He is a modern political phenomenon in a country dominated by
very few elite families.
During these times when almost everyone takes a beating from
life, we need inspiration from someone who has triumphed over life’s
difficulties and has successfully hurdled many challenges.
Take it from this man who simply refused to accept poverty as
an obstacle to his dreams—Vice President Noli de Castro.
More popularly known as everyone’s "Kabayan", Vice President
De Castro was born during the post-war period in Pola, Oriental Mindoro.
Kabayan was not fortunate to be born in the company of
privilege and conveniences. Quite the opposite, he and his five siblings were
raised solely by their mother.
But this young Mindoreńo had grand dreams, and his hardships
were the force that molded his future.
At a young age, he worked to support his education and
supplement the family income. "I diligently took the rounds in our barrio,
gathering pig’s fodder from our neighbors for my pig pet, which I would raise,
in order to be sold later for a hefty sum," Kabayan said.
In Pola, life was so simple. This loving son learned to be
contented with the little provisions from his mother.
Inay Nene taught him early on not to aspire for luxury and to
always keep in mind that happiness comes from having bare essentials in life, a
loving family, food on the table, roof over their heads, and the faculty to
dream.
Multi-awarded TV broadcaster, seasoned radioman, farmer,
environmentalist, philanthropist, nationalist, politician. Kabayan has spent a
good 27 of his 54 years as a media practitioner.
But Kabayan was a self-taught broadcaster.
As a young Mindoreno, he spent most of his leisure time,
under his favorite mango tree, and with mother nature as his audience, he would
imitate his favorite radioman Johnny de Leon — the booming baritone, the adlibs
and the snide remarks on various political issues.
Kabayan has the brains. He was an overachiever in school,
always inquisitive and hungry for knowledge.
He finished his elementary education from Pola Central School
and his high school from Pola Catholic High School. His mother’s business acumen
inspired Kabayan to earn for himself a university diploma in Commerce, major in
Banking and Finance from the University of the East.
In 1976, he accompanied his Kuya to an audition for a slot as
field reporter in a radio station. Instead, it was Kabayan’s voice which
prevailed over the long queue of applicants. Since then, his life revolved
around media and current affairs.
SUCCESS DESPITE THE ODDS
Kabayan’s metamorphosis from a poor barrioboy to being the
most prominent Legislator today is an amazing story of success.
But as a sage once uttered, a triumphant journey is not
measured by the number of miles traveled but by the values acquired and
relationships built along the way. In this sense, Kabayan is a victor.
Despite the many accomplishments Kabayan garnered throughout
the years, he maintained his feet on the ground.
His success did not budge the goodness of his heart, the
kindness of his soul, and the simplicity of his being.
Those who have not met the man would think that he is
overwhelmed by all the glitter and fame, making him forget his humble
beginnings.
In truth and in fact, Kabayan remains the simple man from the
barrio with nothing but love and care for his brethren.
His sister would relay that Kabayan would always see how they
are. "He never fails to check on all of us. Even when he was still a fresh
reporter making ends meet with his meager salary then, he would ensure that a
portion of his pay would go to us in Mindoro."
For his wife Arlene, the current Vice-President for News and
Current Affairs of ABS-CBN, and his three children, Manueli, Katkat, and Shamir,
Kabayan is an ideal family man.
In fact, he would rather spend his free time at home to
personally feed his priced wildlife collection and groom his garden plants. "He
would rather devote his time doing simple things with us rather than attend
social engagements and parties, his wife Arlene enthuses.
Kabayan’s weekly television program, Magandang Gabi…Bayan!,
is now a part of every Filipino family’s Saturday activity. Through the years,
MGB has evolved consistent with the progress in the life of its anchorman. His
areas of concern, including tourism, the environment and public health, are now
regular segments in every episode of MGB.
His staff at his television program has nothing but praise
and admiration for Kabayan. Since it started, Kabayan has been hands on. He
oversees all aspects of production to ensure that his viewers will get quality
and informative show.
In the Philippine Senate, he is also endeared to his
legislative staff. His professionalism and leadership influence his senate staff
to be the best public servants that they can be. For this reason, Sen. De
Castro’s constituents have nothing but good words for his accommodating and
hospitable staff.
A lover of nature he is, Kabayan is one of the vanguards of
environmental protection, engaging assiduously in campaigns to save nature from
degradation.
"I always have a huge heart for mother nature. As a kid in
nature-rich Oriental Mindoro, I was always amazed at the pristine beauty of the
environment. I believe that the future generation has the right to enjoy nature
and benefit from it. So for our children’s sake, we should preserve nature and
avoid abusive and unsustainable activities." Kabayan remarked.
KABAYAN THE LEGISLATOR
The Senate provides a forum for Kabayan to bring forth to
national attention issues closest to his heart: environment, youth and family
welfare, social justice, and education.
Kabayan believes in the richness and beauty of the
Philippines’ natural resources He therefore advocates for the sustainable
management and use of these resources so that this could be tapped by future
generations for productive use.
Consistent with these values, he has authored many bills on
the promotion of the environment, among these, SB 2264, or "An Act Providing for
the Protection, Conservation and Management of Mangrove Forests".
As a legislator he recognizes that mangroves are a valuable
resource in maintaining economically important coastal ecosystems. These values
include sustainable forestry, nursery areas for prawns, crabs and fish,
protection of coasts, not to mention the livelihood and employment it provides
to fishers and villagers. Controlled mangrove harvesting can therefore provide
resources continuously and be a sustainable industry.
This bill aims to rehabilitate the state of our mangroves (bakawan)
and prevent their further degradation through mangrove monitoring and
establishment of good forestry practice with the institution of Mangrove
Reservation Areas in all water areas within the country.
Mangroves’ protection, conservation and management will be
enforced within these areas along with the establishment of Councils, both at
the national and local level for the proper implementation of policies, rules
and regulations.
Among these policies is the pre-requisite issuance of permit
by the DENR in coordination with the DA and concerned LGUs, scientific community
and the academe, with regard to the collection and removal of resources within
these areas.
Kabayan also values the dignity of every Filipino and would
ensure the protection of their rights. He abhors discrimination in all its
forms. Consistent with this mindset, he filed Senate Bill 2453 (Reintegration of
Released Prisoners Act) to give these rehabilitated offenders a REAL new lease
on life.
This bill adopts a two-tier method of preparation and
resocialization. The various Government agencies engaged in the promotion of
livelihood programs and development of skills, abilities and vocational
qualification shall conduct trainings and seminars on these subjects to prepare
convicts to compete favorably for available business, productive and
remunerative employment opportunities in the labor market when they are released
from prison.
This bill likewise mandates the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology to conduct guidance and counseling programs to instill or further
strengthen the basic norms and values of these convicts.
The second, and most important, ensures the reintegration of
released prisoners in the mainstream of society.
The bill mandates the Department of Labor and Employment to
provide support for job placement of released prisoners and to encourage active
participation of the private sector in promoting the welfare of these persons to
ensure their gainful employment.
Senator de Castro believes that the spirit of "Bayanihan" is
alive in the hearts of Filipinos and this fact would ensure the success of their
reintegration.
To further bolster his vision, Senator de Castro provided in
the bill that twenty-five percent (25 percent) of the total amount paid as
salaries and wages to released prisoners as additional tax deduction as an
incentive to private entities that employ them.
This legislative measure prohibits denial of employment
opportunity and discrimination to persons solely on account of the person’s
previous conviction.
With the enactment of this proposed measure, Senator de
Castro believes that the incidents of previous offenders coming in conflict with
the law would be totally eliminated.
Thirdly, Kabayan believes that a strong republic has to have
sturdy institutions. With this end in view, the Senator has set his sights on
one of the most important government institutions, the judiciary.
The Senator is aware that delays in the administration of
justice have immensely contributed in the eroding of the people’s trust in the
justice system.
Considering further the expenses that court actions entail,
as well as the amount of time devoted in seeing these actions through, the
Senator realized the need for a more expeditious means of settling disputes
without resorting to the lengthy and tedious process of litigation.
Through Senate Bill No. 2411, Senator De Castro seeks to
institutionalize the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution system in the
Philippines and to establish the Philippine Center for Alternative Dispute
Resolution (PCADR).
Under this system, disputes that are cognizable by the PCADR,
such as civil cases where the amount of the claim does not exceed P50, 000.00,
cases that are cognizable by the Lupong Tagapamayapa under the Katarungang
Pambarangay, the civil aspect of B.P.22 cases, and the civil aspect of
quasi-offenses under Title 14 of the Revised Penal Code, cannot be filed
directly in the regular courts.
Parties to the dispute would have to submit their differences
before PCADR- accredited mediators or arbitrators, and work toward settling
their dispute amicably.
Since the mediators/arbitrators are chosen by both parties,
their decision or any agreement reached through their mediation would be
afforded more respect by the parties.
Moreover, since the rules of procedure before the
mediators/arbitrators are less formal, the proceedings are expected to be more
relaxed, and therefore, more conducive to an early settlement of disputes
between the parties.
Clearly, this bill will benefit a many of our people,
especially the less privileged. If enacted into a law, this bill will provide a
swifter, simpler, and less costly alternative to judicial recourse in conflict
resolution.
Finally, Kabayan believes that the youth plays a vital role
in nation-building. In this regard, he has filed three important youth-related
legislations, namely:
a. Senate Bill No. 1852 – " The Dropout Prevention Act of
2001" which aims to establish that a growing number of young people are not
making successful transitions to productive adult lives. It also establishes
that traditional education programs which does not meet certain student’s
educational needs and interests may cause these students to become unmotivated,
fail, be truant, be disruptive, or drop out of school due to crime, poverty,
unwanted pregnancies, substance abuse or unemployment.
Therefore, it is the intent of this bill for the Department
of Education to establish comprehensive dropout prevention programs , such as
but not limited to, educational alternative programs, teenage parent programs,
substance abuse programs, disciplinary programs and youth services programs
b. Senate Bill No.1946 - " The Newborn Screening Test Act"
which aims to establish a newborn screening test, integrating the same into the
State’s health care delivery programs for free, in order to test infants for
five (5) potentially devastating and fatal metabolic disorders namely,
congenital hypothyroidism (CH), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH),
galactosemia (GAL), phenylketonuria (PKU), and glucose-6-phospate dehydrogenase
deficiency (G6PD). Failure to detect, at the soonest possible time, any of these
five metabolic disorders would result into the infant’s retardation and in
extreme cases, death.
c. Senate Bill No. 2537 – "The Safe Haven for Infants Act of
2003" which provides for criminal immunity for a parent who voluntarily
surrenders custody of an unharmed infant aged 30 days old or younger to a
hospital, open emergency medical facility, police station or the DSWD. It
ensures that abandoned babies be saved and shall receive prompt medical
attention and to establish child welfare pursuant to social justice policies of
the government.
Senator De Castro is a firm believer of that popular Rizal
saying, " Ang kabataan ay pag-asa ng bayan". It is for this reason that through
these bills, he further promotes and protects the physical, moral, spiritual,
intellectual and social well-being of this important sector, preparing them to
play a very important role in our society.
—www.kabayannoli.com
