Pedrosa attacks RP Liberalism

CARMEN PEDROSA wrote in her Philippine Star column, last 10th of April 2010:

"In a future article I will write about how the Noynoy-Roxas wing of the Liberal Party consorted with a foreign group [Friedrich Nauman Stiftung Foundation---named by Dr. Braid in her Manila Bulletin column today] while masking its interference in Philippine politics as a think tank promoting its own brand of “liberalism”.

The irony in Carmen Pedrosa's column is that Liberal Party Senatoriables (Acosta, Roco) had recently took protectionist stances on foreign-ownership in ANC Square-off Debate, but Pedrosa accuses Noy-Mar tandem as being link to foreign interests based on LP's association with the German Foundation which promotes its "own brand" of liberalism, according to her. [NOTE: The stance of Sonia Roco and Nereus Acosta is yet to be confirmed as official stances, but Jose de Venecia III issued a press release on his affirmative stance on foreign ownership of the media]

But then again, this is not the first time Pedrosa attacked the Foundation. In September 2009, amidst call for Noynoy Aquino to run, she wrote that "various reports point to the George Soros Foundation that works with elements of the US government to plan and initiate these “spontaneous” events. [color revolutions i.e. yellow revolution in RP]" She further wrote that "more countries shy away from color revolutions and avoid any color or flower to describe homegrown grassroots campaigns. In other words, they reject color revolutions because these connote foreign interference and shallow reforms."

In equal pathos, she wrote that "The Friedrich Naumann Foundation has partnered with the Liberal Party of the Philippines in pushing a “democratic and liberal” agenda in the Philippines. The same foundation was accused of being behind anti-China protests over Tibet during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The campaign was planned in its Washington-based headquarters."

She seems to imply that the Foundation is orchestrating behind the election of Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas tandem to further foreign interest. The FNS Foundation describe itself as "an agent of organized liberalism. It promotes this through civic education, international political dialogues, and political counselling" which activities are "in the field of civic education consist of seminars, conferences and publications aimed at promoting liberal values and principles" while "the international political dialogue program provides a discussion forum for a wide range of liberal issues. "

"The Foundation’s counselling programs focus on candidates for political office, liberal political parties and other democratic organizations."

A Manila Bulletin columnist, Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid defended the Foundation from Pedrosa's accusation:

"Perhaps Ms. Pedrosa may not be aware of the historical roots of the Liberal party. That while the administration’s former Lakas-NUCD is affiliated with the Christian Democrats of Europe, the Liberal Party in the Philippines has links with the worldwide Liberal Democrats and the Caucus of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD). The Friedrich Naumann Foundation, as a partner, assists some projects of the LP’s think tank, the National Institute of Policy Studies. But it also provides similar support to other institutions including local universities."

Carmen Pedrosa continuously attempts to associate liberalism with "elite conspiracy" I don't know how she thought of that, but I always knew liberalism is diametrically opposed to what she calls the "primacy of national sovreignity" (Very Kremlin).

Liberalism is an ideology anchored on empowerment of individuals. It's far from perfect, but it works. And true, in the Philippines, there seems to be missing a "grass-root level" liberalism movement, but that doesn't invalidate liberalisms heralding of rising standard of living, in countries that operates on free market paradigm.