A beautiful woman named Risa

Just this morning, Central Philippine University Republic (CPUR) together with other Non-Government Organization (NGOs) like the Change Politics Movement sponsored a Citizen's Forum with National Candidates at the Rose Memorial Auditorium.


The guests were Rep. Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel and the other two (2) representatives of Sen. Mar Roxas and Gov. Grace Padaca. And guess what?!I had a chance to talk personally to them! T'was a big privilege for me.


The objective of the said forum was to "Baguhin ang Pulitika Tungo sa Pulitika ng Pagbabago."


Our very own JP Penol was there to interview Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel.


"Within the 5 minutes given to me before the program started, I discovered the elegant beauty of the soon-to-be Senator Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel. I mean, she is beautiful not only in her outside appearance, but beautiful in her words and deeds."


Before he started his interview with the lady solon, he introduced himself. he said,

"Good morning Madam Risa, nice to meet you in person. By the way, I am Jo Jan Paul Penol from The Central Echo, the Official Student Publication of CPU."

She replied back,

"Nice to meet persons like you Jo Jan. I bet you are an active youth leader and an advocate for change."

"By the time she uttered those words I felt such euphoria that motivated me to strive harder for what I am aiming in the future. And what do I aim? CHANGE.


Going back to our conversation, I asked her several questions concentrating on the state of the nation. She answered it very well, very brief and very concise," quipped Penol.


The questions asked? Well, wait for the next Central Echo issue will be published. Haha.


He ended the conversation exactly when the program started.

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Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel (born Ana Theresia Hontiveros), is a Filipino activist, journalist, and politician who is serving her second term as the party-list representative of the Akbayan Citizens' Action Party to the Philippines' House of Representatives since 2004. Having served as a journalist for ten years before venturing into politics, she is a recipient of the Kapisanan ng Mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas' Golden Dove Award for Best Female Newscaster. She also earned a Nobel peace prize nomination for her work as chair the Government Panel's Reciprocal Working Committee on Socio-Economic Reforms in the Peace Talks with the National Democratic Front from 1998 to 1999. She is the older sister of Journalist and Television Host Pia Hontiveros.
She has raised her profile in the UK, by making a formal complaint about a popular satirical British TV show Harry & Paul. This allegedly "racist" sketch depicts a wealthy southerner who keeps a poor lethargic northerner as a pet. This poor northerner is encouraged to mount the southerner's Filipina maid. Risa Hontiveros described the September episode of Harry & Paul as "revolting and disgusting". This is only one of a series of sketches during the show's run in which Harry is seen to treat Paul's character as a dog or other family pet as an example how class and the north/south divide devalues anyone of a lower social status, be they northern or ethnic domestic staff.

In Hontiveros-Baraquel's career as a politician and activist, she has been affiliated with a number of organizations and movements, including the following:

• Coalition for Peace (served as Secretary-General from 1988 to 1992)
• National Peace Conference (serving on its Governing Council since 1990).
• Government Panel for Peace Talks with the National Democratic Front (chairing the Panel's Reciprocal Working Committee on Socio-Economic Reforms from August 1998 to June 1999)
• Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas (Pandayan/Forge for a Socialist Philippines), a democratic socialist political organization (re-elected as Chairperson In August 2001)
• Pilipina, a socialist feminist organization
• Amnesty International Pilipinas (member of the Board of Directors)
• Institute for Politics and Governance
• Akbayan-Citizens Action Party (Executive Committee member)

Hontiveros-Baraquel currently serves as a member for the House Minority of the following Committees of the 14th Congress:

• Appropriations
• Ethics and Privileges
• Foreign Affairs
• Good Government and Public Accountability
• Health
• Higher and Technical Education
• Human Rights
• Natural Resources
• Peace, Reconciliation and Unity
• People Participation
• Rules
• Trade and Industry
• Women and Gender Equality
 

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