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December 12, 2010


magazine cover story The Sunday Times »


■ Araw ng PagBasa, which aims to promote literacy and motivate learning in the lives of the Filipino achievers, is celebrated on November 27, the birth anniversary of the late Sen. Ninoy Aquino.


‘Pag(B)asa’ W


First-term congressman Jorge Banal Jr. talks about his campaign to promote reading and literacy in Quezon City


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HEN he defeated the moneyed


and powerful incumbent Rep. Mat Defensor in the May 2010 elections, Jorge “Bolet” Banal Jr. was beyond ecstatic. As the No. 1 councilor for the Third District of Quezon City, Banal staunchly believed that having a good track record can actually win an election. He was proven correct and now as a neophyte congressman, Banal is learning the ropes inside the House of


Representatives while performing his duties. A Kaya Natin! champion of good governance, Banal gives us his insights on his first term as congressman and one of his most applauded programs: “Araw ng PagBasa,” a play on the Tagalog words for “reading” (pagbasa) and “hope” (pag-asa).


First-termer


Congressman Banal shares that being a first term congressman is very interesting, especially when he gets to mingle with high profile personalities, whom he finds approachable and supportive. When he visited the Commission on Rules after the 2010 elections, he was advised to be part


of the committee; however, he politely refused the offer and preferred to focus on his district, and maintain a low profile in the process.


Through the help of Rep. Jun Abaya of Cavite, Majority Leader Boyet Gonzales and House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Sonny Belmonte, Banal is gaining more knowledge on how to perform his duties and responsibilities as representative of the people of Quezon City.


Best and worst


For Banal, the best thing about being a congressman is how he is capable of


By Clariz Tanganco


providing help to the country. Being a congressman, he is also able to do his part to help President Benigno Aquino 3rd, and his political party the Liberal Party, in bringing change to our country. The worst thing about being an elected official is that no matter how hard he tries, there are always people who will find fault and put him down.


Role models


Banal says that his father gives him inspiration and is his role model. As a public servant he looks up to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, the late Rey Calalay and the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.


Simple goal


Banal utters, “My simple goal is to address particular issues where I believe I will be [of much help].” He also shares that he has always been inclined to advocate for good governance, health, proper education, livelihood and peace and order. “I also hope to address the plight of our health and penal institutions, improve environment standards, and deter factors that contribute to an unsatisfactory business climate,” he added. To date, he has co-authored numerous bills and resolutions, including the Freedom of Information Act (House Bill 301), the Reproductive Health Law (House Bill 513), the National Land Use Act (House Bill 478), the Judiciary Independence Enhancing Act (House Bill 947), the Appointee Ineligibility Act (House Bill 948) and a bill seeking to address displacement issues involving families located in danger areas or affected by calamities (House Bill 1337).


Araw ng PagBasa Banal filed House Bill 1457, an act declaring


November 27 as Araw ng PagBasa, a regular working holiday. He started this project when he was still a councilor and he is very passionate about this project and greatly values the importance of education. Pedestri- ans and motorists who pass by Quezon City


will likely notice the simple yet striking tarps adorning the waiting sheds. Quezon City, notorious for having numerous project tarps emblazoned with politicians’ faces and names, gets a breath of fresh air with the Araw ng PagBasa tarp. It features only the word “PagBasa” prominently and the list of partners is written in small font off to the side. For many people, it is a good compromise to let everyone know who is responsible for the project but at the same time let the program take center stage instead of the politician. In 2007, Banal launched the “ilove2read” program to help raise awareness, as well as raise public school standards in reading and comprehension. It elicited invaluable assistance from Quezon City Capitol Jaycees, Quezon City Division of Schools and Quezon City Public Library. The Quezon City government acknowl- edged the success of the community-based learning initiative and in 2009 officially recognized November 27, the birthday of Ninoy Aquino, as Araw ng Pagbasa. On the same year, all public schools in Quezon City were asked to conduct simultaneous ilove2read story-telling sessions, similar to the regular reading sessions conducted all year long.With House Bill 1457, Banal is hoping to replicate the reading and literacy initiative across the country. Araw ng PagBasa aims to promote literacy and motivate learning in the lives of the Filipino achievers. The project also advocates reading as a shared physical experience in order to make it more personal and effective. They also hope to enhance governance by enjoining local communities in the country to actively participate and contribute in improving the learning system in the Philippines. Banal looks forward to the day that this project will extend further to private schools and celebrate the use of not only Filipino and English, but other regional languages as well.


Promoting reading and literacy Banal believes that there should be a


conscious effort to make reading a family and


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