corruption (AVLAC) 14 Summit -Intensifying Anti-Corruption Focus 2014,January 18, 2014, 2:00 oclock PM, Aloha Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Manila Philippines. In Coordination with CITIZENS CRIME WATCH, MAD - MOVEMENT AGAINST DYNASTY, PHILIPPINE TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST LAW CENTER and AUGUST 26 PEOPLES COALITION. Coordinators: Hon. CARLO MAGNO BATALLA - SECRETARY GENERAL, CITIZENS CRIME WATCH, PPSC - Power of the People Solidarity Congress Programme Director & Secretary General and ACES - Aggregation of Casino Entity Solidarity Chairman DELMAR T. TACLIBON, MBA, Ph.D.D.A. - SECRETARY GENERAL, AUGUST 26 PEOPLES COALITION, PPSC Founding President and ACES Secretary General- Not so many among us are aware that when we look at a star, that same star probably no longer exists. The stars we see today are projections of the light that they emitted long ago. That light has to travel a long way to reach us, not just in terms of distance but also time, in units that had been dubbed light years; in layman’s term - that is more than thousands of life time. Like the stars in the vastness of the heavens, the acts and deeds we do today will continue to resonate long after we are gone, like the projection of lights by the stars resonated in thousands of years, even millions. The Heroism and Martyrdom of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino Jr., Evelio Javier, Macli-ing Dulag, Zacharias Agatep, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes Escoda, General Vicente Lim, Macario Sakay y d Leon, GOMBURZA, Gabriela Silang, Jose Protacio Realonda Mercado Rizal and all the rest who placed their lives and limbs on the line for freedom and democracy – are worthy to mention and emulate as they resonate the legacy of their good deeds, like the stars projecting their emitted bright lights, thousands of years ago. The good deeds of this man is worth emulating like the stars in the vastness of the skies, and may I say, “he is not a voice in the wilderness after all, rather, he vigorously helped start the spark that lit the Million People’s March to Luneta on August 26, 2013 and the Anti-Pork Barrel Movement in the Philippines; and he thrived the seemingly impossible but, seemingly does not believe in the impossible, rather, dwelled in the following quotable Quotes: “Impossible is only a word uttered by weaklings who find it better to exist in the world they have been given, rather than to navigate that Omnipotent given power to enhance or change it. Impossible is just an imagination, a hoax that belongs to the unreal dimension. Impossible is not an avowal; it is a challenge. Impossible is contrary to the existence of life and identity. Impossible is Nothing!” -Delmar Nur Faramarz Ferdowsi Salah Ad-Din Tomasa Gomez de Molina Costa Sanchez de Cassa Fajardo Lopez Roldan Martinez Simarro Mondejar del Castillo Balera Chumilla Portal Ynarejos Ramos de Losa del Pozo Africa Bautista Rubio-Escrivano Bucad Calaycay Alcaraz “Rapasakdalsakay” Topinio Taclibon- Far better it is to dare powerful and mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failures; than to take ranks with those who are poor in spirit, who neither enjoy much, nor suffer much, because they live in a grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. –Franklin Delano Roosevelt > the Paralytic President of the United States of America who overcame the Great Depression and World War II– “Success often comes to those who dare and act, it seldom goes to the timid that are afraid of the consequences of seeking righteousness. This one heaven-of-a-man is born in Santa Ana Cagayan, who became a lawyer on May 5, 2000, role number 45189, is an experienced criminal lawyer with thirteen (13) solid years as a courtroom litigator. After finishing economics and political science degrees at the UP, he took up law in San Beda College and later at the University of the East, where he graduated in 1999; he passed the bar the following year. In 2005, he formed a Law Office together with lawyer Raul Villanueva, his upperclassman at the UP Vanguard. He handles mostly criminal cases, while Villanueva takes care of civil and corporate matters. For the relatively brief span of time in the legal profession, he has a high batting average, losing only once in a criminal case due to a mere procedural oversight. Besides litigating criminal cases, he found his footing in election-related disputes. Among his clients was former Cagayan Governor Edgar Lara and among others. He and the Pork Barrel Scam whistle-blowers do not seem to think that they are fighting an uphill battle despite the obvious clout and connections of senators and other lawmakers who are already charged in court. He believes with conviction that: With the boxes of evidence plus corroborating testimonies from Benhur Luy and company, the cases will prosper, and counting on the people to be “vigilant,” stressing that this is a “golden chance to contribute to reforming the system.” “Most of the Filipino people are still decent and they have patriotism,” pointing to the public furore generated by the Inquirer’s exposé of the PDAF’s misuse. The root of this indignation was the “betrayal of public trust, a breached covenant with the Filipino people.” “Public vigilance will ensure that the justice system works according to the purpose it was designed.” Short-term goal is to stop the pork barrel racket, which mercilessly steals from the poor, especially the farmers, much-needed subsidies from government.” The long-term impact of going after crooks in government is the return of faith and trust of the people in the rule of law and public office. “It’s still possible for ordinary people to initiate reforms, and anyone of us can contribute to improving our country.” Corruption is a “problem of character and lack of love of country.” “Filipinos lack a sense of nationhood; we have an unfinished business at nationhood.” Asked how this generation would judge him and the witnesses, he said it was better to “judge us as selfless, patriotic Filipinos.” Expects nothing (in return to reciprocation), except for the altruistic feeling that he is able to contribute to bringing back decency in government.” He often quotes Leo Rosten, the Polish-born American novelist and scholar: “I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, and to be compassionate. It is, above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.” Without so much ado, In behalf of the August 26 People’s Coalition, the Citizens Crime Watch, MAD and the PPSC – Power of the People Solidarity Congress, it is an honour to present a Barrister Par Excellence, Atty. Levito D. Baligod. Dr. Delmar Topinio Taclibon, Bt., DKR, KRSS, BSCE, MBA, Ph.D.D.A., August 26 People’s Coalition Secretary General
Posted on: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:27:37 +0000
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