Friday, January 18, 2008 Group set to hold peace rally By Ian Ocampo Flora
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Kampampangan Coalition Inc. (KCI) is all set for its prayer rally on Friday, expecting a thousand participants from its member organizations.
This was announced by KCI during the press briefing held at the Herbs and Greens at Barangay Baliti here last Thursday.
The KCI is an organization of 54 organizations advocating the realization of the vision of making Pampanga a model province of "Transparency, Good Governance, and Accountable and Responsible Citizenship."
"Are we a political group? I say we are," said KCI executive director Rosemarie Herera.
"We are a political group but non-partisan. The KCI was incorporated not for one man alone," Elmer Beltran of Abak Na Balen added.
"We have invited the vice governor and the Pampanga Mayors League (PML) president to join us in a two part program of prayer and reflection. We will not end with this rally. We are going to engage province in concrete plans of action for the development of Pampanga," Herera added.
The rally, dubbed "Pampanga Ing Siwala at Bie! A Prayer Rally for Peace and Unity" is slated at the Capitol grounds from 4 to 8 p.m.
Herrera said the rally aims to clear pressing issues that affect provincial governance, chief of which are "the apparent standoff between the elected provincial and municipal officials represented by the Office of the Governor and the Provincial Board (PB) and province's growth and development are being lost."
The coalition maintains that issues over provincial governance should be tackled in the proper forum rather than leaving the issues un-answered. "We appeal to all stake holders to exert more efforts at unity rather than crafting rifts. Let us bring back the glory of Pampanga," the press statement said.
The rally that runs with the theme "Kapampangans: Called and sent to
Mission for Healing and Radical Change in Governance" is expected to bring together civic, religious and cause oriented groups.
"This is a first in Pampanga since it is rare to see all civil society and religious denominations would gather for one cause," Pastor Joy Pongco, Vision Keeper of the Pampanga Christian Ministries Council said, adding that the inspiration of good governance invites people to gather for a good cause.
Meanwhile, the Advocacy Development for Central Luzon (ADCL) stressed that the KCI is not a political machinery of Governor Eddie Panlilio.
"Let us put things in proper perspective, KCI is not political machinery for Among ED and I hope it will never be," Minerva Arceo of the ADCL said during the press briefing.
"If KCI would be used as political machinery then those believing in the KCI advocacy would pull out and KCI would collapse," Arceo said, adding that organizations may have their individual beliefs. Arceo cited the case of ADCL were it had spearheaded pioneer development projects in Pampanga like the first Pampanga Bamboo Council were mayors, Vice Governor Yeng Guiao and a representative of the governor sat for a signing of an agreement in support the project.
"It was good to see officials who sat down to pursue a good project for Pampanga. Let us widen our perspective and be part of the solution," Arceo added.
ADCL is set to join the prayer rally on Friday at the Capitol Grounds organized by KCI calling for the resolution of different issues plaguing provincial governance.
"ADCL will not be a part of KCI if it is political machinery for Among Ed," Arceo assured.
Others who attended the press briefing were Tess Guanzon of Arti.Santa Rita and Kapampangan Marangal, Jannet Malyari, Secreatary of KCI., Art Tuazon of the Pampanga Anti-Gambling Council (PAGCI) and Erwin Nucum of Kapampangan Marangal and Kayaptas.
