Viray Lectures at 45th NRYL Institute

Joseph Reylan B. Viray, a faculty member of the PUP College of Arts and Chairman of Lakan Dayang Cultural Association Inc., delivered a paper about the disadvantages of federalism at the 4^5th National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute held at the Teachers’ Camp, Baguio City on December 18, 2007.  This event was organized by the Order of the Knights of Rizal.     

Mr. Viray, who teaches Philosophy and Literature, stressed that federalism cannot possibly solve the Mindanao conflict, the problem of poverty, and the strident cry for cultural recognition of regional and ethnic groups. 

According to his paper entitled “Federalism : Issues, Risks and Disadvantages”, the Mindanao conflict is a result of various factors among which are (1) call for independence and sovereignty; (2) terrorism and terrorists groups; and (3) Family Feuds /Rido.  According to Mr. Viray, the first factor (call for sovereignty and independence) could be addressed by federalism but the two other factors (terrorism and rido) would remain unresolved. 

Mr. Viray’s paper emphasized that there are more than six hundred rido (family feuds) cases in nine provinces of Mindanao.  Incidentally, these provinces are the same provinces where arm conflicts are rampant. Mr. Viray observed that these warring families will continue to war against each other because they would compete in the political arena where local control and power is the prize.  Federalism in its hope to eliminate and resolve the problem in Mindanao would not be effective. It would even contribute to further the proliferation of these family conflicts.

Likewise, Mr. Viray said that studies in Europe showed that decentralization and economic growth do not have any positive relations.  This means that decentralization which is the central feature of federalism could not affect economic growth. 

“There would be an unending call for recognition”, this is the prediction of Mr. Viray.  According to him, heeding to calls for recognition such as what federalism promises could not solve the problem because there would always be minority groups which would emerge within a much bigger group.  

Mr. Viray concluded the paper by convincing the youth delegates to focus upon Filipinos’ oneness and solidarity rather than be bothered by minor differences and regional attachments.  

Another PUP mentor who lectured in the same Institute was Dr. Amalia Cullarin Rosales, the Dean of the PUP Graduate School. Dr. Rosales was well applauded by more than seven hundred student and faculty delegates from Luzon to Mindanao.  Her central thesis can be summarized as follows:  ‘character change rather than charter change’. 

Other speakers in the Institute were Prof. Ferdinand Llanes, a prominent historian; Atty. Carlos Serapio, Magnificat and Mariological Society of the Philippines; Atty. Daniel Farinas, Dean of the College of Law of the University of Baguio and the current Vice Mayor of Baguio; Former Senator Joey Lina; and Sir Jaroslav Ludva, Ambassador to the Philippines from the Czeck Republic.

The 45^th National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute was chaired by Dr. Pablo S. Trillana III, former Executive Director of National Historical Institute and former President of Philippine Historical Association.  Dr. Trillana closed the Institute with a moving speech about patriotism and nationalism.