SpilloverThe first time we meet someone, we often ask, “So, what do you do?” The acceptable answers: Lawyer, senator, business tycoon, doctor, born into a prominent family, an actor, or a priest. These things we can easily check off as a “made man” doing work we brand as “worthy.” But there are a handful of individuals who cannot tell you what they do in a sentence, or an hour, or even a day. There are those who have worked in places, doing things we can barely grasp. And so we dismiss the depth and breadth of their work because they cannot be labeled in our conventional terms, because their work simply cannot fit inside our tiny box.
My stomach churns each time I have to introduce my perfect candidate for the 2010 elections. I know the next three questions: (1) Who is Nick Perlas?; (2) What has he done?; (3) Why did he not run as mayor, Congressman or Senator first? I am petrified because I cannot tell you who he is and what he has done in a sentence, an hour, or even a day! And why not mayor, Congressman or Senator? Come on! Read what I have tried for months to summarize and you will see why it is nothing but the Presidency for this man.
AWARDS
I certainly cannot have your attention long enough to finish this discourse, I will give you a handful and start with a bang. His awards.
The Right Livelihood Award or the Alternative Nobel PrizeThe what? Who cares because surely no one has heard of it! Precisely. It’s unheard of because he is only one of two Filipinos (Walden Bello) who has been given this highly coveted global award. The award is given for “outstanding vision and work on behalf of the planet and it’s people. (Emphasis: the entire planet and its people.) It is today’s most distinguished award for courage and social transformation. I say this with all certainty because guess who else is on the list: David Lange, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Leonardo Boff, world renowned theoretician of liberation theology, Petra Kelly, co-founder of the German Greens and member of the German Parliament, and Wangari Maathai, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Other prominent recipients are David Suzuki, Vandana Shiva and Bill Mollison. The United Nations Global 500 AwardAgain, so what? I’d rather be CNN Hero of the Year, right? Well, it’s the UN’s highest award. And well, guess who else is on the list: Nobel Prize winners Wangari Maathai and former U.S President Jimmy Carter, French explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, former Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland, and former Prime Minister of Britain Margaret Thatcher. The TOFIL Outstanding Filipino Award which was previously given to Filipino luminaries including Jaime Cardinal Sin, former President Diosdado Macapagal, businessman Enrique Zobel, and former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr.;The Ramon Magsaysay Award for Exemplary Governance, an award also given to Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno and business tycoon John Gokongwei. “The Ramon Magsaysay Award is given to persons who address issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity, and in doing so have made contributions which have transformed their societies for the better.”UNRIVALED TRACK RECORDNow that I have some of your attention…Sometimes, I wish I could shake up Filipinos hard enough so they awaken and look beyond charisma, intelligence, sweet-talking and even sweeter promises. We look but do not see. Because all we have to do is see the man’s past! All these years, what has he done with his life? With his charms, his brilliance and wit? With his gifts? With his familial and political connections? With the power to “lead and everyone follows?” With the stamp of approval from you, the voters. See his past, because that is how he will make your future. I have painstakingly tried to summarize Nick Perlas’ forty years of work. I know I cannot do him justice. But the list highlights his work and why he is highly esteemed globally, especially by those who recognize his vision, integrity and mastery. He did all these as a civilian, without the money, power or ease that comes with public office. Imagine that. 1. Expert and vital consultant to influential institutions of government, international bodies, global agencies and civil society organizations, among others, the: Aquino Government as Technical Advisor to the Presidential Commission on the Bataan Nuclear Plant. Mr. Perlas played a pivotal role to the government’s decision to mothball the troubled Plant, despite it being very near completion, and having cost $2.1 billion;
Ramos Government through his critical leadership in the Pesticides Technical Advisory Committee, which role was decisive in the consequent banning of 32 of the most damaging pesticides and government’s investment of P760 million in integrated pest management, an achievement that has far-reaching effects to Philippine agriculture and the ecology;
Ramos Government, as principal technical writer and key formulator of Philippine Agenda 21 (“PA21”), a pioneering framework on development and a counter-weight on trade liberalization. The PA21 has been characterized by former President Ramos as the most consultative policy document in post-martial law and is still the recognized blueprint for sustainable development in the country;
Philippine Council for Sustainable Development as Civil Society Co-Chairman, and through his expertise, formulated and implemented Philippine Agenda 21;
United Nation bodies such as the UNDP, FAO, UNCSD and UNICEF, where he was the authoritative representative for the Philippines and civil society;
Critical government agencies throughout several presidencies, as expert consultant to the Senate, House of Representatives, NEDA, DSWD, DA, DENR and as the official Philippine delegate to the United Nations and APEC; and
Principal negotiator during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (“APEC”) and pivotal to preventing radical and one-sided trade liberalization. Mr. Perlas successfully introduced strong sustainable development language in the Leaders and Ministerial Declarations of APEC, and constrained the Individual Action Plan of the Philippines to abide by sustainable development principles. 2. Visionary leader who created, developed and broke new ground with several pioneering and momentous initiatives and organizations, including the: Centre for Alternative Development Initiatives (CADI), a trailblazer in the agricultural field, which set in motion, organic farming in an otherwise chemical-intensive agricultural system;
Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, which effectively commenced and culminated a campaign against pesticide abuse, and providing expert training and technical assistance to 23 provinces in the Philippines;
Large-scale commercial organic and biodynamic agriculture, the first of its kind in the country. In fact, Mr. Perlas is recognized as a most prominent force on ecological agriculture in Asia, notable for coining the term: “sustainable agriculture” in 1983;
Creator of the ‘tri-sector’ approach to policy-making or “societal threefolding.” His innovative work launched the Global Network for Social Three-Folding or Globenet3, with more than 17 geographic and functional nodes in over 12 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the United States of America; and
Author of SIAD: Framework for the Localization of Philippine Agenda 21, a crucial blueprint, which is now being utilized by several local governments and civil society organizations to advance sustainable integrated area development.
Nick Perlas, with his unparalleled expertise and stellar work, is renowned in the field. He has: Been consistently invited to lecture and impart his visionary and pioneering work before civil society organizations and movements as plenary speaker or resource person. He has lectured in over 100 global conferences and over 150 national conferences;
Written an international bestseller: “Shaping Globalization: Civil Society, Cultural Power and Threefolding”, which has been translated in nine (9) languages. His book is being continuously utilized by governments, business and civil society for policy-making throughout the world; and
Authored over 500 articles and among others, is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of TruthForce, and Ikabuhi Newspaper for Micro-Entrepreneurs.
If you have come to this part of my summary, Salamat. I hope I have given you snippets of the Practical Visionary. Nick Perlas has devoted decades of his life advancing authentic democracy and integral sustainable development. He has done so without being in public office. Just imagine how much more he can do with our stamp of trust. I have faith that you can perceive the highest possibilities that Nick Perlas can make real for our country. I cannot really tell you who he is in a sentence, an hour, or a day, but at least I try, stomach churning and all.
The true Philippines wants to be born. We are called to have courage, to take risks and to act out of our highest ideals and deepest sources of conviction. Then the “impossible can happen. Then our true Philippines will emerge.”- Nicanor “Nick” Perlas
Spillover
The first time we meet someone, we often ask, “So, what do you do?” The acceptable answers: Lawyer, senator, business tycoon, doctor, born into a prominent family, an actor, or a priest. These things we can easily check off as a “made man” doing work we brand as “worthy.” But there are a handful of individuals who cannot tell you what they do in a sentence, or an hour, or even a day. There are those who have worked in places, doing things we can barely grasp. And so we dismiss the depth and breadth of their work because they cannot be labeled in our conventional terms, because their work simply cannot fit inside our tiny box.
My stomach churns each time I have to introduce my perfect candidate for the 2010 elections. I know the next three questions: (1) Who is Nick Perlas?; (2) What has he done?; (3) Why did he not run as mayor, Congressman or Senator first? I am petrified because I cannot tell you who he is and what he has done in a sentence, an hour, or even a day! And why not mayor, Congressman or Senator? Come on! Read what I have tried for months to summarize and you will see why it is nothing but the Presidency for this man.
AWARDS
I certainly cannot have your attention long enough to finish this discourse, I will give you a handful and start with a bang. His awards.
The Right Livelihood Award or the Alternative Nobel Prize
The what? Who cares because surely no one has heard of it! Precisely. It’s unheard of because he is only one of two Filipinos (Walden Bello) who has been given this highly coveted global award. The award is given for “outstanding vision and work on behalf of the planet and it’s people. (Emphasis: the entire planet and its people.) It is today’s most distinguished award for courage and social transformation. I say this with all certainty because guess who else is on the list: David Lange, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Leonardo Boff, world renowned theoretician of liberation theology, Petra Kelly, co-founder of the German Greens and member of the German Parliament, and Wangari Maathai, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Other prominent recipients are David Suzuki, Vandana Shiva and Bill Mollison.
The United Nations Global 500 Award
Again, so what? I’d rather be CNN Hero of the Year, right? Well, it’s the UN’s highest award. And well, guess who else is on the list: Nobel Prize winners Wangari Maathai and former U.S President Jimmy Carter, French explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, former Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland, and former Prime Minister of Britain Margaret Thatcher.
The TOFIL Outstanding Filipino Award which was previously given to Filipino luminaries including Jaime Cardinal Sin, former President Diosdado Macapagal, businessman Enrique Zobel, and former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr.;
The Ramon Magsaysay Award for Exemplary Governance, an award also given to Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno and business tycoon John Gokongwei. “The Ramon Magsaysay Award is given to persons who address issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity, and in doing so have made contributions which have transformed their societies for the better.”
UNRIVALED TRACK RECORD
Now that I have some of your attention…
Sometimes, I wish I could shake up Filipinos hard enough so they awaken and look beyond charisma, intelligence, sweet-talking and even sweeter promises. We look but do not see. Because all we have to do is see the man’s past! All these years, what has he done with his life? With his charms, his brilliance and wit? With his gifts? With his familial and political connections? With the power to “lead and everyone follows?” With the stamp of approval from you, the voters. See his past, because that is how he will make your future.
I have painstakingly tried to summarize Nick Perlas’ forty years of work. I know I cannot do him justice. But the list highlights his work and why he is highly esteemed globally, especially by those who recognize his vision, integrity and mastery. He did all these as a civilian, without the money, power or ease that comes with public office. Imagine that.
1. Expert and vital consultant to influential institutions of government, international bodies, global agencies and civil society organizations, among others, the:
Aquino Government as Technical Advisor to the Presidential Commission on the Bataan Nuclear Plant. Mr. Perlas played a pivotal role to the government’s decision to mothball the troubled Plant, despite it being very near completion, and having cost $2.1 billion;
Ramos Government through his critical leadership in the Pesticides Technical Advisory Committee, which role was decisive in the consequent banning of 32 of the most damaging pesticides and government’s investment of P760 million in integrated pest management, an achievement that has far-reaching effects to Philippine agriculture and the ecology;
Ramos Government, as principal technical writer and key formulator of Philippine Agenda 21 (“PA21”), a pioneering framework on development and a counter-weight on trade liberalization. The PA21 has been characterized by former President Ramos as the most consultative policy document in post-martial law and is still the recognized blueprint for sustainable development in the country;
Philippine Council for Sustainable Development as Civil Society Co-Chairman, and through his expertise, formulated and implemented Philippine Agenda 21;
United Nation bodies such as the UNDP, FAO, UNCSD and UNICEF, where he was the authoritative representative for the Philippines and civil society;
Critical government agencies throughout several presidencies, as expert consultant to the Senate, House of Representatives, NEDA, DSWD, DA, DENR and as the official Philippine delegate to the United Nations and APEC; and
Principal negotiator during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (“APEC”) and pivotal to preventing radical and one-sided trade liberalization. Mr. Perlas successfully introduced strong sustainable development language in the Leaders and Ministerial Declarations of APEC, and constrained the Individual Action Plan of the Philippines to abide by sustainable development principles.
2. Visionary leader who created, developed and broke new ground with several pioneering and momentous initiatives and organizations, including the:
Centre for Alternative Development Initiatives (CADI), a trailblazer in the agricultural field, which set in motion, organic farming in an otherwise chemical-intensive agricultural system;
Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, which effectively commenced and culminated a campaign against pesticide abuse, and providing expert training and technical assistance to 23 provinces in the Philippines;
Large-scale commercial organic and biodynamic agriculture, the first of its kind in the country. In fact, Mr. Perlas is recognized as a most prominent force on ecological agriculture in Asia, notable for coining the term: “sustainable agriculture” in 1983;
Creator of the ‘tri-sector’ approach to policy-making or “societal threefolding.” His innovative work launched the Global Network for Social Three-Folding or Globenet3, with more than 17 geographic and functional nodes in over 12 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the United States of America; and
Author of SIAD: Framework for the Localization of Philippine Agenda 21, a crucial blueprint, which is now being utilized by several local governments and civil society organizations to advance sustainable integrated area development.
Nick Perlas, with his unparalleled expertise and stellar work, is renowned in the field. He has:
Been consistently invited to lecture and impart his visionary and pioneering work before civil society organizations and movements as plenary speaker or resource person. He has lectured in over 100 global conferences and over 150 national conferences;
Written an international bestseller: “Shaping Globalization: Civil Society, Cultural Power and Threefolding”, which has been translated in nine (9) languages. His book is being continuously utilized by governments, business and civil society for policy-making throughout the world; and
Authored over 500 articles and among others, is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of TruthForce, and Ikabuhi Newspaper for Micro-Entrepreneurs.
If you have come to this part of my summary, Salamat. I hope I have given you snippets of the Practical Visionary. Nick Perlas has devoted decades of his life advancing authentic democracy and integral sustainable development. He has done so without being in public office. Just imagine how much more he can do with our stamp of trust. I have faith that you can perceive the highest possibilities that Nick Perlas can make real for our country. I cannot really tell you who he is in a sentence, an hour, or a day, but at least I try, stomach churning and all.
The true Philippines wants to be born. We are called to have courage, to take risks and to act out of our highest ideals and deepest sources of conviction. Then the “impossible can happen. Then our true Philippines will emerge.”- Nicanor “Nick” Perlas
The Girl and the Grail 