Lente

They say the test of the pudding is in the eating. Similarly, the test of a political candidate’s winning in an election is in the counting of votes cast not only for him, but also for his opponent. Indeed, candidates and their supporters may spend so much time, effort and money during the political campaign; but the shedding of blood, sweat and tears occurs during the counting of ballots and finally, in the canvassing of tallied votes. Unfortunately, they don’t ever get to eat to test the pudding.

The "Hello, Garci" drama is perceived to have been staged during the canvassing of votes in Mindanao — a spectacle that many hope will never happen again — if they can help it.

Yes they can, is the message of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections or LENTE. This is a network launched March 23 of lawyers, law students, paralegals and other trained volunteers from over 25 organizations whose primary task in the May 14, 2007 elections is to monitor the canvassing of tallied votes in cities, municipalities, and provinces around the country.

What’s more, LENTE volunteers will provide legal services to members of the Network during the elections. I hope this service continues after the elections, when candidates who feel they were cheated, will file electoral protests.

The organization of LENTE is a morale booster for political parties, independent candidates, and Party List groups who do not have the resources to monitor the results of the elections.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines is throwing its full support behind the aspirations and efforts of LENTE. In a press statement, it said that its dedication to this aspiration is "based on the belief that the 2007 elections is crucial to the survival of democracy in our country. LENTE believes that a clean and credible 2007 elections would resuscitate the fading faith of our countrymen on the democratic processes. And conversely, LENTE fears that should the 2007 elections be marred by fraud and deceit, our nation may no longer be able to arrest the skidding faith of our countrymen on the principle that our government is the embodiment of the popular will."

To do its work, LENTE needs around 10,000 volunteer lawyers, law students, paralegals and others to: 1) Monitor the canvassing of votes in 1,600 municipalities, 81 provinces and at the national level, and 2) Provide legal services at the local and national levels.

LENTE’s list of volunteers has been growing, with many lawyers from different Integrated Bar of the Philippines chapters in various cities and provinces signing up to volunteer.

The network continues to call on other non-partisan groups and citizens who want to ensure the integrity of the coming elections. In the coming weeks, the organization will be conducting trainings on election laws and procedure at national, regional and provincial levels. It aims to conduct 17 regional trainings of trainers and around 150 trainings of volunteers at the municipal, city, and provincial levels. The national training of trainers was held April 14 at the Ateneo Law School at the Rockwell Center, Makati City.

In monitoring the canvassing process, special attention will be given to areas of concern in various regions in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Among organizations that have linked up with LENTE are the IBP; Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-NASSA), National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Ateneo Human Rights Center, Bishops’ Businessmen’s Conference (BBC), National Council of Churches of the Philippines, Philippine Christian University College of Law Student Council, and University of the Philippines College of Law Student Council.

Co-convenors of LENTE are Atty. Jose Vicente B. Salazar, national president of the IBP and Atty. Carlos P. Medina Jr., chief legal counsel of One Voice and executive director of the Ateneo Human Rights Center. For inquiries, call 8997691 local 2124; telefax 8994342; email [email protected]; mobile phone 0915-5797926 (c/o Anna Katrina Carrillo).

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Those who would like to hear more about LENTE’s mission may attend the Bulong Pulungan media forum at the Philippine Plaza Hotel this noon. Atty. Rose Sapia Reyes of LENTE’s secretariat will represent the organization. The other guest will be AGHAM Party List, to be represented by Dr. Roger Cuyno, president of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Development; UP Regent Nelia Gonzales, and AGHAM youth coordinator Lester Ordon. Lunch will be served, for a minimal fee.

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I had my first taste of Readyfoods Mfg. Corp. products recently, and I’m proud to recommend them to my readers, especially to my Balikbayan relatives and friends. In fact my nieces bought cartons of them on their way back to San Jose, California — along with bags of chicharon, Kraft cheese (would you believe, mas masarap daw pag nanggaling sa atin), and powdered mango, dalandan, and suha juices. The ready-to-eat RFMC products that come in pouches, are very Filipino. These are nata (from the coconut juice) products for kids, nata de coco, kaong, champorado, ginataang mais, and ginataang munggo, which are marketed under the brand name "Family Recipes." These have been prepared through the use of heat sterilization technology.

RFMC entered into the consumer market in 2004, and its products are sold at various supermarkets and food outlets. In 2006, the company shipped its first batch of products to the US, where Filipinos can enjoy the home-cooked goodness of Family Recipes.

RFMC is a wholly owned family corporation. The major shareholders are Ricardo S. Pascua (former president and CEO of Metro Pacific Corp. and Fort Bonifacio Development Corp.), who is the company’s chair, and Francisco S. Pascua (former assistant vice president and plant operations officer of Instafood Corp), who serves as the company’s vice-chair and CEO.

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My e-mail: [email protected]