FILCOLS Enhances Board and Management Leadership with a Two-day Advanced Governance Workshop from UP NCPAG and UPPAF Experts

 

FILCOLS Board and Management Team with experts from UPPAF and UP NCPAG.
Photo by Kim Seechiu

Experts from the University of the Philippines Public Administration and Extension Services Foundation (UPPAF) and the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG) conducted an intensive training on advanced governance for the board and management of the Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society (FILCOLS) from March 27 to 28, 2025 at the University Hotel, UP Campus, Quezon City.

 

“We are happy and honored to conduct this workshop for the leaders of FILCOLS,” said Dr. Maria Fe Mendoza, UPPAF president, who opened the event. She stressed the importance of continuous learning, particularly in good governance.

Dr. Fe Mendoza, UPPAF president, giving her opening remarks.
Photo by Kim Seechiu

She praised the dedication of the board and management, including the participation of National Artist Virgilio S. Almario to undergo the two-day training. Almario, age 81, is the founding chair and Chairman Emeritus of FILCOLS.

“Nagsimula ang ideya ng isang samahan tulad ng FILCOLS dahil sa kali-kaliwang paglabag sa aking copyright,” Almario said in his opening remarks. (The idea for an organization like FILCOLS started due to the many violations against my copyright.)

“We should also remember the big contribution of Lirio P. Sandoval, president of the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP), because his organization provided the initial funds for the operations of FILCOLS in 2008 and encouraged his member-publishers to join.”

National Artist Virgilio S. Almario at the opening of the Training on Advanced Good Governance for FILCOLS Board and Management Team. Photo by Kim Seechiu.

He also highlighted the important support provided by the government through Dr. Dennis T. Gonzalez, then chair of the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., former director general of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

Almario acknowledged the tenacity shown by Alvin J. Buenaventura as executive director since 2009. “Mabuti na lang at hindi binibitiwan ni Alvin ang FILCOLS kahit alam natin na maraming balakid,” Almario said. (It’s a good thing that Alvin continues to hold on and manage FILCOLS despite the many challenges.)

 

(l-r) Prof. Eilene Antoinette G. Narvaez, Dr. Joti Tabula, and NA Virgilio S. Almario. 
Photo by Kim Seechiu.

Entitled “Strengthening Good Governance, Leadership and Sustainability in Collective Management: A training on Good Governance for the Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society, Inc. (FILCOLS),” the hybrid workshop allowed for onsite and online participants.

 

Aside from Almario and the current FILCOLS Chair Dr. Dennis T. Gonzalez, other participants were Atty. Andrea Pasion-Flores, Dr. John Jack G. Wigley, Mr. Jose Paolo M. Sibal, Ms. Beverly W. Siy, Ms. Ruth Valorie D. Catabijan, Ms. Imelda Morales, Ms. Nida Ramirez, Dr. Joey Tabula, Mr. Alvin J. Buenaventura, Ms. Regina Reyna V. Pastor, Ms. Jo Pantorillo, Ms. Cristina Balagtas, Ms. Alicia O. Cioco, and Prof. Eilene Antoinette G. Narvaez.

 

They gained insights and learned advanced knowledge and trends in government practices, ethical leadership, and rights management from the following experts:

 

Dr. Reginald G. Uggadan, Public Management Frameworks and Good Governance

 

Dr. Erwin Gaspar Alampay, Digital Governance

 

Dr. Eng Ming Wu of Taiwan, Sustainability Governance, Faithful Stewardship, and Competent Nation-building 

 

Dr. Ma. Oliva Z. Domingo, Charting our Course for Tomorrow's Challenges

 

Dr. Maria Faina Diola, Strategic Communication for Copyright Management Organization Governance

 

Dr. Charlie Cabotaje, Stakeholder- Centered Governance

 

FILCOLS Chair Dr. Dennis T. Gonzalez responding to the question from Dr. Oliva Domingo (standing).To the left of Dr. Gonzalez, Ms. Tina Balagtas of the Philippine Educational Publishers Association (PEPA) and Ms. Reg Pastor, FILCOLS membership officer. Photo by Kim Seechiu. 

 

Ms. Melanie G. Riva, senior research and extension fellow at the Center for Leadership, Citizenship, and Democracy (CLCD), UP NCPAG managed the overall running of the event and was also its moderator.

The closing ceremony included the awarding of certificates led by FILCOLS Chair Dr. Gonzalez and UPPAF’s Dr. Domingo; and closing remarks from Dr. Cabotaje, CLCD – UP NCPAG director.

 

BWS/AJB

Book Industry Christmas Party held last Dec. 13

The Book Industry Christmas Party was held last Dec. 13, 2011 at the Clubhouse, Valle Verde IV, Pasig City from 7:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m.

Members of the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP) celebrate with partners from the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL).

More than a hundred guests made up of writers and publishers attended the merry event. During the first part of the program, the election for new members of the Board of Trustees of the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP) took place. Then dinner was served as Symfonia band played great music.

FILCOLS Executive Director Alvin Buenaventura gave the welcome remarks. He called Ms. Ani Almario-David to introduce the Guest Speaker.

The Guest Speaker was none other than Ms. Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, the newly-appointed Chairperson of the National Book Development Board (NBDB). She delivered her message to the stakeholders of the book industry. According to her, she cannot contain her excitement to work for the betterment of the book industry and that she is ready for all the challenges ahead.

Ms. Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, NBDB's new chairperson.

After her message, some games were played out. Writers and publishers readily formed their own teams to compete in some wacky parlor games. All of the participants received their prizes from Vim Nadera, Angeline Montilla, and Alvin Buenaventura tandem. Nadera is associate professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman while Angeline Montilla works as a model.

"Santa Claus" Vim Nadera with "angel" Angeline Montilla and "reindeer" Alvin Buenaventura.

Buenaventura called Lirio P. Sandoval, the BDAP's outgoing president. He gave a testimonial for Dr. Dennis T. Gonzalez, the former Chairperson of NBDB.

In behalf of the BDAP, Mr. Sandoval also awarded a plaque of appreciation to Dr. Gonzalez for good governance, for all the things that he has done for the industry, and for the partnerships that were very beneficial to Filipino publishers, writers, and readers.

BDAP president Lirio P. Sandoval

Dr. Gonzalez was very pleased with the surprise testimonial for him. He responded with a message that narrated his journey with the NBDB and the whole book industry. He shared that the past administration had attempts to demolish the NBDB. That was ten years ago, before he took over. He also shared that initially, he just wanted to apply the lessons he learned in the academe in a government agency. And NBDB was just the right agency for him. And the result was overwhelmingly helpful and beneficial to everyone.

Dr. Dennis T. Gonzalez

After Dr. Gonzalez's response, the parlor games resumed. Raffle prizes were also given away.

Publishers and authors enjoyed the games facilitated by Vim Nadera and model Angeline Montilla.

Before the night ended, Esther Pacheco, one of the advisers of BDAP, announced the election results.

The members of the Board of Trustees are the following:

Lirio P. Sandoval
Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo
Segundo Matias, Jr.
Jose Maria Policarpio

The complete list will be provided very soon.

This article was written by Beverly W. Siy. You may repost or publish it anytime, anywhere for free as long as the author's permission is sought. Email filcols@gmail.com.