Raymond ‘Mong’ Palatino is an inspirational 30 year-old Filipino activist. In 2009 he became the first representative of youth in the Congress of the Philippines as a candidate of Kabataan (Youth) Partylist who campaign against corruption and for social change. He was re-elected earlier this year.

Mong has been blogging since 2004 and is currently the regional editor for Global Voices Southeast Asia, the region in which I am an author.

He has written about the progress of the UN Millennium Development Goals. In February this year he asked, “Can the Philippines achieve the MDGs by 2015?” He was far from optimistic:

The latest progress report is depressing. Even the positive indicators can slip back as negative outcomes in the next five years. For example, the Philippines claims it has already achieved goal 6 but just recently the Health Department has warned about the rising number of HIV/AIDS cases among young professionals.
Can the Philippines achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals?

Last week I sent Mong some questions about politics in the Philippines and his thoughts on the MDGs. These are his responses.

What are the biggest challenges for a legislator in an Asian democracy?

a. Upholding/defending democratic values and principles at a time when executive leaders are adopting authoritarian practices. Challenging the attempts of leaders to undermine independence of legislature or when they circumvent laws to justify the use of illegal power.

b. Bridging the governance gap or making legislative work serve the needs of the poor. How to mobilize constituents to make politicians more accountable. Empowering the grassroots by providing leadership opportunities; integrating civil society needs/voices in the governance process.

c. Crafting a more progressive political practice and culture – rejecting the politics of institutionalized corruption, and violence while welcoming new politics as demanded by the grassroots. Politics that fulfill and recognize the rights and demands of ordinary citizens.

He suggested additional readings:
Reflections of an Activist Blogger Legislator
Neophyte Reflections

In 2007 you were somewhat optimistic about the Philippines reaching the MDG targets by 2015. Your February 2010 assessment was far more bleak. Why?

The concerned government agencies have submitted their latest compliance reports and this became the basis of the cited February 2010 article. The previous government didn’t match the initial commitment to achieve the MDGs with adequate political will to improve the achievement rating of the country in fulfilling the MDGs.

Are there any positive signs coming from the new President that the government will make the UN MDGs a higher priority?

There are reformist individuals surrounding the new President and hopefully they will succeed in influencing the decisions of the president. Government agencies should also provide the new president with an updated briefer on the real situation of the country in terms of achieving the MDGs.

Which MDG are you most optimistic of achieving? Why?

Based on the article I wrote, promoting gender equality in terms of access to education.

Which is the biggest concern? Why?

On improving maternal care, achieving universal access to primary education, and environment sustainability. The government has refused to prioritize the passage of a law that would guarantee the distribution/implementation of reproductive health services in poor communities; inadequate funding for education cannot plug the loopholes in the education system especially with a ballooning population; the Philippines is a disaster-prone country and measures to mitigate the impact of climate change are too few and delayed.

Could you share your thoughts about online activism in this era of new media?
Some thoughts from his suggested article:

Despite the limited Internet penetration rate in the Philippines, web activists have proven that cyberspace can be the terrain of political struggle. In the past decade, activist groups have been successful in maximizing new technologies to advance their advocacy. These tools are essential in reaching a broader audience. Activists have learned that campaign strategies are more effective if offline activities are linked to online solidarity actions. On the other hand, cyber activism becomes a potent force only if it is fused with grassroots activism.
Online and offline activism

Mong’s writings are very thoughtful and detailed. This short introduction to his efforts to change the political culture of his country cannot do him justice. Please follow the links to discover how he and his colleagues are pursuing their belief that, “youth should devote its intellect, energy and courage to building a new society devoid of corruption, inequality and social injustice”.