Nicanor Perlas, environmentalist, microfinance expert, sustainable agriculturist, creative educator and bearer of new Politics, shared a light moment with the children of Old Capitol Site in Diliman Quezon City recently at the start of his presidential campaign sortie in Metro Manila. The children were happy and excited to shake hands with Tito Nick who spoke to them and their parents in Tagalog, his native Ilonggo and in Cebuano. Perlas was accompanied on this sortie by Kagawad Leonardo Baylosis and Rodel Cabigas as well as volunteers of New Politics. Photo by Haresh Tanodra. Media Contact: Cecille Ferrer-volunteer Media Team Pangmasa 09178997603 Tammy Dinopol, 0920-9064793 Dino Manrique. 0916-4143392
Nicanor Perlas is at the helm of New Politics and a New Philippines as he takes the PANGMASA jeepney to the Old Capitol Site in Diliman , Quezon City. Perlas is taking his presidential campaign sortie to the barangay level all over the Philippines where the people are–for a genuine consultantion and dialogue. “The presidency will just be a continuation of what I have been doing throughout my life – helping low-income people like you,” Perlas told the residents – sari-sari store owners, rice vendors, fruit vendors, bakery employees, barbers, hairstylists, former and present kagawads, and their families in conversations in Tagalog, his native Ilonggo and in Cebuano. Photo by: Haresh Tanodra.
In his first campaign sortie inside Metro Manila, presidential candidate Nicanor ‘Nick’ Perlas surprised the residents of Barangay Old Capitol Site in Diliman, Quezon City, last Friday, February 12, 2010, to consult with them about their problems. Accompanied by his New Politics volunteers and the barangay’s councilors including Kagawad Leonardo Baylosis, and Kagawad Rodel Cabigas, Perlas listened to the residents’ woes including flooding and the pending demolition of their houses which are built on government land (owned by the University of the Philippines). Perlas advised them that there are creative solutions – win-win approaches — to their concerns, especially that some of them are open to compromises such as relocation.
It was the first time in 29 years, according to residents, that a presidentiable visited their place, and they were heartened by Perlas’ visit. One such resident, elderly Adela Garcia Palma, who had been living in a pigsty for 30 years, said, “All I want is a house of my own, and I’m hoping that Nick Perlas can help us.” Other residents expressed to Nick and his New Politics volunteers their other wishes: jobs, education and scholarships for the youth, lower food prices, better healthcare, and fair compensation. They also hoped for an end to corruption. Perlas told them that this is possible if they stop electing traditional politicians into office. He also assured them that he has the track record to implement genuine change. “The presidency will just be a continuation of what I have been doing throughout my life – helping low-income people like you.” Perlas mentors farmers on sustainable agriculture, and had sat on the boards of NGO’s helping the poor thru microfinance.
Arriving at around 10am and leaving almost 3 hours later, Perlas engaged the Old Capitol Site residents – sari-sari store owners, rice vendors, fruit vendors, bakery employees, barbers, hairstylists, former and present kagawads, and their families — in conversations, including in his native Ilonggo (Perlas hails from Zarraga, Iloilo) — and in Cebuano (he took up Agriculture in Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan). He also played pool with them, tried out their produce, and posed for photos with the children who were very happy and excited to see their Tito Nick.
Interviewed by TV reporters, Perlas says he wants to do this all over the country, to go down to the barangay level, where the people are, and hold genuine consultations.
