Let us do our duty because it is our duty

- Emmanuel Kant

Summer is time for fun and reflection void of any academic works yet I find myself working on two advocacies which are non-academic but require a large amount of rigorous thinking in this supposedly fun point in time. This only shows that duty chooses no time. My mission is my mission. One is on the environment and the other is on truth, accountability and transparency. Two seemingly unrelated issues yet they affect us therefore we should respond to it.

The Firefly Brigade is a non-stock, non-profit, and SEC – registered citizen’s volunteer action group which works for clean air and a habitable, people-friendly environments in our cities. This group plans to have a simultaneous nation wide awareness campaign about clean environment through a bike parade in major cities all over the country. To attract even more attention, this event also includes a costume competition where bikers are encouraged to wear creative costumes that best reflect their concern for the urban environment. The city as one of the major cities will participate in the nation wide bike ride and the KKP-SIP of XU is being tapped as a strategic partner in its realization. The event will be on April 20, 2007 and the CDO version will be called “Sikad Kalikasan”. Different groups in the city have already been gathered such as the Oro Bikers, SM Mall, Pueblo de Oro, and others. The ball is now beginning to roll and we can accelerate it by doing our part. We could participate in this event by joining the bike ride itself, donating funds, and telling a friend about it. For more information just text me on 0906-212-4886 or visit their website on http://www.fireflybrigade.org/

The Team RP is a youth-led initiative to advocate and proactively work towards the fight for Truth, Accountability and Reform in our government. It is led by college students and young professionals who want to see genuine reform in our country especially in our government leaders today. This I got from an online chat with Eli Convocar of the Ateneo de Manila. It’s a duty we all should commit if we want our country back on its moral footing. They are planning to collect 10,000 signatures supporting their campaign for complete access to public information and submit it to Congress as it opens on April 23, 2008. I will basically handle the signature campaign here in Xavier University. You could help by singing the manifesto. Just go to http://teamrp.multiply.com/ for more information , email them at team.rp.official@gmail.com or contact me on the same number above. I’ll roam around campus starting next week circulating the signature sheets.

This hype of issue advocacy missions can me managed effectively and efficiently by forming a taxonomy of influence which I will ponder upon in the following days.

NOW, DO YOUR PART!