Freedom Flame Awards 2013

Last Sunday night, November 10, I was one of the 14 individuals who were given the “Freedom Flame Awards” by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) Philippine office. It was a great honor for me. The citation why I was given the award was for “for his staunch advocacy for economic freedom and for his continuous support to the work of FNF.”

Thank you very much to Jules Maaten, Country Director of FNF for the Philippines, for his trust and recognition of my modest contribution to spreading the ideas of economic freedom, rule of law and limited government in this part of the planet.

As an awardee, I was allowed to bring a few guests. I brought my wife Ella, and Dr. Epictetus Patalinghug, left, MG Thinkers adviser, also one of our wedding godfathers. Dr. Peter Lee U of the University of Asia Pacific (UAP) and the Philippine Economic Society (PES) was also there.

Venue was San Diego Gardens, Intramuros, Manila. The event was attended by a number of international delegates, like Dr Jürgen Morlok, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of FNF, Hans van Baalen, President of the Liberal International (LI), Rainer Adam, FNF Regional Director for East and Southeast Asia, Siegfried Herzog, FNF Regional Director for South Asia, some officials of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe (ALDE), Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), FNF Potsdam headquarters and FNF country directors for some Asian countries.

I was seated in the front table with Cong. Kit Belmonte, singer Noel Cabangon, Atty. Arpee Santiago of the Ateneo Human Rights Center, wife of Chuchoy Medina, Jules and his family.

The "Freedom Speech" was given by Senator Bam Aquino. He talked about empowering the Filipinos towards more self reliance.

The 13 other awardees were:

1. Congw. Henedina Abad, Batanes Representative, for her steadfast support for innovative liberal initiatives.

2. Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, for his inspiring leadership that encourages communities especially the youth to follow the straight path

3. Feliciano Belmonte, House Speaker Jr, for the passage of landmark reform laws like the RH Bill during the 15th Congress. He was not able to come, his nephew, Cong. Kit Belmonte, came to receive the award. Kit is also a friend way back in UP Diliman in the mid-80s.

4. Ma. Isabelle Climaco, Mayor of Zamboanga City, for her leadership in handling the recent security crisis in Mindanao

5. Patricia Evangelista, Rappler multimedia reporter, for her "insightful video documentaries and news reporting on issues on freedom and human rights."