abs-cbnNEWS.com | 12/06/2009 11:21 AM

MANILA – Nacionalista Party senatorial bet Adel Tamano has branded as an “outrage” President Arroyo’s decision to put the province of Maguindanao under martial law.

Tamano, who is a Muslim himself, said that steps on solving the Maguindanao massacre should have been done within legalities.

“While all Filipinos, Mindanaoans especially, want swift justice against the monsters who committed the massacre, it must be done within the bounds of law,” Tamano said in a statement.

He added that although the incident in Maguindanao will need speedy resolution, the current situation does not warrant the need for a martial rule.

“The lack of actual - not merely possible or imminent - rebellion shows the illegality of the declaration,” he said.

“The Maguindanao massacre was an outrage but you do not solve it by committing an outrage on the rights of Mindanaoans, specifically those of Muslim Mindanao, by declaring unconstitutional martial law,” he added.

Tamano said Mindanao has suffered much when the whole country was placed under martial law in the ‘70s. Now that the same rule has been applied to Maguindanao, he said the people of the province will suffer the same fate.

"Majority of Maguindanaons who were the victims themselves of the warlords - who were created by this administration - will now have to suffer the yoke of martial law."

President Arroyo imposed martial law on Maguindanao late on Friday in an effort to rein in the Ampatuan family, a clan that until the massacre had ruled the province with the backing of the ruling coalition.

Clan members are accused of being behind the massacre of a rival politician's relatives, as well as journalists and other civilians.

One clan member, Andal Ampatuan Jr, was detained shortly after the killings and charged with 25 counts of murder.

Police allege he and 100 members of an Ampatuan militia shot dead the occupants of a convoy that included female relatives of his rival for the post of governor in next year's elections, as well as a group of journalists.

Andal Ampatuan Sr, the clan patriarch, has been governor of Maguindanao since 2001, and like other members of his family had a private army that the government alleges was involved in the rebellion.

Ampatuan Sr was among 5 clan members detained on Saturday after martial law was declared.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said the Ampatuans will be charged with rebellion.

She said the rebellion charges would be on top of murder cases being prepared against them over the November 23 massacre.

A total of 32 people were taken into custody during Saturday's raids, including 20 militiamen who were found in a warehouse belonging to Ampatuan Jr that contained 340,000 rounds of ammunition for M16 assault rifles. -With a report from Agence France-Presse
as of 12/06/2009 6:49 PM

(The Philippine Star)

(The Philippine Star)

Any day now, Adel Tamano will be smiling down larger-than-life at motorists along EDSA from huge billboards of The Belo Medical Clinic as endorser for the facial treatments. It was Adel himself who thought of the blurb: Smart is the new sexy.

Very true. At the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila where he’s the president (the youngest to hold that position), the bedimpled Adel (ramrod straight at 5’9") never fails to make heads turn with his movie-starish looks. Had he passed a singing audition for Boy Abunda years ago, why not, he could have been a singing-lawyer (he’s the first Filipino Muslim to graduate from Harvard Law School where he was a scholar while taking up an M.A. in Islamic Legal Studies).

Said Dr. Vicki Belo who hired Adel as her lawyer before he became an endorser, “He’s the perfect model because he is flawless. He has smooth skin.”

Together with Vicki, Adel met the movie press a few days ago. He came a bit late because he had to fix the travel permit of Vicki who was leaving the next day for a speaking engagement in the US. Besides, said Adel, he also had to finalize PLM’s medical mission for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy around the Intramuros area. He was in a green shirt, matching Vicki’s green outfit.

Asked why, Adel joked, “Because we are both green-minded.”

Vicki rode on. “We think alike.”

Even if he graduated from Ateneo (Blue Eagles), Adel said that green (the color of La Salle’s Archers) is “my color.” Another color that means so much to him is orange which is the motif of the Nacionalista Party (led by Sen. Manny Villar) of which Adel is one of the dashing spokesmen informally known as “Villar’s Honor Guards.”

He let the movie press in on a “secret.”

“A feng shui expert told me that ‘orange’ can easily beat ‘yellow’ because it has a little bit of ‘green’.”

So green it is.

Did Adel try any other treatment aside from the facials, maybe something, hmmm, below the neck?

“I don’t think he needs one,” said Vicki, still joking.

“If I had the body of Piolo Pascual,” said Adel deadpan, “I would have done a more daring pose.”

Does being well-rounded and well-educated make a man even more sexy?

“With the advances in the medical industry,” added Adel, seriously now, “no one has to be unattractive anymore; everyone can be beautiful. So since everyone can be beautiful, what’s your edge in making yourself more attractive? It has to come from inside; hindi puedeng maganda ka lang tingnan. It could be intelligence, character and integrity. You have to be beautiful inside. The Belo Medical Clinic has made beauty available to everyone. When you go to the clinic, it’s because you want to manifest what’s beautiful inside.”

Well said. Smart is, indeed, the new sexy.

Turning 39 today, Adel is married to lawyer Rowena Kapunan. “My one and only wife,” he said in answer to a comment that, being a Muslim, he’s entitled to four. “No such plan,” he joked.

Doesn’t he need, say, a lipo?

“If I watch my diet and continue to exercise, perhaps I won’t need a lipo...yet. But if I come to a point where I need one, why not?”

And what does he find sexy in a woman? Is it the face, the boobs, the butt or something else? What turns him on?

“Sexy is beyond the physical. It has to come from within. She has to be, yes, smart. May mga babaing ang ganda-ganda physically pero hindi masyadong gaano ang dating. Then, there are some some girls na hindi naman masyadong maganda and yet malakas ang dating. They have the so-called ‘X factor.’ I’ve been around the world and I can say that the most beautiful women are found in the Philippines.”

From Harvard to the Philippine Senate
FROM THE STANDS By Domini M. Torrevillas (The Philippine Star)

There is a saying in Islam that the “ink of a scholar is holier than the blood of a martyr.” At least one of its sons has taken this proverb to heart, and has made academic excellence among his principal advocacies — apart from exemplifying it in his own life.

The first thing that strikes you upon meeting Attorney Adel Fadel Abbas Tamano is how down-to-earth and approachable he is. Indeed, when a group of people came to our table at a dinner in a restaurant to greet him and extend their support for ‘Attorney Tamano,” he shook their hands one by one, clapped them on the shoulders, and politely replied, “Please call me Adel po”. Right then, it was obvious that this line was born out of genuine sincerity rather than months of practice.

So then, if Adel Tamano conveys an air of being just a regular, ordinary guy, what makes him so outstanding? It is precisely because he is anything but regular and ordinary, yet still remains firmly grounded. His credentials could turn almost anyone into an intellectual snob: the first Filipino Muslim who earned a Harvard scholarship to study at the premier law school, the youngest (and consequently most dynamic) university president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), and president of the Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ACLU). Armed with an economics degree from Ateneo, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of the Philippines, his juris doctor from Ateneo, and a master’s in law from Harvard, Adel nonetheless believes that the most impressive qualifications are meaningless unless they are used to benefit others.

True to form, he has taught subjects ranging from economics to human resource development and constitutional law. “It’s quite over-used, but it all goes back to ‘giving a man a fish’ versus ‘teaching a man how to fish.’ The problems facing our society — particularly our youth — are deeply-rooted and multi-faceted, yet education still remains the starting point in finding solutions to these challenges,” Adel told an admiring group of academics.

This talented lawyer and public servant has caught the attention of the public, from his highly successful efforts to transform the PLM into a world-class center for learning, to his high profile clients such as Ruby Rose Jimenez and Dr. Victoria Belo. “So many people have said that the work we have done in PLM is nothing short of amazing. Others have even called it a miracle,” Adel said in reference to the university’s dramatic improvement in modernization, efficiency, and facilities. “There’s an important lesson to be learned here, however. If available funds are used solely for their intended purposes, and administered by a team that is bound by transparency, integrity, and accountability, then even the most difficult task becomes easier,” he explained.

I learned later on that as university president, Adel oversees an annual fund of P300 million for the benefit of nearly 12,000 scholars, staff and faculty. “It all begins with the official budget. The entire amount — and I mean to the very last centavo, in black and white — has to be used for the university, its scholars, and its staff. By doing that consistently, you send a strong message to civic-minded business leaders and organizations: ‘This guy heading the PLM is not on the take. He’s clean. If we support PLM advocacies or make donations, we are assured that 100 percent goes where we want it to go, and not to his pocket.’ That’s how the synergy of the public and private sectors should work,” Adel further emphasized.

On the other hand, most people remember Adel as the be-dimpled and unflappable spokesperson of the United Opposition during the 2007 senatorial elections. Several analysts actually pointed to him as one of the key reasons why the opposition won overwhelmingly in the Senate that year. Indeed, his witty repartee, confident poise, and logical arguments were in stark contrast to the appalling circus antics of his counterpart.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Adel has once again been tapped as a spokesperson, this time for the Nacionalista Party. Likewise, he has been very vocal about his passion to serve the public in a greater capacity as a member of the Senate. Someone asked him what he thought about his chances of winning, and his reply was as candid as it was disarming: “I submit myself to the Filipino people — no pretensions, no agenda — what you see is what you get. It’s entirely up to them to decide. But it sure would be nice to have a Muslim back in the Senate.” As you probably remember, Adel’s father, the late Mamintal Tamano, was a senator.

It sure would be nice to have an honest, intelligent, and upright non-trapo in the Senate.

Source: www.philstar.com

By Adel A. Tamano
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:05:00 08/16/2009

by Atty. Adel A. Tamano, A.B., J.D., MPA, LL.M

(Keynote Speech for Testimonial of New Lawyers of the University of Northern Luzon, July 25, 2009, City of Vigan)

By: Fel Maragay

The camp of former President Joseph Estrada and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay lost a credible and skillful spokesman and a very promising politician when lawyer Adel Tamano quit and moved over to the Nacionalista Party led by Senator Manuel Villar.

The resignation of Tamano was quite painful to both sides because he was an invaluable asset of the United Opposition (composed of Estrada’s Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino and Binay’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan). As spokesman, Tamano used his legal and communication expertise and lent the prestige of his name in articulating the views of the opposition on diverse issues, particularly in criticizing administration policies and decisions.

The departure of Tamano is a big blow especially to Estrada, as it occurred at a time when his plan to join the 2010 presidential race and recapture power is moving into high gear. The former president was caught off guard by Tamano’s sudden resignation. He reacted with disbelief when the latter came to him to bid goodbye. Estrada did not expect the move; only a few weeks before, he had included Tamano in the initial list of his senatorial line-up for the 2010 elections. It was a recognition, a reward to the rising political star from Muslim Mindanao for what he has done for the political opposition.

Interviewed by newsmen at the Kapihan sa Sulo in Quezon City over the weekend, Tamano gave two reasons why he decided to jump over to the NP. First is the sentimental reason—his father, the late Senator Mamintal Tamano, was a pillar of the NP during its heyday. The second is his belief that Manny Villar, who rose from poverty to fortune through enterprise and hard work, could provide the kind of leadership that the country needs.

But I think there is a bigger reason why he broke away from Estrada. Tamano’s fateful decision came shortly after Fr. Joaquin Bernas, eminent constitutionalist and delegate to the 1986 Constitutional Commission, explained in his newspaper column the grounds why Estrada is no longer eligible to run for reelection as president. Bernas, former dean at the Ateneo University College of Law, reproduced in his column the portions of the Con-Com proceedings where the prohibition on the re-election of an incumbent and past president of the republic were lengthily discussed. As an Ateneo law graduate, Tamano could not have overlooked and just brushed aside the Bernas’ treatise. It might have in fact influenced him into casting doubts on the viability of Estrada’s attempt at a second presidential bout.

Let us assume that in November, Estrada files his certificate of candidacy for president. If the Comelec decides to disqualify him and this is sustained by the Supreme Court, you could imagine how it could throw the Estrada team including his senatorial bets into a state of disarray and uncertainty. Perhaps, this is the nightmarish scenario that this aspiring Maranao politician dreads most. And this is a gambit that he would take pains to avoid in his first attempt to seek public office.

Now coffee shops are abuzz with talk that Villar dangled an offer to Tamano that was too tempting to refuse. This was what media men heard straight from a campaign strategist and propagandist of Mr. Estrada after the media forum with Tamano at Sulo Hotel.

At any rate, we wish the Harvard-educated Tamano the best of luck in his foray into politics. Seldom does a person with admirable credentials and leadership potentials emerge to represent the Muslim community in the national legislature. It would be a pity if the opportunities that are coming his way to fulfill his dream and destiny would just be wasted.

***

With Tamano gone from the Estrada camp, former Senate President and Ambassador Ernesto Maceda has stepped into the shoes of spokesman of the UNO. The loss of Tamano must be so heart-breaking for Estrada and company that they seem to have intentionally refrained from commenting on it. No doubt, the loss has a lot of negative implications; the less they talk about it, the better for them. In the midst of Tamano affair, one thing that must have comforted Estrada was that Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is back to his fold. Remember Enrile allied himself with the Arroyo administration after power changed hands in Malacañang. Now, Enrile has become a mainstay in Estrada’s provincial sorties dubbed “Lakbay Pasasalamat” (Journey of Gratitude) which he launched shortly after being granted executive clemency and freed from detention following his conviction for plunder by the court. The public was surprised when the 85-year-old Enrile a few months ago announced that he was running for re-election under Estrada’s Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino. The announcement was naturally a big letdown to Malacañang because it had been hoping that Enrile would join the administration’s senatorial ticket. But Enrile said that while he adopted a policy of collaboration with the administration, he has never left the PMP that he used to head as party president. Of course, this was quite confusing. Many believe that Enrile, like Senator Miriam Santiago, had burned his bridges with the opposition after he allied himself with President Arroyo. In fact, when Enrile was catapulted to the Senate presidency during the leadership coup on Nov. 17, 2008, was it not hailed as a victory for the administration? But since Enrile is claiming that there has not been an interruption in his membership in the PMP, it can be interpreted to mean he has never left the opposition. It sounds like a case of one cruising on two rivers. And since the next elections are drawing near, one cannot help but see Enrile as somebody enjoying the best of both worlds. This illustrates once more the state of confusion in our flawed political system where the distinction between administration and opposition has been blurred or erased. It reflects the convoluted political alignment if the Senate where both the majority and the minority blocs are made up of administration and opposition members.

By Perseus Echeminada

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer Adel Tamano announced yesterday that he will give up his legal services for controversial cosmetic surgeon Vicki Belo and will also resign from his post as president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila to concentrate on his position as spokesman of the Nacionalista Party of Sen. Manuel Villar.

“I cannot be the spokesman of Sen. Villar and Dr. Belo at the same time. I am relinquishing my legal services soon,” Tamano told reporters during the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.

“I have to disengage my services so I can devote all my time as spokesman of the Nacionalista Party,” he said.

He admitted that being a lawyer for Belo, who has been implicated in a controversial sex video case involving her former boyfriend Dr. Hayden Kho, is not an easy job.

Tamano said as a lawyer, he accepted the offer to become the legal counsel of Belo because he is convinced that she is innocent of the charges hurled against her and Kho.

He said before the sex video scandal broke out, he was already the lawyer of Belo and handling the cases pending before the Department of Justice is part of his job.

Tamano, former spokesman of the United Opposition, said his job as Belo’s legal counsel will only be confined to the preliminary stages of the sex video case and since it is expected to drag beyond the 2010 elections, he has no choice but to end his services.

As of Friday, a US-based web-hosting site has urged the National Bureau of Investigation to secure a US court order to allow the firm to reveal who uploaded the sex videos of Kho and actress Katrina Halili on the Internet.

The NBI’s Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division said the request for a system log to identify the culprit would delay their investigation of the case.

Tamano, however, did not say when he would be relinquishing his legal services for Belo but he is certain that he will be resigning as president of PLM when the filing of certificates of candidacy for national and local candidates begins in November.

Discover the man behind that cute face.. visit http://www.adeltamano.ph.
Learn about his background and advocacies.
Be part of his journey on finding peace in Mindanao.

Pasado sa senatorial line up ng Nacionalista Party si Atty. Adel Tamano.

Kinumpirma ni N-P spokesman Gilbert Remulla na taglay ni Tamano ang mga katangian na hinahanap nila sa mga isasabak ng partido sa pagka-senador.

Nanindigan din si Remulla na bukas (open) sila sa iba pang political parties na nais makipag-alyansa sa Nacionalista Party.

Read from: http://www.rmn.ph/national/atty-adel-tamano-pasok-na-sa-nacionalist-party-senatorial-line-up

By Jerry Tundag

Even before he officially joined politics, Adel Tamano already enjoyed what many politicians would give an arm for — facial recognition and name recall. The young lawyer not only has an actor’s good looks, he is also an excellent communicator.

Despite being a son of former senator Mamintal Tamano, Adel did not jump headlong into politics by vying for an elective position himself. Instead he immersed himself in politics by lending his appealing presence to the company of older politicians.

Now, I don’t know if there was something deliberate in the manner in which he chose the company he kept. But by introducing himself to the national consciousness in the company of the likes of Joseph Estrada and Jejomar Binay, it was clear he enjoyed the benefit of comparison.

Compared to Estrada and Binay, Adel offered television audiences a refreshing contrast to almost everything that the two veteran politicians offered and presented. He was young as opposed to old, good-looking as opposed to ... well..., and articulate as opposed to mumbling.

In a country with an electorate that is increasingly getting younger — half the population being below 25 years of age — and an inexplicable preference for appearance rather than substance — Adel would be certainly be a prized catch in any ticket for election.

So I am sure Estrada, who continues to foolishly dream of regaining the presidency, and Binay, who thinks Filipinos will foolishly mistake the Philippines for Makati, must have been emboldened in no small measure in their folly by assuming Adel was an ace up their sleeve.

But apparently Adel is not all appearance. The inkling we had of his substance from the manner in which he talks, he recently validated by making a choice that must have stunned and stunk Estrada and Binay but which entrenched his own self as a man who knows his destiny.

Adel broke his ties with the United Opposition of Binay and the Partido ng Masang Pilipino of Estrada and joined the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manny Villar, also a contender for the 2010 presidential election.

The move of Adel is clearly to pave the way for what many perceive to be his first real foray into politics — a run for the Senate. It is a move that strengthens both his position, as well as that of Villar.

Villar, who is the subject of a widely-perceived trumped-up ethics complaint in a Senate dominated by colleagues who are also his rivals for the presidency, could not have been any happier by the development.

Having wisely refused to engage his rivals in a frontal confrontation but instead meeting them head-on in press conferences which he can at least control, it seems that it is Villar who has benefitted largely from recent political developments.

A few days before Adel linked up with the Nacionalista Party, Villar also welcomed several local government officials who have defected from the administration, further entrenching himself as the leading opposition contender for the presidency.

While I do not give much credence to surveys, there are indeed surveys that say Villar is the preferred presidential candidate. Maybe the lengthening line of officials crossing over to his fold is a good indicator of his chances in 2010.

But I think it is the acquisition of Adel that pleases Villar the most at this point. A fresh personality is always a welcome change in any environment. And for political purposes, he proves to be a coup for Villar, who instead of being weakened appears to be gaining.

Read more: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=475559&publicationSubCategoryId=109

Updated June 06, 2009 12:00 AM
(by Rudy Andal)

MANILA, Philippines - Nagtampo si dating United Opposition (UNO) spokesman Adel Tamano sa naging pahayag ni da­ting Pangulong Estra­da na hindi siya kawalan sa ha­ nay ng oposisyon dahil isa lamang siyang ‘spokesman’.

Sinabi ni Atty. Tamano, kasalukuyang pangulo ng Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) at dating spokesman ng UNO, igina­ galang niya ang naging opinion ni dating Pangulong Erap dahil sa pag-alis niya sa UNO.

Nanumpa kamakailan si Tamano bilang miyembro ng Nacionalista Party (NP) ni Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

“Medyo masakit marinig na parang balewala ang ginawa ko bilang spokesman ng UNO pero nireres­peto ko ang opinion ni dating Pangulong Erap. Now that I am with the NP, I hope they will appreciate whatever contribution I can make to the party,” paliwa­nag pa ni Tamano.

Naunang sinabi ni Erap na hindi kawalan si Tamano sa oposisyon dahil hindi naman ito opisyal ng UNO tulad nina Sen. Ernesto Ma­ ceda at Makati Mayor Jejo­mar Binay bagkus ay isang ‘spokesman’ lamang ito.

Read from http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=474832&publicationSubCategoryId=92

-- Rommel C. Lontayao, Cris G. Odronia And Francis Earl A. Cueto

Adel Tamano on Thursday resigned as spokesman of the United Opposition (UNO) and joined the Nacionalista Party of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., one of the leading aspirants for president in the 2010 elections.

Tamano earlier confirmed that he would run for the Senate also in 2010, but in statement released by Villar on Thursday, the former opposition spokesman said, “I’m not entering Nacionalista Party with the expectation that I will be one of its senatorial candidates. If they believe that I have what it takes to be a good candidate, I will let them choose.”

He explained, “My family has deep roots in the Nacionalista Party and part of what I am doing is to honor my late father and continue his work as a Nacionalista.”

Tamano is the eighth son of the late Sen. Mamintal Tamano and civic leader Hadja Putri Zorayda Abbas Tamano. He is also president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) and the longtime lawyer of the controversial Dr. Vicky Belo, whose lover, Dr. Hayden Kho, is embroiled in a sex-video scandal.

Tamano, who hails from Lanao del Sur, was accompanied by his wife, lawyer Rowena Kapunan, and her parents, former Supreme Court Justice Santiago Kapunan and Angie.

The erstwhile UNO spokesman earned his economics and law degrees from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1992 and 1996, respectively. Then he took up Masters in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines, and later became the first Filipino Muslim to graduate from the Harvard Law School.

Villar for president

“I can speak for myself as Adel Tamano now. I am no longer a spokesman for somebody,” said the 38-year-old lawyer, who now backs Villar’s presidential bid.

He added that Villar has a big chance in being elected as the country’s next leader next year.

“Our biggest problem in the country is poverty, and it will take someone who has really experienced poverty to redeem us out of it. That is why I choose him,” Tamano said in the statement released by Villar’s camp.

The Nacionalista Party, founded in 1907, has produced six presidents—Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, Ramon Magsaysay, Jose Laurel, Carlos Garcia and Ferdinand Marcos.

Opposition’s reactions

Tamano also said he had informed the opposition leaders – former President Joseph Estrada and UNO President and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay—of his decision to resign and join Villar’s party. And they reportedly accepted Tamano’s resignation.

Binay congratulated Tamano also on Thursday, saying their parting was cordial. “I just wish him all the luck in his political plans.”

He added that former Sen. Ernesto Maceda would be UNO’s new spokesman.

Mayor JV Ejercito of San Juan City (Metro Manila) also wished Tamano good luck but gave him a parting shot. “Sana lang napunta siya sa tunay na oposisyon at hindi sa mga nagpapanggap lamang [I wish he had joined the real opposition party, not the one that is just pretending to be one].”

Ejercito is also a director of the United Opposition and son of Estrada, who has repeatedly said he would again run for president if the opposition fails to unite behind a single candidate.

Event at Laurel house

Also sworn in with Tamano was businessman Arsenic Laurel of the illustrious Laurel clan. He will run for representative of the Third District of Batangas, a statement said.

The event took place at the Nacionalista headquarters, the historic Laurel House on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

By Allison Lopez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 11:35:00 06/05/2009

Filed Under: Politics, Elections, Eleksyon 2010

MANILA, Philippines—United Opposition (UNO) spokesperson Adel Tamano resigned the post Thursday when he joined the Nacionalista Party headed by Sen. Manuel Villar.

Tamano at the same time admitted he was interested in running for a Senate seat in 2010 under the party that counts his late senator-father, Mamintal Tamano, among its more illustrious members.

“My family has deep roots in the Nacionalista Party and part of what I am doing is to honor my late father and continue his work as a Nacionalista,” Tamano said.

He said there had been no falling out between himself and UNO stalwarts, former President Joseph Estrada and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.

“I joined the NP for two things—because my father, Sen. Mamintal Tamano, was a true-blue Nacionalista, and because it had become very difficult for me to speak on behalf of the opposition. In 2007, it was easy when it was still the Genuine Opposition, but now it had become very difficult for me,” he said in a phone interview.

Tamano was immediately replaced as UNO spokesperson by former Sen. Ernesto Maceda. UNO is composed of Estrada’s Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino and Binay’s PDP-Laban parties.

Tamano, who took his oath Thursday in front of NP president Sen. Manuel Villar, said he was “very nervous” when he went to see Estrada two weeks ago to tell him of his plans. But the opposition leader turned out to be kind and understanding.

“We talked for three hours. He told me that if that was what I had to do, he was not the type to stop me na gawin kung ano raw yung nakakabuti sa akin. Ganun kabait si Presidente (from doing what was right for me. That’s how nice the President is),” he said, adding that he also met with Binay, who gave him some advice.

In a statement, Binay said: “Adel Tamano has the right to join any organization. I just wish him all the luck in his political plans.”

The NP, Tamano said, was the “best fit” for him because its members, who include Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla, were his good friends, and he believes that Villar, a former Senate president, is the best bet to lead the country in 2010.

Villar is the declared NP standard-bearer in 2010.

“Of all the people who are ‘presidentiables,’ I feel that Manny Villar is the one I want to become president. He is a success story. It would take someone who has overcome it to help find answers to solving poverty in the Philippines,” he said.

Tamano, the first Muslim Filipino to obtain a masters of law degree with a scholarship to Harvard University, said he would resign from the presidency of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, a job he concurrently holds, before the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy in November.

Aside from Tamano, Villar swore in Arsenic Laurel as a member of the NP in rites held at the historic Laurel House on Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City that Villar had bought from the family early this year.

Laurel, a member of the well-known political clan, will run for representative of the third district of Batangas.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090605-208958/Tamano-quits-UNO-moves-over-to-NP

CON. This word perfectly describes the actions of Team-GMA Congressmen who approved House Resolution 1109 at 11:20 P.M. last night. Let’s not get too mired in the legalese and the parliamentary maneuverings; essentially, the aim of Team-GMA congressmen in approving Resolution 1109 is to take the Senate out of the equation in changing the Philippine Constitution, which is absurd because even renaming a road would require the participation of the Senate. Team-GMA knows that they can never get the ¾ vote from the Senate to be able to change the Constitution, via a Constituent Assembly, because Team-GMA does not control the Senate like it does the Congress.

So why is it a mere con? Well because, as in any con or scam, the object is to deceive and divert attention in order to get the real prize: HOLDING ON TO POWER BEYOND 2010. Team-GMA understands that there is not enough time to amend the Constitution with elections happening in less than a year. So the object is NOT to alter the Constitution before 2010 but rather to LAY DOWN THE BASIS for amending the Constitution AFTER the 2010 elections. All Team-GMA needs now is for someone – maybe one of its minions or some well-intentioned individual who wants to stop the Congressional Cha-Cha train – to go to the Supreme Court and get a favorable ruling that says that Resolution 1109 is valid and that the Senate does not have to participate as long as ¾ths of the Congress vote to constitute itself into a constituent assembly.

See, Team-GMA has pretty much given up on winning the national seats, President, Vice-President, and Senators, but they still have a good chance in winning the local congressional seats. So they are willing to lose – what the layman might think are the more important positions such as President, Vice-President, etc. – as long as they have enough Congressmen to amend the Constitution.

So in July 2010, we will have a different President, perhaps an opposition President and new Senators. However, since Team-GMA still controls Congress, then all Team-GMA has to do is to have Congress constitute itself into a Constituent Assembly and propose changing our system of government from Presidential to Parliamentary. Now if the people approve this revision in a plebiscite, maybe a rigged one, then it is Team-GMA back at the helm. So while all of us are so focused on the 2010 elections, Team-GMA is looking beyond that.

Maybe you can dismiss all of this as conspiracy theory or an over-active imagination but nearly four decades ago Filipinos were caught off-guard when Martial Law was declared and the 1973 Constitution was approved in so-called “people’s assemblies,” which laid the groundwork for Marcos’ twenty-year rule. So I’d much rather be overcautious than be caught off guard. Eternal vigilance is indeed the price of democracy, particularly when dealing with Team-GMA.

UNO spokesman quits, joins Villar party
By Thea Alberto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:44:00 06/04/2009

Filed Under: Eleksyon 2010, Elections, Politics

MANILA, Philippines – The spokesman of the United Opposition (UNO) has bolted the coalition and joined the Nacionalista Party (NP) as he threw his support for NP President Manuel Villar’s presidential bid in 2010.

Lawyer Adel Tamano, who intends to run for Senator in 2010, took his oath before Villar on Thursday.

“My father, the late Senator Tamano is a founder of Nacionalista Party. To honor his memory I joined the party” said Tamano.

“I think Manny Villar is the man to beat… the biggest reason is this man was able to rise from poverty, the country's biggest problem. And it will take someone who has experience and who can find solutions for poverty,” he added.

Villar said Tamano would be a great asset to the NP. He said the NP was open to other candidates who wanted to join the party.

He said many mayors joined the NP last month.

Tamano said former president Joseph Estrada and UNO president Jejomar Binay accepted his decision to transfer to Villar’s party.

“Nagpaalam ako ng maayos kay Erap [I bade Estrada goodbye] and we talked for three hours. He respected my decision,” he said.

“Now I can speak as Adel Tamano and not just a spokesman” he added.

Earlier in the day, Binay said he was saddened by Tamano's decision.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090604-208803/UNO-spokesman-quits-joins-Villar-party

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MARAMAG, BUKIDNON - Radyo Natin Maramag, a radio station based in the Municipality of Maramag, Bukidnon, recently interviewed current Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila President and United Opposition spokesperson Atty. Adel Tamano.

Tamano is widely recognized in Mindanao as a strong contender for a senatorial seat in next year’s elections.

During the live phone-patch interview aired via Radyo Natin Maramag, Tamano shared his views with regard to the hostage taking of the ICRC volunteers.

“Very fluent siya. Apart from his good looks and intelligence, I think naa gyud siya’y chance nga makakuha ug daghang votes from Bukidnon. That is, if he’ll gun for a senatorial seat next year,” commented a radio listener.

Tamano, the eighth son of the late Senator Mamintal Tamano and civic leader Hadja Putri Zorayda Abbas Tamano, was the spokesperson for the United Opposition in the 2007 national elections.

The young lawyer is also known as the first ever Filipino Muslim to graduate from Harvard Law School.

http://www.bukidnononline.com/2009/04/08/maramag-radio-station-interviews-adel-tamano/

Tamano dares ‘presidentiables’ to reveal Mindanao peace agenda

Posted on 25 March 2009

Tamano denounces Abu Sayyaf kidnappings By : Julmunir I. Jannaral, Correspondent Manila Times27 February 2009 12:10 AM
COTABATO CITY: A known stalwart of the political opposition and a Muslim leader on Wednesday broke his silence to denounce even his fellow Muslims engaged in criminal acts like what the Abu Sayyaf is doing in kidnapping even innocent people engaged in humanitarian work like the three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who remains in captivity since January 15.
Lawyer Adel Tamano, spokesman of the United Opposition and a new breed of Muslim leader these days, said kidnapping innocent people like the members of the ICRC is un-Islamic and should be condemned in its strongest sense.
“This is a great disservice to our religion of Islam,” Tamano said.
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Tamano told The Manila Times that “enough is enough” for Abu Sayyaf and all these kidnappings should stop once and for all as it has dragged the names of peace-loving Muslim Filipinos. He also sent a message to the Abu Sayyaf that if they are fighting in the name of Islam and for the sake of Bangsamoro people, they must not perpetrate kidnapping at the expense of the innocent.
“This act is more dastardly since the victims are members of an international organization which has been engaged for more than a century in non-sectarian humanitarian activities and along with the Red Crescent have long been recognized as a neutral organization which should not be harmed,” he added.
He likewise appealed to the kidnappers not to prolong the agony of the hostages in captivity, but to release them without further delay unharmed and unconditionally. He said the three ICRC workers, Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary-Jean Lacaba should be turned over already to the authorities in Sulu, since after all the Abu Sayyaf as reported is not demanding anymore ransom money for the release of the hostages.
Two weeks ago, Abu Ali, senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf had clarified to The Manila Times in a phone interview on the reported demand of the kidnappers for a $10 million ransom. “We are not demanding any amount of ransom in exchange of the release of the hostages,” Abu Ali said. “The report is a lie and devoid of truth, but was made to derail the process of negotiation,” he added.
But Abu Ali admitted that contrary to the previous acts of kidnapping, this time they are just doing it to gain attention of the government since they are not asking any ransom money anymore. He said what they are asking and still fighting for is the self-determination of the Moro people and their rights to establish their own Bangsamoro homeland separate and distinct from the Republic of the Philippines.
However, a confirmed source from Indanan, Sulu who is privy to the situation also told The Muslim Times on condition not to be identified, said the release of the ICRC hostages would be prolong for a number days, or it could drag on even for months since both the military and the Abu Sayyaf do not trust with each other and does not give in to their respective demand.
The Abu Sayyaf is demanding for the pullout of the military cordon that is now with the aide of civilian armed volunteers before the formal negotiation could take place. But the military has made an outright rejection of the demand for the doubt that the kidnappers would transfer the hostages to other place.
On the other hand, the kidnappers are also suspecting that if the military would not be returned to barrack, all of them would be annihilated right away once they had turned over the hostages to the authorities...
Read more: http://www.yehey.com/news/article.aspx?id=235442

ANG TUNAY NA LIDER
ni ADEL A. TAMANO

Ang pamumuno ay hindi lamang kapangyarihan at karangalan, manapa’y isang tungkulin at pananagutan sa bawat taong sakop ng pamamahala ng isang pinuno o lider.
Mayroon akong natutunan sa tunay na kahulugan ng pamumuno sa ilang panahon ng aking panunungkulan bilang pangulo ng PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA at bilang tagapagsalita ng UNITED OPPOSITION, marahil din sa aking pagiging ama ng maliliit ko pang mga anak o kaya’y dahil sa kawalan ng mga lider na makapagpapabago ng sistema ng ating pulitika.
TATLONG katangian ang dapat taglayin ng isang tunay at tapat na lider, batay sa aking mga karanasan:
1.Kilala niya ang kanyang nasasakupan
2.May pangitain siya o vision
3.At mahigpit siyang kalaban ng katiwalian (corruption)
Bagamat, hindi bagay sa isang pangulo ng pamantasan, ayon sa tingin ng iba, ang aking ginagawa araw-araw na magtungo sa mga class room, rest room, mga pasilidad at buong bakuran ng PLM, mag-interview ng mga istudyante, professor,kawani at mga manggagawa, nakita ko naman na mabunga ang aking mga sakripisyo, sapagkat nakilala ko ang lahat na uri ng tao na aking pinaglilingkuran. Nakita ko rin ang tunay na kondisyon ng PLM, nalaman ko kung anu-ano ang mga dapat ipaayos, nabatid ko kung sino sa mga kawani, guro at pati na mga karaniwang mangagawa ang tunay na nagtratrabaho , nagkukunwari at higit sa lahat ang mga tamad. Napag-alaman ko rin kung ano pang mga bagay ang dapat kong gawin bilang lider. Lahat ng ito ay nakatulong nang malaki sa pagbibigay ko ng mga desisyon
At dahil sa pakikihalubilo na aking ginawa, ngayon ay napalagyan ko na ang PLM ng libreng INTERNET ACCESS, mayroon ng modernong pasilidad tulad ng air-condtioned class rooms, library, cafeteria, hi-tech equipment at iba pa.
Lubos akong naniniwala, na isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit bigo ang pamumuno sa Pilipinas, dahil ang ating mga lider ay hindi makapaglaan ng kahit maikling oras upang alamin kung papaano nabubuhay ang mga Pilipino. Paano ka mamumuno, kung hindi mo kilala ang mga taong iyong pinamumunuan o hindi mo alam ang kanilang pangangailangan?
May pangitain o vision ang isang lider. Kailangan, higit at malawak ang saklaw ng kanyang pangitain kaysa sa kanyang nasasakupan. Dapat, mayroon siyang nakikita na hindi nakikita ng kanyang mga tao, sapagkat kung hindi, anumang grupo o organization ay hindi susulong lalong hindi uunlad. Ang tunay at tapat na lider ay hindi lamang nakatanaw sa magandang kinabukasan bagkus naipapaliwanag pa niya ang kanyang mga magaganda at makabuluhang pangitain o vision sa mga mamumuhunan at tuloy maganyak na makamit, makamtam ng mga tao niya ang wagas na mithiin.
Maraming hinirang na lider na naging tau-tauhan lamang dahil sa kulang o walang pangitain o vision para sa bayan, kaya’t hindi nakapagtataka kung mabusabos ang bansang ito.
Malugod at labis kong ikinasisiya kapag naririnig ko na marami akong nagawang pagbabago at pag-unlad sa PLM, inuulit ko tulad ng magandang pasilidad, fitness center, shuttle service, bonuses at iba pang mga benipisyo para sa mga kawani,guro at manggagawa. Lahat nang ito’y naging posible dahil sa aming mahigpit na patakaran laban sa katiwalian o corruption.

Hindi tiwali ang isang tunay at tapat na lider, dapat lumalaban sa katiwalian.

Sa PLM ay ipinatutupad namin ng tahas ang “Law of Procurement”. Idinadaan namin ang lahat ng pamimili sa tamang proseso at tinitiyak na may nakalaang pondo sa isang makatwiran at malinaw na pamamaraan. May pera ang PLM para sa kanyang panagangailangan.
Ang totoo niyan, hindi naman ganoong kalaki ang aking nagawa, simple lang ang aking ipinatupad. Bawal magnakaw ng pera ng bayan.

Kitang kita ko na sa isang maliit na yunit ng organisasyon ay maaring umusbong ang katiwalian at kayang sirain nito ang buong institusyon. Ito rin ang eksaktong nangyayari nang malawakan sa ating bansa. Kailanman ay hindi makapagbibigay ng mga kaayusang infrastructure, kalusugan, edukasyon at mga reformang panginstitusyonal hanggat may isang lider na tiwali o corrupt.

Bilang pangwakas, lahat ng aral na ito ay bunga ng marubdob na pagmamahal ko sa aking pamilya, na kung tutuusin ay pangsarili lamang; ngunit bilang isang karaniwang ama na may maliliit pang anak na si Santi, 6 na taon at Mike 3 taon, nababahala ako sa kanilang kinabukasan, kung ang ating bansa ay hindi magkakaroon ng mga lider na makakapagpapabago ng anyo ng ating lipunan, mga lider na may puso at damdamin sa kanyang kapwa; lider na may pangitain o vision, at mga lider na matapat at malinis sa kanilang mga tungkulin na ginagampanan.

Ang aking dalawang anak, ang inyong mga anak, ang mga anak ng bawat Pilipino; saan sila patutungo kung walang tunay na lider na mamumuno sa kanila?

Marami pong salamat.

Repost from http://oppositeofapathy.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/ang-tunay-na-lider/

Tamano, with student leaders and youth groups, said in a press briefing at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) the ChEd’s plan is “ill conceived, untimely, and ultimately antipoor and anti-students. He [Chairman Emmanuel Angeles] should resign immediately.”

He has gone to various universities countrywide to talk to administrators, teacher and students about the additional year proposed by the CHED and the “great response” is to oppose the plan, especially given the current economic crisis.

Tamano said Angeles had also proposed the plan without sufficient consultation with all affected stakeholders. He also warned Angeles that there could be a conflict-of-interest issue going against him because he is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Angeles University Foundation as well as the corporate secretary.

He declared there is a failure of leadership at the ChEd. “While we must acknowledge that there are major problems in the education sector, it must be clear that we do not address these problems by adding additional burden on the poor by adding an additional year in college. The challenges in Philippine education are much deeper and may only be addressed through fundamental reforms and only after proper consultation with all stakeholders.”

Alvin Peters, president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), said the ChEd proposal, although aimed at improving education, is not the solution and he suspects it as a “ploy by the government to disguise its neglect in providing jobs for new graduates.”

“By extending students’ stay in college for an additional year, the Arroyo government is trying to avoid graduates immediately becoming part of the swelling number of unemployed,” said Peters. “The government is clearly attempting to do magic with the data once again in order to disguise its inaction and neglect, something it’s been shown to have penchant for.”

A technical panel, it was reported, is now studying the advantages and disadvantages of adding an additional year to the 4-year nursing curriculum. Angeles said the panel would finish its review by the end of next month.

Afterwards, the CHED will start its consultations with students and parents and the final decision on ChEd’s proposal will be announced before March ends, added Angeles.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5533:ched-chief-scored-for-5-yr-plan&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58

By Desiree Caluza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:21:00 02/01/2009

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—United Opposition spokesperson Adel Tamano said Muslims should publicly condemn the criminal activities of the Abu Sayyaf, which is suspected of kidnapping three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Jan. 15.

“I’m a Muslim and what the Abu Sayyaf did was anti-Islamic, anti-Christian and immoral,” Tamano said in a press forum here on Friday. “They are destroying our name.”

He said the Abu Sayyaf had put Muslims in a bad light as many people tended to associate them with the bandit group.

A number of Muslim groups are drafting statements to denounce the Abu Sayyaf’s criminal activities, according to Tamano, a lawyer and the president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

“It is time for all Muslims to speak out on this issue,” he said, adding that many Muslims could be considered role models because they were contributing to peace efforts and to nation-building.

By Adel A. Tamano
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:44:00 01/26/2009

Filed Under: Education, People

IT seems that my life’s lessons, of late, have been geared toward the real meaning of leadership. Perhaps I view it this way because of my work as president of the University of the City of Manila (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila or PLM) and as spokesperson for the United Opposition. Or maybe it is because of my being a father and husband to my young family. Or is it due to the lack of transformational leaders in our country’s political scene?

Suffice it to say, leadership has been in the forefront of my thinking.

I have culled three main lessons on what is leadership.

Leadership is empathy

One of the things I enjoy doing as university president—and for which I am also criticized because some view it as unbecoming—is inspecting, on a regular basis, the entire university: checking all the classrooms, restrooms, facilities and grounds of PLM. Of course, part of the inspection includes interviewing students, professors and staff. By doing this I get to see the real condition of the university—what needs to be fixed, who are the people who are actually working and who are lazy, what the students and staff need, etc.

This is the practical side or the foundations of empathy. Seeing how the people that you serve are situated and learning about their needs and aspirations give you the capacity to empathize and enable you to make wiser decisions on policy matters and resource allocation. If I had not done my regular inspections, the transformation of PLM from a university without even Internet access for its students to the new PLM with modern facilities—such as, among others, free Internet access, a first class student cafeteria, air-conditioned classrooms, etc.— would never have happened.

I believe one of the reasons we have a failure of leadership in the Philippines is our leaders do not take the time to see how the majority of Filipinos live. These pseudo-leaders are so divorced from reality and lack real empathy that regardless of their educational background, abilities or even good intentions, they can never govern wisely. How can you lead when you don’t even know the people you are leading?

Leadership is vision

This is the great paradox: In order to lead you must empathize with those you lead but you must have a better vision than the majority. Leadership must be visionary—meaning that a leader must see possibilities beyond what others see. Otherwise, any group, organization or even a nation will be muddled in mediocrity and the status quo. The leader must not only be able to see a better future but must also be able to articulate it to the stakeholders and motivate people toward achieving the goal.

How many of our pseudo-leaders can we honestly say have a real vision for our country? So is it such a mystery that our country is not moving forward?

Leadership is anticorruption

I am amazed at having received numerous compliments on the improvements I have done in PLM. A big part of why we have been able to provide better facilities and benefits to our employees and staff — bonuses, a free fitness center, shuttle service, etc.—is simply that we have an anticorruption policy.

By doing something as simple as complying with the law on procurement, going through the proper bidding process, and making sure that resources are allocated in a rational and transparent process, there is more than enough money to address all the needs of the university. In other words, I feel the compliments are, in a sense, undeserved because I have not done anything incredibly innovative or revolutionary—I just decided not to steal from government and I have made it difficult for others in my organization to steal.

This has been a powerful lesson for me because I have seen, firsthand, on a microlevel, how corruption can destroy an institution, such as a university, which is exactly what has happened on a macrolevel in our country. The Philippines, similarly, will forever be unable to provide the infrastructure, healthcare, education, and institutional reforms to move our country forward if our leaders are corrupt.

As a final note, all these lessons have been grounded on my deep love for my family, which is, honestly, a selfish motivation.

As a young dad, I shudder at the thought of what kind of future my sons, Santi, 6, and Mike, 3, will face if our country does not produce transformational leaders—leaders with empathy, vision and integrity to fight corruption.

Alma matter:

Where Adel Tamano was educated:

Elementary-JASMS, QC
High school-La Salle Greenhills
University-Ateneo de Manila University (AB Economics, Law)
Graduate-University of the Philippines (Master of Public Administration); Harvard Law School (Master of Laws)

Read from: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/learning/view/20090126-185533/The-real-meaning-of-leadership