C4CC Trainer’s Training for Constitutional Reform Advocacy
The Coalition for Citizen’s Constitution (C4CC) conducted three regional trainer’s trainings in the cities of Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Quezon City on advocating for Constitutional reform, particularly for its youth leaders. A total of 70 NGO workers and leaders of several people’s organizations, most of them young people, actively participated in these trainings. The training aimed to equip the community organizers and identified district leaders with proper understanding on the major debates related to the issue of Constitutional Change such as the concept of federalism, the regional autonomy proposals, the C4CC position on the debates on the economic provisions, and the preservation of Article 8 or the Social Justice Provision of the 1987 Constitution. It also provided tips on how to develop their public speaking and group facilitation skills for their education campaign.
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The Coalition for a Citizen’s Constitution (C4CC) conducted three regional trainer’s training seminars – in Cebu last January 28-29, 2011; in Quezon City last March 10-11; and in Cagayan de Oro last March 14-15, 2011. A total of about 70 NGO workers and leaders of people’s organizations, most of them young people, participated in the two-day seminars.
The trainer’s training was a response to the need identified in a national conference held last August 2010 by the community organizers deployed by C4CC through its NGO partners operating in more than 35 districts all over the country. The training aimed to equip the community organizers and identified district leaders with proper understanding on the major debates related to Constitutional Change such as the concept of federalism, the regional autonomy proposals, the C4CC position on the debates on the economic provisions, and the preservation of Article 8 (Social Justice Provision) of the 1987 Constitution. It also provided tips on how to develop their public speaking and group facilitation skills for their education campaign.
The trainer’s training benefited from the presence of dedicated NGO federalism advocates who served as main resource persons such as Raul Socrates Banzuela in Luzon, Paul Paraguya in Visayas and Stanley Uriarte in Mindanao.
Moreover, the discussions became more exciting and inspiring with the participation of fresh minds consisting of young people who served as reactors. In Luzon, C4CC was privileged to have Mr. Aaron Tolentino, Executive Assistant III of National Youth Commission and Andy Matula, Political Science Professor of University of Caloocan City. In Visayas, Mr. Franco Villaruel, Political Science Professor of University of San Carlos and Mr. Ferdinand Boncayao, Assistant Dean of University of San Carlos Arts and Sciences Department presented their reactions to the presentors’ discussions. In Mindanao, Ms. Rachel Daroy, Political Science Professor of Xavier University and Mr. Edwin Chion Du, Professor of Capitol University expressed their views on the Constitutional reform initiatives.
The participants were also given opportunities to apply practical skills in public speaking and facilitation of meetings. They formulated their plans of action on how to strengthen the educational campaign on Constitutional reform and federalism in their respective areas. – by Mhafe del Mundo, C4CC Youth Coordinator.