2016 Nat’l Elections, Federalism: APCA’s theme in GMM

Members of the Association of Political Consultants in Asia (APCA) convened last July 16, 2017 at Club Filipino in San Juan City to discuss the course and the aftermath of the 2016 National Elections, efforts to mobilize a federalism campaign, and the association’s plans for 2017 to 2018.

The meeting, which is an annual event organized by APCA in partnership with PUBLiCUS, provides updates on the national and political scene, and its forthcoming activities. PUBLiCUS CEO/Founder and APCA’s Interim Secretary Maria Lourdes N. Tiquia presided the meeting and revealed the expected increase in member recruits for 2017, particularly from the Visayas and Minadanao islands. This was followed by a roundtable discussion on the 2016 National Elections that also shed light to the performance of the presidential and senatorial candidates. The discussion eventually focused on lessons learned, from President Duterte’s successful campaign, to the use of social media.

Wrapping up the discussion, Ms. Tiquia disclosed the latest developments on the federalism campaign spearheaded by the Department of Interior and Local Government and to which PUBLiCUS supports as one of its institutional advocacies. The campaign mobilization has reached Cabinet level and collective efforts are being pushed to appoint a presidential adviser on constitutional change. The plebiscite is expected to be slated in May 2019.

This year, De La Salle University – Manila’s Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Dr. Julio C. Teehankee, was welcomed as APCA’s new political adviser. Moreover, new recruits were inducted as official members of APCA. They were: Mr. Benedict “Bodik” Baniqued, Mr. Bien Baniqued, and Mr. Gerry Eusebio who all have extensive experience in political campaigns management.

APCA is an association of political campaign management professionals in the Philippines and Asia that actively promotes politics, political communication, public affairs, government relations, and other similar professions involved in the practice of political consulting. It also creates a network of political consultants in the country and the region, conducts campaign seminars tapping local and international experts, introduces and uses advance technologies in campaigning, and recognizes best practices in political consulting.