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PRRM’s 55th Anniversary Celebration

PRRM’s 55th Anniversary Celebration With the theme 55 Years of Building Sustainable Rural Communities, the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) celebrated its anniversary with a series of events and activities.

Main Anniversary Celebration and Investiture of PRRM’s new Chairperson Emeritus, Chairperson, and President

On July 17, 2007, the PRRM family, with its partners and allies from different sectors, gathered at the Kalayaan Hall of Club Filipino and installed its new chairman, Wigberto E. Tañada and new president, Conrado S. Navarro and conferred the title of Chairperson Emeritus to PRRM Chairperson for 17 years, Ms. Helena Z Benitez.

PRRM trustee Ed dela Torre gave the welcome remarks and made an analogy of rural development workers and rural people to birds and fishes. According to him, development workers should not rely merely on theories and principles of development but should go to the people and immerse themselves into the communities so that they can experience and have a clear view of the reality on the ground. Thus, the birds can learn how to swim while teaching the fish how to fly.

President Ding Navarro gave his response and encouraged the PRRM staff, members and partners to work together. In his own words, “kayang-kaya kung sama-sama.”

PRRM’s new chairperson, Bobby Tañada, also gave his response and called on everyone, especially those involved in PRRM’s work, to never lose courage in all their undertakings. He believes that courage is the only virtue that makes all other virtues possible.

Ms. Helen Benitez, PRRM Chairperson Emeritus, in her response, encouraged everyone to keep the spirit of volunteerism. She made a call for volunteers to contribute their time and resources to PRRM.

Hon. Jesse M. Robredo, the multi-awarded mayor of Naga City, delivered the anniversary message and shared with the guests his wealth of knowledge and experience in public service and in the practice of good governance.

The Kasarinlan Music Ensemble serenaded the guests with some timeless Filipino folk songs.

Among the special guests were former senators Jovito Salonga, Franklin Drilon and Santanina Rasul, Commissioner Wilhelm Soriano of the Commission on Human Rights, Justice Leonor Ines Luciano, former cabinet secretaries Ramon Cardenas and Vic Ramos, and SGV chairman Washington Sycip, to name a few.

PRRM trustees Vicente Jayme, Lorenzo Lapitan, Jr., Dante Bismonte, Leonor Briones, Edicio dela Torre, Diana Abigail Diestro, Juan Miguel Luz, Emmanuel Gloria, Horacio Morales Jr., George Sanchez, and Isagani Serrano (who served as the master of ceremony) were also present.

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