By: DANILO M. CORONACION

CENTRIST DEMOCRACY: FEATURES

• adherence to respect for human dignity as the core value for building the political, economic and social order

• basic principles: freedom and responsibility, basic equality for all, justice, solidarity, and subsidiarity as keystones of society in which individuals can thrive in coexistence with others

Ecumenical Ideological Inspirations• integration of religious and secular influences -- such as conservatism, liberalism, and socialism -- within framework of moral and Christian principles

Fundamental Core Value and Basic Principles

Judaism Christianity Islam Ideologies

CENTRIST DEMOCRACY: FEATURES

Diverse Cultural Manifestations

• spectrum of conservative to progressive tendencies over time and cultures based on particular conditions

Global Sphere of Influence

• presence in more than 100 parties and movements in all continents, as the second largest international political organization in the world, second only to the Socialist International

CENTRIST DEMOCRACY: MILESTONES

1919 – Don Luigi Sturzo founded the Partito Popolare Italiano (PPI) in Italy, which was abolished by the Fascist regime in 1925 1925 – A permanent Secretariat of the parties of Christian-social inspiration was established in Paris by Don Luigi Sturzo of Italy and George Bidault of France 1947 – The organization “Nouvelles Equipes Internationales” was set up, including the European CD parties

1947 – The Christian Democratic Organization of America (ODCA) was set up, grouping the Christian Democratic parties of Latin America 1950 – The Christian Democratic Union of Central Europe (CDUCE) was formed by the Christian Democratic Parties of Central and East Europe who were prevented from working in their own countries 1961 – The Christian Democrat World Union (CDWU) was constituted in Chile as a political international to create a Christian-inspired third way alternative 1962 – Foundation of the International Union of Young Christian Democrats (IUYCD) including the Christian Democratic youth organizations of Europe, Latin America and Africa 1965 – The “NEI” was converted into the European Christian Democratic Union (ECDU) 1976 – The European People’s Party (EPP) was established as a federation of the CD parties of the European Community (EEC) 1978 – Foundation of the Christian Democratic Women’s World Union (CDWWU)

Luigi Sturzo

CENTRIST DEMOCRACY: MILESTONES

Centrist Democrat International

1982 – CDWU was renamed Christian Democratic International (CDI) as the global international political group dedicated to the promotion of Christian Democracy

1995 – The CDI Asia-Pacific Office was set up in Manila

1999 – Christian Democratic International (CDI) was renamed Christian Democrat and People’s Parties International (IDC-CDI) in recognition of the participation of political groups and movements of various faiths

2001 – IDC-CDI was renamed Centrist Democrat International

CENTRIST DEMOCRACY: ORIGINS

Karl Marx

Leo XIII

Declaration of Rights of Man

The French Revolution of 1789

- rise of liberal and democratic ideas and massive shift of powers from feudal institutions to the state

The Industrial Revolution of 1760

- technological and industrial progress whose social effects gave birth to trade unionism and socialism

Catholic Social Teaching in 1891

- growth of Christian Democracy as a Catholic social action movement to address misery of working classes and introduce principle of subsidiarity

CENTRIST DEMOCRACY: CHURCH SOCIAL TEACHING

Social Teachings

of the Popes

Pope Leo XIII Rerum Novarum

Pope Pius XI Quadragesimo Anno

Pope Pius XII Social teachings

Pope John XXIII Mater et Magistra Pacem in Terris

Vatican II Dignitatis Humanae

Gaudium et Spes

Pope Paul VI Populorum Progressio

Pope John Paul II Centesimus Annus Laborem Exercens

Sollicitudo Rei Socialis

Pope Benedict XVI Caritas in Veritate

General Social Teachings of the Popes

Catholic social teaching Subsidiarity

Social Teachings

of the Popes

Pope Leo XIII Rerum Novarum

Pope Pius XI Quadragesimo Anno

Pope Pius XII Social teachings

Pope John XXIII Mater et Magistra Pacem in Terris

Vatican II Dignitatis Humanae

Gaudium et Spes

Pope Paul VI Populorum Progressio

Pope John Paul II Centesimus Annus Laborem Exercens

Sollicitudo Rei Socialis

Pope Benedict XVI Caritas in Veritate

General Social Teachings of the Popes

Catholic social teaching Subsidiarity

Key Principles

• Human Dignity• Subsidiarity• Solidarity• Distributism• Caritas

Key Themes

• Sanctity of human life and dignity of the person• Call to family, community, and participation• Rights and responsibilities• Preferential option for the poor• Dignity of work and the right of workers• Solidarity• Care for God’s creation

CENTRIST DEMOCRACY: RENEWAL

Mounier Gilson Maritain

de Gasperi Schuman Adenauer

Pre 1940 Movement-common worldview was suspicion of modernity, distrust of democracy, opposition to individualism, and rejection of the legacy of the French Revolution

Post WWII Ideological Ferment-renewal stimulated by intellectual ferment led by French philosophers Emmanuel Mounier, Etienne Gilson and Jacques Maritain who gave new meaning to stand for freedom and justice, economic and social democracy, and human rights

New Generation of Leaders- a new generation of Christian Democratic leaders who

advocated that the movement and party would be openly Christian, but neither clerical nor strictly Catholic, and led a new CD era

CENTRIST DEMOCRACY: LEGACIES

EU

UN Declaration

European Union

-creation of a democratic organization for Europe in order to establish a supranational structure that would promote lasting peace between Member State based on the principles of human rights and fundamental freedoms

UN Declaration of Human Rights

-adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1948, the UN Declaration has been considered as “largely identical” with the value system expressed in new Christian Democratic worldview

Enduring Legacies of Christian Democracy

-renewed ideological orientation and new generation of leaders laid the foundation for enduring legacies:

CENTRIST DEMOCRACY: LEGACIES

Erhard

Maastricht Treaty

Social Market Economy

-political philosophy implemented in practice by Ludwig Erhard as the main economic model used in West Germany (and in reunited Germany) after World War II

Subsidiarity Principle

- originated in Rerum Novarum was institutionalized in European Union (EU) law by the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992 and is presently best known as a fundamental principle of European Union law

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: BEGGININGS

Formation of Social Movements

- formally established in 1947 through the efforts of Fr. Walter Hogan, S.J. in concretizing the social teachings of the Catholic Church

ISO

Institute of Social Order

FFW

Federation of Free Workers- founded in1950 by a group of young

idealistic labor leaders led by Juan Tan, who were inspired by the Christian teachings of Walter Hogan, S.J., thus becoming the first labor federation which draws inspirations from the social doctrines and principles of Christianity

FFF

Federation of Free Farmers- was organized in 1953 by a group of

Catholic laymen soon after the break-up of the Communist-led revolutionary movement in the country during the term of President Ramon Magsaysay

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: BEGGININGS

MANUEL MANAHAN (second from left) with RAUL MANGLAPUS (extreme right)

- in December 1967 Christian Democracy began to flourish in the Philippines as a political movement, with the formation of the Christian Social Movement (CSM) under the leadership of Raul Manglapus and Manuel Manahan – political heirs of Ramon Magsaysay

- an offshoot of a conference convened by Francisco Araneta, S.J. in Baguio to discuss Pope Paul VI’s papal encyclical Populorum Progressio in the light of Philippine realities; guided by a dream for a just, human and progressive society dubbed the “Mirador Vision,” the CSM was formally launched in August 1968

Mirador Vision and the Christian Social Movement

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: BEGGININGS

Advocacies of the CSM-indicted the socio-political realities of the times, offering the establishment of a Christian humanist society based on truth, respect, justice, service, and love – in the words of Manglapus: “We believe in a truly and fully human society which is the ideal of Christianity as well as of all the great religions of the world.” And “such a Christian humanist society does not exist in the Philippines today.”-advocated the establishment of socio-political system based on Christian democracy and sought to provide an alternative to the growing influence of Communism and the failure of pure capitalist system to address the basic problems of the Filipino people

Helmut Kohl

 -the CDWU in 1967 a young leader of the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) named Helmut Kohl of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) visited the Philippines with a delegation of European Christian Democrats; the 1967 encounter was the beginning of very close fraternal relationship of the CSM with both the CDU and Helmut Kohl, 1969

Linkage with Christian Democrat International

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: INFLUENCES

MNLFCPP Christian Socialism

Liberation Theology

Events Influencing Early Development of CD in Philippines

First Quarter Storm of 1970: Student Activism-period of civil unrest, composed of a series of heavy demonstrations, rallies, protests, and marches launched by radical and moderate student groups from January to March 1970 heightened ideological debates

Various Developments in National Scene-re-emergence of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) under the influence of the more revolutionary Mao Tse Tung thought -movement that slowly emerged during the period “to Christianize socialism” or “to Christianize Marxism” that inspired the trend of popularizing the term “Christian Socialism”-popularity of the Latin American “Liberation Theology” which gained adherents among priests, bishops, nuns and seminarians-raging Muslim problems and conflict in southern Philippines

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: INITIATIVES

Various Forms of Christian-inspired Movements

- the Young Christian Socialists of the Philippines (YCSP), the youth arm of the Christian Social Movement (CSM) organized in 1968 under the leadership of Arturo Valdez, collaborated and worked with more progressive or militant groups, known as the Christian Left

- the Christians for National Liberation (CNL) was organized in September 1971 by Edicio de la Torre, S.V.D. and was composed of churchmen who had been attracted to Marxism

  -the Nagkakaisang Partido Demokratiko Socialista ng Pilipinas (NPDSP) was formed in May 1972 by Romeo Intengan, S.J., with Hasik Kalayaan of Norberto Gonzales as its core group – to advocate Democratic Socialism

- other groups and movements such as the Lakasdiwa led by Eduardo Garcia, S.J. and the KASAPI led by Jose Lina and Jose Luis Alcuaz

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: INITIATIVES

Mastura

- in 1972, CSM with eight sectoral groups formed a Christian Democracy coalition that led to the signing of a common ideological platform, towards formation of a new political party, situated left-of-center of the Philippine political spectrum

- during the 1971 Constitutional Convention, the progressive bloc led by Manglapus initiated the “Mindanao Dialogue”, with the objective of drafting provisions granting more autonomy to Muslim communities, that crafted with then fellow ConCon delegate Michael Mastura a Muslim-Christian Manifesto

Initiatives on Coalition Building

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: DIASPORA

Declaration of Martial Law in 1972 - Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law

in September 1972 and ordered the arrest of opposition leaders and militant activists

 - leaders of CSM and other Christian-

inspired movements were arrested and detained; opposition leaders and those with “socialist” leanings either sought legal fronts, fled into exile, or were radicalized and went undergroundMarcos

Movement for Free Philippines -exiled social activists in the U.S. founded in May 1973 the MFP under the leadership of Raul Manglapus and other CSM members, notably Bonifacio Gillego, Gaston Ortigas, and Heherson Alvarez, as U.S.-based protest movement

Legal Fronts, Underground, Critical Collaboration-great majority of Christian Democrats left behind either kept up their struggle within the framework of martial rule, by seeking refuge in some legal groups or sectoral organizations like the FFW, or else got recruited into the underground movement of the Extreme Left; a few “collaborated critically” with the martial law regime -- but scattered though they were, still kept faith with Christian Democratic ideals

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: RESURGENCE

- after hijacking the 1971 Constitutional Convention and inserting his amendments and transitory provisions allowing him to stay in power beyond 1973, Marcos lifted martial law in January 1981 thus allowing the emergence of political opposition groups

Lifting of Martial Law in 1981

- death of Ninoy Aquino in August 1983 transformed the Philippine opposition from a small isolated movement to a massive unified crusade, incorporating people from all walks of life

 Ninoy Aquino: A Christian Socialist- before he returned to the Philippines, Ninoy Aquino,

Jr. articulated in his “A Christian Democratic Vision”: “If I must be labeled, I think I will fit the label of Christian Socialist best. My ideology flows from the mainstream of Christian Democratic Socialism as practiced in Austria, West Germany and the Scandinavian countries.”

Ninoy Aquino Assassination in 1983

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: RESURGENCE

Pimentel

Pilipino Democratic Party (PDP)-first Christian Democratic group to resurface from the dormant CSM was the Pilipino Democratic Party (PDP), organized in February 1982 under the leadership of Aquilino Pimentel,Jr. and Luis Jose; in1984, however, PDP merged with the Laban Party of detained Benigno Aquino, Jr. under the name PDP Laban

Christian Democratic Movement (CDM)-formed by some members of the CSM and the YCSP incarcerated during the martial law period under the leadership of Emmanuel Cruz; later in 1983, the group organized the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) inside the confines of the Bicutan Stockade National Union of Christian Democrats (NUCD)-in April 1984, the CSM was regrouped and renamed the National Union of Christian Democrats (NUCD) through the initiatives of Amado Luis Lagdameo as founding President, Evelio Javier, Rodolfo Buenavista, Ramon Tagle, a priest Jose Sunga 

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: RESURGENCE

United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines (UMDP)-a year after the launching of the NUCD, a group of young Muslim leaders led by Sanchez Ali held a series of meetings with Christian Democrat leaders to discuss the raging problems of Mindanao; the result was the establishment of a counterpart fraternal movement called the United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines (UMDP), patterned after the ideals and objectives of the NUCD

Bansang Nagkakaisa sa Diwa at Layunin (BANDILA)-in August 1985, another group that emerged which helped influence the growth and development of Christian Democracy in the Philippines was the Bansang Nagkakaisa sa Diwa at Layunin (BANDILA), composed in part of Christian Democratic groups like the FFF and FFW, under the leadership of Teofisto Guingona, Agapito Aquino and Mar Canonigo

Christian Social Democratic Movement (CSDM)-the Christian Social Democratic Movement (CSDM), which started locally as the Kilusan ng mga Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP), was formed in November 1986 as a Christian democratic-inspired multi-sectoral movement chaired by Rome-based sculptor-artist Tomas Concepcion

Concepcion

Guingona

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: 1986 EDSA

Javier

February 1986 Snap Election and Javier Martyrdom-NUCD was one of nine coalition parties under the UNIDO which supported Cory Aquino as the common candidate in the 1986 snap presidential election against the monolith Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) of Marcos-while protecting the votes of Cory Aquino, Evelio Javier was brutally murdered, and it is said that his death on 11 February delivered the final blow to the people’s resentment against the Marcos’ dictatorship that ignited the People Power/Philippine EDSA Revolution on 22-25 February Revolution -- that drove Marcos into exile and placed Cory Aquino in the seat of power

NUCD-UMDP Merger-in November 1987, at the joint national

convention in Cebu City, the NUCD and the UMDP were merged into one political party that formally brought the Muslim and the Christians together within a viable political framework, where the term “Christian and Muslim” were used, not in a confessional, but in a cultural sense, while at the same time defining the fundamental source of their respective values

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: CORY

Aquino1986 EDSA People Power as Christian Democratic-in December 1986, President Cory Aquino publicly acknowledge that, “with Ninoy, I believe in democracy and in the primacy of Christian values.” And that “the revolution that restored freedom and dignity to our nation was both Christian and Democratic…”

Manglapus

NUCD-UMDP in Cory Administration-NUCD-UMDP vision was recognized by President Aquino who appointed to office a good number of men and women of Christian Democratic ideological inspiration – Jose Concepcion, Jr., Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., Bienvenido Tan, Bonifacio Gillego, all with original CSM, as well as Jaime Ferrer, of the CSM’s predecessor Progressive Party of the Philippines, and Joey Lina of KASAPI; Mary Concepcion Bautista was head of the Commission on Human Rights; and Raul Manglapus served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: CORY

 An Ideology in Support of Pres. Corazon C. Aquino

-NUCD-UMDP mobilized in December 1986 Christian Democrat International network hosted the CDI Political Bureau Meeting in Manila, which issued a resolution of support for President Cory Aquino

-NUCD-UMDP declared in August 1987 Christian-Muslim Democracy as an Ideology in Support of President Corazon C. Aquino

-in June 1988, convened the first International Conference of Newly Restored Democracies which signed The Manila Declaration of Democracy affirming support for democratic transitions to more stable constitutional democracy

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: PFVR

Ramos

Introduction of Fidel Ramos to Christian Democracy-during December 1986 CDI Political Bureau meeting in Manila then Chief of Staff General Fidel Ramos was invited to speak on “civilian supremacy” and was first exposed to the Christian Democracy Act of Enosis in Support of Fidel Ramos-on 3 February 1992, nine (9) political parties signed a coalition agreement supporting the candidacy of Fidel Ramos for President: the National Union of Democrats-United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines (NUCD-UMDP); the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino EDSA Wing (EDSA LDP); the Philippine Democratic Socialist Party (PDSP); the Lakas Tao; Bicol Saro; Lapiang Manggagawa; Partido Katutubo; and Ompia Party-on 6 February 1992, the NUCD-UMDP under Raul Manglapus, PartidoLakas Tao under Edelmiro Amante, and the EDSA LDP Party under Francisco Sumulong and Jose de Venecia, Jr. entered into a historic merger – called Act of Enosis-name of the party changed from NUCD-UMDP to Lakas NUCD-UMDP

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: PFVR

 Christian Democratic Program of Government  – The Spirit of EDSA-political campaign as NUCD-UMDP anchored on the issue of people empowerment, presenting a Christian Democratic Program of Government -The Spirit of EDSA, as first genuine manifestation of Christian-Muslim in the Philippines in its broadest and most pervasive sense 

Distinct Features of Lakas NUCD-UMDP Ideology

-in building a new social order based on the tenets, principles and values of Christianity and Islam-proclaimed adherence to distinct features dominant in the Filipino people’s value system: as four founding pillars of envisioned new social order -- Maka-Diyos; Maka-Tao; Maka-Bansa; and, Maka-Kalikasan-as three guiding principles for the attainment of new political, economic and socio-cultural order -- Subsidiarity, Sustainable Development, and People Empowerment-as four operating policies to promote the guiding principles -- Decentralization, Devolution, Deregulation, and Democratization-basic strategy for development is People Empowerment

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: PFVR

Where I Stand and Philippines 2000-Fidel Ramos defined in his 1992 declaration

Where I Stand his National Development Agenda into five distinct, but interlinked and interdependent components, namely: political, economic, labor, social, and environmental incorporated in the 1993-1998 Medium Term Development Plan, its Program of Government was eventually dubbed Philippines 2000, with its Five-Point Program: Peace and Stability, Economic Growth and Sustainable Development, Energy and Power Generation, Environmental Protection, and Streamlined Bureaucracy

 1995 Lakas-Laban Coalition - in order to advance the reform agenda, formed a coalition arrangement in 1995 with the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) for the mid-term elections dubbed the “Lakas-Laban Coalition” Compact for Change, which won majority in both Houses of Congress

 Christian-Muslim Democratic Legacy of FVR-period of political stability and rapid economic growth and expansion, as a result of policies and programs designed to foster national reconciliation and unity, including major peace agreements with Muslim separatists, communist insurgents and military rebels, which renewed investor confidence in the Philippine economy; and also aggressively pushed for the deregulation of the nation's major industries and the privatization of bad government assets-implemented the Social Reform Agenda and the Moral Recovery Program

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: SJDV

De Venecia

Lakas NUCD-UMDP and Kampi Coalition-in January 1998, Lakas NUCD-UMDP and the KAMPI (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino) led by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed a pledge to form a union under the banner of the Lakas NUCD-UMDP-KAMPI-affirmed the common commitment to promote and strengthen a political culture that is Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Maka-Bayan, and Maka-Kalikasan, as well as shared belief in the fundamental principles of people empowerment, sustainable development, subsidiarity in the conduct of government, all stemming from the ideology of Christian and Islamic Democracy de Venecia, Jr. - Arroyo 1998 Tandem-party document entitled Where We Stand was issued in February 1998 -- as an integral party platform culled from the declarations Here I Stand of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Continuity and Innovation of Jose De Venecia, Jr. Legacy of Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr.-took the lead in building rainbow coalitions in order to advance legislative agenda and policy reforms-initiated historic CDI-Rabitah Dialogue in March-April 1993 that set the foundation for the Global Interfaith Dialogue adopted by the United Nations in 2008-strengthened CDI presence by setting up CDI Asia-Pacific in Manila in 1995-launched the first series of International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in September 2000

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: PGMA

Arroyo

 New Politics and Good Governance-sworn in as President in 2001, with “New Politics and Good Governance” as her battle cry, founded on her four proclaimed core beliefs: 1) our national objective should be the elimination of poverty within this decade; 2) we need to improve moral standards in government and in society, in order to provide foundation for good governance; 3) we need to replace our politics of personality and patronage with new politics of party programs and process of consultation, in order to proved a foundation for true reforms; and 4) leadership by example that not only talks about Christian values, but also lives them National Agenda: Strong Republic-defined her new National Agenda as: 1) commitment to the economic philosophy of free enterprise by the private sector; 2) balance aspirations to economic development with social and sectoral bias in favor of the poor; and 3) build a modernized agricultural sector founded on social equity

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: PGMA

Ten-Point Agenda: Beat the Odds

-Arroyo's presidency after the 2004 elections was anchored on the 10-point agenda that she presented during her inaugural speech on 30 June 2004:

creation of six million jobs in six years through more opportunities given to entrepreneurs construction of new buildings, classrooms, provision of desks and chairs and books for students and scholarships to poor families balancing of the budget "decentralization" of progress around the nation through the use of transportation networks like the roll-on, roll-off (RORO) and the digital infrastructure provision of electricity and water supply to barangays nationwide decongestion of Metro Manila by forming new cores of government and housing centers in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao development of Clark and Subic as the best international service and logistic centers in the region automation of the electoral process just end to the peace process a fair closure to the divisiveness among the Edsa 1, 2 and, 3 forces

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: PGMA

 Lakas CMD-led Coalitions

-at the instance of Vice President Arroyo as titular head, Lakas NUCD-UMDP was renamed Lakas-CMD (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats) in 2001, particularly for the 2001 mid-term elections under the banner of the People Power Coalition (PPC); However, the meaning of Lakas in the party name is usually now referred to as "Lakas ng EDSA" than the original Lakas ng Tao

-in the 2004 elections, the name Lakas -Christian Muslim Democrats, or Lakas-CMD, was used when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ran for President under the K-4 Coalition (Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan); she was elected to a full six-year presidential term in the controversial May 2004 Philippine elections, and was sworn in on 30 June 2004

-and in 2007, Lakas CMD led TEAM Unity, the name of the pro-Arroyo coalition in the midterm elections; however, the coalition performed dismally in the senatorial race

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: PGMA

 Lakas CMD and Kampi Merger-on 28 May 2009, Lakas CMD formally merged with KAMPI, to be known as Lakas Kampi; new party constitution was adopted, declaring adherence to seven principles for the development and advancement of the political, economic, and socio-cultural systems of Philippine society: good governance, globalization, people empowerment, sustainable development, social justice, and solidarity-moreover, former Speaker of the House Jose de Venecia, Jr. resigned his post as President of Lakas-CMD on 10 March 2009; on 9 August 2009, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. and former President Fidel V. Ramos led fifty members from the Lakas CMD in objecting to its merger with Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI)

 2010 National Elections-on 11 November 2009, Lakas Kampi CMD named Gilbert Teodoro and Edu Manzano as official candidates for President and Vice President respectively

 

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY IN PHILIPPINES: CHALLENGES

- new intellectual ferment - ideology-oriented political leaders - program-based political movements