News
RUNNING A BUREAUCRACY S.R.O. GRAND LAUNCH HELD AT UP-NCPAG
Quezon City — Definitely, the book launch of the year.
Local government personalities, book connoisseurs, academicians and public management practitioners flocked to the Assembly Hall of the University of the Philippines, National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), rendering the sprawling hall a “standing room only” zone for the entire afternoon of April 17—the grand book launch day of Running A Bureaucracy: A Guidebook for LGU Administrators, Other Public Managers, and Elected Officials.
Graced by some of the more familiar faces in the national and local governments, the Academe and public management sectors like former DILG Secretary Joey Lina, Ombudsman Lot Gonzales, former Presidential Adviser and Congressman Willie Buyson Villarama, and former Bulacan Governor Josie Dela Cruz, the grand book launch became a reunion of sorts for old timers in the local governance front and current and former colleagues of book author Ma. Gladys. Sta. Rita. Also present were Administrator Ismael Heradura of the Probation and Parole Administration (PPA), Executive Director Dondie Alikpala of the National Water Resource Board (NWRB), and Quezon City Council Majority Floor Leader Bernadette Herrera.
Addressing the jam-packed room of participants, Sta. Rita sought the support of her benefactors, family and friends, both in her professional and personal circles to her book’s advocacy for greater professionalism, excellence, and good governance in the public sector, through serious reforms in the ranks of local administrators and public managers.
“This book is a product of detailed and organized planning, but it is also a by-product of what it preaches— that effective public administration and management or any worthy endeavor in life and profession, for that matter, is essentially a mindset; a goal upon which we must put our hearts and beingness into. Anything less than a passionate commitment to good governance simply will not work,” she explained.
Former Bulacan supergovernor Josie Dela Cruz, who was the launch’s guest speaker could only nod and agree. She echoed Sta. Rita’s thoughts when she extolled the author’s prominent role as Bulacan’s “top manager” for the last 17 years, which the former governor acknowledged as pivotal in the province’s ascent to progress.
“Bulacan’s successful local governance is as much a feat of its excellent management, as it is of its political leadership,” said the multi-awarded chief executive.
Dr. Alex B. Brillantes, Jr., dean and professor of UP-NCPAG, formally ushered in the book launch ceremonies by welcoming the guests and introducing the book as a proud publication of UP’s centennial year. “We are proud to have been part of this book which was written, not by a public administration scholar, but a real-life public management practitioner whose credentials are unquestionable,” he said.
Director of the Center for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG), Dr. Samuel Ilago took charge of reviewing the book shortly before the launch rites. He commended and congratulated the author for her “labor of public service” that made the creation of the pioneering book possible.
The book launch program was anything but common, as it featured Bulacan’s very own premiere cultural ensemble, Barasoain Kalinangan, headed by Provincial Cultural Officer Arman Sta. Ana. Right out of the pages of Running A Bureaucracy, the group performed an excerpt from the Singkaban Fiesta of the province’s yearly celebration of Linggo ng Bulacan. The performance was particularly befitting the occasion as young men and women interpreted tha classic songs of Bulakeno cultural hero and former UP Conservatory of Music Dean, Dr. Francisco Santiago—reknowned father of nationalist music.
The book launch, which hoisted the red flag for the national commercial release and roadshow of Running a Bureaucracy, ended with ceremonial book-giving rites to some of the book’s major benefactors and sponsors.
Local government personalities, book connoisseurs, academicians and public management practitioners flocked to the Assembly Hall of the University of the Philippines, National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), rendering the sprawling hall a “standing room only” zone for the entire afternoon of April 17—the grand book launch day of Running A Bureaucracy: A Guidebook for LGU Administrators, Other Public Managers, and Elected Officials.
Graced by some of the more familiar faces in the national and local governments, the Academe and public management sectors like former DILG Secretary Joey Lina, Ombudsman Lot Gonzales, former Presidential Adviser and Congressman Willie Buyson Villarama, and former Bulacan Governor Josie Dela Cruz, the grand book launch became a reunion of sorts for old timers in the local governance front and current and former colleagues of book author Ma. Gladys. Sta. Rita. Also present were Administrator Ismael Heradura of the Probation and Parole Administration (PPA), Executive Director Dondie Alikpala of the National Water Resource Board (NWRB), and Quezon City Council Majority Floor Leader Bernadette Herrera.
Addressing the jam-packed room of participants, Sta. Rita sought the support of her benefactors, family and friends, both in her professional and personal circles to her book’s advocacy for greater professionalism, excellence, and good governance in the public sector, through serious reforms in the ranks of local administrators and public managers.
“This book is a product of detailed and organized planning, but it is also a by-product of what it preaches— that effective public administration and management or any worthy endeavor in life and profession, for that matter, is essentially a mindset; a goal upon which we must put our hearts and beingness into. Anything less than a passionate commitment to good governance simply will not work,” she explained.
Former Bulacan supergovernor Josie Dela Cruz, who was the launch’s guest speaker could only nod and agree. She echoed Sta. Rita’s thoughts when she extolled the author’s prominent role as Bulacan’s “top manager” for the last 17 years, which the former governor acknowledged as pivotal in the province’s ascent to progress.
“Bulacan’s successful local governance is as much a feat of its excellent management, as it is of its political leadership,” said the multi-awarded chief executive.
Dr. Alex B. Brillantes, Jr., dean and professor of UP-NCPAG, formally ushered in the book launch ceremonies by welcoming the guests and introducing the book as a proud publication of UP’s centennial year. “We are proud to have been part of this book which was written, not by a public administration scholar, but a real-life public management practitioner whose credentials are unquestionable,” he said.
Director of the Center for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG), Dr. Samuel Ilago took charge of reviewing the book shortly before the launch rites. He commended and congratulated the author for her “labor of public service” that made the creation of the pioneering book possible.
The book launch program was anything but common, as it featured Bulacan’s very own premiere cultural ensemble, Barasoain Kalinangan, headed by Provincial Cultural Officer Arman Sta. Ana. Right out of the pages of Running A Bureaucracy, the group performed an excerpt from the Singkaban Fiesta of the province’s yearly celebration of Linggo ng Bulacan. The performance was particularly befitting the occasion as young men and women interpreted tha classic songs of Bulakeno cultural hero and former UP Conservatory of Music Dean, Dr. Francisco Santiago—reknowned father of nationalist music.
The book launch, which hoisted the red flag for the national commercial release and roadshow of Running a Bureaucracy, ended with ceremonial book-giving rites to some of the book’s major benefactors and sponsors.
