ATTY. FLORENCIO “BUTCH” ABAD
Atty. Florencio Abad is currently a member of the International Center for Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov), and a professor at the Ateneo School of Government’s Masters in Public Management Program. He obtained both his degrees in Business Management and Bachelor of Laws at the Ateneo de Manila University. He earned his masters in public administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University. Atty. Abad has been active in the NGO/Civil Society movement in the Philippines and has held various positions in government. He has served as a representative of the Province of Batanes for three terms and has been appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform in 1990 and Secretary of the Department of Education in 2004.
HENEDINA RAZON-ABAD
Henedina Razon-Abad, like her husband, is a member of the International Center for Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov). She has worked for various NGOs and civil groups in the country; advocating for rural development and agrarian reform. She became a Dean of the Ateneo School of Government before entering the political arena and serving as a representative of the Province of Batanes. She graduated cum laude at Maryknoll College with a degree in Economics and received her Masters in Public Administration at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. With her rich academic background and Ms. Abad is a valuable resource person in local governance, policy development, politics and bureaucracy
DR. NEREUS ACOSTA
Dr. Acosta is a professor at the Ateneo School of Government’s Maters in Public Management program and the current Secretary General of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD). A former representative of Bukidnon, Dr. Acosta was one of the youngest legislators to walk the halls of the House of Representatives. Dr. Acosta obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from UP Diliman, a Master’s Degree in International Political Studies from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Hawaii. Dr. Acosta specializes on ecological sustainability and education, population and health, human rights and democratization, good governance and social justice.
RAFAEL F. BARAAN
Mr. Rafael Baraan is the current Provincial Administrator of Pangasinan and has served the local government in various capacities. He served as a Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator of Pangasinan, City Administrator of Dagupan City and as Chief-of-Staff of Rep. Benjamin S. Lim. A former president of the National Association of Local e-Government Champions and the Liaison Officers’ Association of the League of Cities of the Philippines; Mr. Baraan also has a wealth of experience in policy and technical issues of local governance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Sto. Tomas and took up special courses in industrial projects, urban development and local economic promotion here and abroad. Mr. Baraan was also a key player in the campaign team of Gov. Aguedo E. Agbayani, and served as Campaign Manager for then aspiring Congressman, and later Dagupan City Mayor, Benjie S. Lim.
LUTGARDO “LUTZ” B. BARBO
Lutgardo “Lutz” Barbo is currently the president of the Philippine Normal University. He obtained his degree in Education from then Philippine Normal College, later renamed as Philippine Normal University, the same school he now heads. He also obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Santo Tomas and became an active human rights lawyer during the pre-martial law era. He was appointed OIC Vice-governor Eastern Samar by President Corazon Aquino and eventually became governor. A member of the Local Government Code Oversight Committee, he became intimately involved in the crafting of the Local Government Code of the Philippines (LGC).
DR. CLARITA R. CARLOS
Dr. Clarita Carlos is one of the most respected political analysts in the country. She is the current President of the Center for Asia Pacific Studies Inc., and a full-time professor at UP Diliman where she has won several awards for her excellence in teaching. She received her bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service and earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She then pursued post-doctoral degrees in Political Psychology at Cornell University and Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis at the University of California in Los Angeles. She specializes on Philippine government and politics, political dynamics, comparative government and politics, international relations and political theory and methodology.
MAYOR GLORIA “BABY” CRESPO-CONGCO
Ms. Gloria Congco is currently the Executive Director of Gawad Kalinga Builders Institute (GKBI). A former mayor of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Ms. Congco was well-loved by her constituents because of her programs in good governance and local development. Though Ms. Congco came from a political family, she did not immediately enter politics. After graduating from the College of the Holy Spirit, she worked for Filipinas bank, the UCPB and Asia Industry, Inc. She became a Sangguniang Bayan member in 1995 before becoming Chief Executive in 1998. In 2005, she was awarded the Natatanging Anak ng Nove Ecijano sa larangan ng Serbisyo Publiko on for her accomplishments as Mayor of Cabiao.
ATTY. LEILA DE LIMA
Atty. Leila de Lima made her mark as an election lawyer before being appointed as the Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights in 2008. She obtained a degree in A.B. History from De La Salle University and Bachelor of Laws from San Beda College. She placed eighth in the 1985 bar exam. Atty. de Lima became a founding and managing partner of the De Lima & Meñez Law Offices and a professor of law at the San Beda College of Law where she taught Election Laws, Business Organization, Persons and Family Relations, Transportation Laws and Statutory Construction.
DENNIS T. GONZALEZ, PhD
Dr. Dennis T. Gonzalez, is the chairman of National Book Development Board and a former Associate Dean of Ateneo School of Government and the Executive Education’s leading resource person when it comes to ethics and governance. Dr. Gonzalez finished his Bachelor of Science in Education at the Mater Dei College in Antipolo and completed his Licentiae in Sacred Theology (STL) and his doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Catholic University of Louvain (KUL) in Belgium, with highest honors. He has researched and written extensively on various topics including theological and church issues, democracy, popular culture, and political concerns. He has also conducted special lectures on local governance, ethics, education and theology and is currently teaching Public Sector Ethics at the ASG and Business Ethics at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
DR. ASER B. JAVIER
Dr. Aser B. Javier is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Development Management and Governance, College of Public Affairs at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Dr. Javier has worked as a consultant for various institutions involved in different projects which promote good governance and policy building. Dr. Javier obtained his undergraduate degree on Agriculture major in Extension Education and his master’s degree on Management major in Development Management at UP Los Baños. He also obtained a PhD on International Development Administration and Cooperation from the Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University, Japan. He has published articles that tackle various subjects in governance, health, policy building, rural development administration, and education.
DR. ANTONIO LA VIÑA
Dr. Antonio La Viña is the current Dean of the Ateneo School of Government and Senior Fellow on Climate Change of the Manila Observatory. He was the lead negotiator for the Philippines in the recently held Copenhagen Climate Change Conference and Preparatory Negotiation. A former Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Dr. La Viña is a leading proponent of community based natural resource management and the decentralization of natural resources governance. Dr. La Viña obtained his degree in Philosophy from the Ateneo de Manila University and his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. He ranked third in the Philippine National Bar Examinations in1989. He then earned his Masters of Law (LLM) and Doctorate in the Science of Law (JSD) from the Yale Law School. Dr. La Viña’s expertise includes climate change, biodiversity, biosafety policy, mining, indigenous peoples' rights, consensus building and negotiations, social accountability and public ethics.
MAYOR SONIA LORENZO
Hon. Sonia Lorenzo is currently serving her third term as mayor of San Isidro in Nueva Ecija. A reluctant candidate at first, Mayor Sonia was able to bring change in local governance and improve the lives of her constituents. Mayor Sonia has received several awards for her outstanding work including the Tanging Alay sa Tanging Anak ng Nueva Ecija Award, Certificate of Appreciation for Meritorious Contribution and for Exemplary Leadership, Award of Excellence for the Municipality of San Isidro, and the Presidential Award for Best Performing Local Government Units against Illegal Drugs. A firm believer of program-based governance and campaigning, Mayor Sonia now shares her experiences and knowledge as a local chief executive to other leaders who are aiming to bring change in their communities.
AURMA M. MANLANGIT
Ms. Aurma M. Manlangit is the current Director of the JVO Executive Education Program. Ms. Manlangit’s specialization is on local governance, policy research, project development and management. Ms. Manlangit obtained an undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and a Masters in Management from the University of the Philippines (UP). She also obtained a Project Planning and Management Diploma from the National Institute for Public Administration (INTAN) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and a Diploma Course in Human Resources and Development at Queensland University of Technology, Australia. She was formerly the Director of the Institute of Sustainable Local Development of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP). She has conducted various researches, capability-building and consulting services in the areas of project development, training and development, local governance, human resource management and development, monitoring and evaluation, and organizational development. She also teaches Modern Management course in the MPM program of the School.
DR. ANGELITA GREGORIO-MEDEL
Dr. Gregorio-Medel is the current Executive Director of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific (ANSA-EAP). Dr. Gregorio-Medel has direct experience in community based work/community organizing development management, capability building and consulting work and academic teaching. She specializes in enhancing empowerment-oriented thinking, processes, practices and approaches in the form of institutional, organizational, program and human resource or team development interventions. Dr. Gregorio-Medel finished her Master of Science in Psychology, Social Psychology (Community and Poverty) at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1986 and her Doctor of Sociology, Development Sociology at the University of Bielefeld, Federal Republic of Germany in 1992.
MA. YOLANDA V. ONG
Ma. Yolanda V. Ong is the current Group Chairperson of Campaigns and Grey and six affiliate companies. Having won several awards for her contribution in the advertising and PR industry, Ms. Ong is one of the leading resource persons when it comes t o media communications, public image-building and political campaign strategies. With her extensive experience in advertising and public relations, she has broad knowledge in image building and media campaigning for political candidates. Ms. Ong graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in AB Journalism and earned her degree in Masters in Public Administration (major in Leadership) from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in 2002.
DR. SEGUNDO JOAQUIN ECLAR ROMERO JR, PhD
Dr. Doy Romero currently works as a freelance technical consultant on various areas such as public development and management, performance and project management, local governance, civil society organizations, and productivity education and training. As such, he has rendered his expert services to a number of institutions including the Asia Productivity Organization, Asia Foundation, Ateneo de Manila University, German Technical Cooperation, Department of National Defense, and the Commission on Audit. Dr. Romero obtained his undergraduate, masteral and doctoral degrees in Political Science from the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Dr. Romero has authored numerous books and papers on public governance and development issues.
MA. LOURDES TIQUIA
Ma. Lourdes Tiquia is a noted political management expert in the Philippines and Asia. A lobbyist and a policy analyst, Malou Tiquia is the Founder and General Manager of the only registered lobbying and political management firm in the Philippines, PUBLICUS Co., Ltd. She is also an active member of the International Association of Political Consultants and has done political consulting in Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Kenya. The author of the book “Campaign Politics”, which combined science with the art of electoral politics, Ms. Tiquia handled several winning campaigns for senatorial, gubernatorial, and congressional candidates. Ms. Tiquia holds two master degrees, one in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines and the other in the Arts of Political management from the prestigious George Washington University.
