U.P. Kapihan tackles political dynasties

Political dynasties in the Philippines will be the topic of the "Kapihan ng Bayan sa U.P." on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at the Salazar Hall of Ang Bahay ng Alumni, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. 

 

The Kapihan will be the ninth in a series of discussions on various issues held in U.P. campuses and sponsored by the U.P. Alumni Association, to which the public is invited.

 

Among the resource speakers invited to the Kapihan are spokesmen of the Movement Against Dynasties (MAD): Quentin San Diego and Rozel Alex Santos, chairman and executive vice chairman, respectively, of MAD.  

 

According to Santos, there is a groundswell of support for the movement as more and more Filipino voters are getting wary of political dynasties. MAD also supports the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) which came out in early February denouncing dynasties and their growing tendency to monopolize political power in the country.

 

According to Atty. Rene Valdecantos, first vice-president of UPAA and chairman of the Kapihan committee, the Kapihan aims "to serve as a regular forum for intelligent and constructive discussion of issues relevant to our development as a nation."

 

The first "Kapihan ng Bayan sa U.P." was held in November 2010, with Rep. Edcel C. Lagman as the resource speaker on the then (now a law) Reproductive Health Bill. 

 

Other featured speakers in subsequent Kapihan forums included U.P. Regent Reynato Puno, former SC chief justice; Health Secretary Enrique Ona; and Presidential Assistant on Climate Change Elisea Gozun.

 

Press release from U.P. Alumni Association