A picture book for Loren

Of all the perceived presidentiables, two stand out as having the busiest public relations teams — Senators Loren Legarda and Dick Gordon. Every word they utter, every move they make, is recorded by their peripatetic PR guys, and sent to the newspapers, TV and radio newsdesks as well as to email addresses. Many of the items come out, and if they are newsworthy, or border on controversy, on the front page, and on the magandang umaga shows. They can’t be faulted — the objects of public relations work and their writers — for in politics, frequent media exposure is highly coveted, targeting as they do, memory recall. So, now, I think everyone recognizes Loren and Dick. I understand Dick is coming out with a book on himself and his advocacies, and I wait with bated breath for the book written by a nationally-known writer.

So Loren is ahead by coming out with a coffee table book, her second, in fact. The first was launched a couple of years ago, and the second, last month, on the occasion of her 49th birthday. The contents of the second came as a pleasant surprise. It had no lengthy texts as the first book had, but rather, photographs of Loren in all kinds of poses and costumes, in different scenes (like amongst rocks and hills and dales, bridges, beneath trees, flowing streams, etc.) with many of the people not from high places, but mostly tribesmen and women, people planting seedlings, children and students laughing and adoring her. They are beautiful photographs, beneath each of which is a quotation from the senator.

The book, Loren, A Celebration of Life and Nation, is a work of love of the very accomplished Maria Rosa “Bing” Nieva Carrion-Buck, publisher also of Loren’s first book. Bing’s publishing house, Seagull Philippines, Inc., has put out 15 other books on different subjects. Incidentally, like Loren, Bing is one of Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (1987).

Bing says of the book as, “in essence, Loren’s personal conversation with the Filipino people, sharing her life’s works through the quotations contained within the 200 pages in full color. As readers peruse the book, they can feel Loren’s passion as a public servant and a humanitarian to serve the Filipino people and the global community, which is both remarkable and inspiring.”

Loren is worthy of the book and the admiration of legions. She is a survivor, surviving a failed marriage, surviving what she believes was not an honest vice-presidential election. But she holds her head high. And she remains dignified. She is not bitter. But she is a fighter on the Senate floor, fighting for good causes.

She is a holder of many titles and awards. As a broadcast journalist, she was awarded the Benigno Aquino Award for Journalism., as well as The Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award from the Philippine Jaycees, and the Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Award. When she left journalism to enter politics, she topped the Senate race twice, first in 1998 with 15 million votes, and in 2007, with over 18 million votes.

The articulate legislator brought the passage of significant laws including the Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Act. the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Philippine Ear Research Institute Act, the Philippine Tropical Fabric Law, the Anti-Child Labor Law, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the Eid’ul Fitr Holiday Law, and the Solid Waste Management Act. She authored laws on environmental protection, and has been a staunch advocate for the toxic wastes clean-up in the former US bases in Subic and Clark, and provided medical assistance to victims of toxic waste contamination.

In 1998, she founded Luntiang Pilipinas to promote public awareness of the environment, establishing, in 10 years, hundreds of forest parks with more than two million trees nationwide. Her plan is to plant 10 million trees by 2011.

For her crusade for the environment, Loren has received the Global Leaders for Tomorrow award by the World Economic Forum, and the United Nations Environmental Program in 2001 in Turin, Italy. In 2004, she became an awardee for the Environment by the Priyadarshni Academy in Mumbai, India.

She delivered privilege speeches in the Senate, entitled “CPR for Mother Earth” and “An Agenda for Climate Change Adaptation” as part of her information campaign on environmental protection. Her speeches have been converted into lectures are now being distributed to public schools nationwide. For these initiatives she was appointed as United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Asia Pacific.

She has created foundations to help improve the literacy levels in the country’s poorest provinces, provide medical assistance to indigent breast cancer victims, and provide capital for women entrepreneurs.

As a peace maker, she brings warring factions to negotiate peace talks, and played a crucial role in the safe and expeditious release of military and police officers held captive by rebel groups and fellow journalists held captive in Sulu. For her outstanding work for the cause of Muslims, she was bestowed the title of Bai a labi .

Loren as legislator is as captivating as her book of photographs.

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A special fund-raising concert will be held on Saturday, February 28, 8 p.m., in honor of Nolyn Cabahug, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave., Makati City. Nolyn is undergoing dialysis.

Artists have agreed to donate their time and talents by participating in the concert. These include Robert Sena, Issay Alvarez, Bimbo Cerrudo, George Yang, Jennifer Uy, Juan Alberto Gaerlan, Sherwin Sozon, Pinky Marquez, Harana, JM Rodriguez, Clarissa Ocampo, Rachelle Gerodias, Maritoni Rufino, Renato Lucas, Judge Jenny Aldecoa-Dolorino, Jay Barrameda, the UP Concert Chorus, and the Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert will be directed by Kokoy Jimenez.

Nolyn is the recipient of the Aliw Awards’ Best Classical Performer for 2005 and 2003; the Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Awardee for the Arts in 2002; Huwarang Pilipino Awardee for Arts and Culture/Entertainment, and “Opera Singer of the Year” award of the National Press Club among others.

Ticket prices are P5,000 and P1,000. For inquiries call Philippine Opera Company at 892-8786.

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