Abaya assumes OPAPP post today

MANILA, Philippines - New presidential adviser on the peace process Annabelle Abaya will officially assume her post today.

She will officially take over from Undersecretary Nabil Tan, the officer in charge after Avelino Razon Jr. resigned last month to run for mayor of Manila next year.

Abaya was a member and spokesperson of the government peace panel tasked to negotiate with communist rebels.

Abaya’s marching order from President Arroyo is to revive the stalled peace talks with the communist and secessionist rebels.

Abaya said she will continue to pursue “lasting” peace with these two groups in the next eight months.

“We’re looking at social integration programs,” she said.

“I want issues of women and indigenous peoples to be part of the agenda in a big way. We’re also looking at the effect of global climate change as a factor that will affect the conflict.

“If there is global climate change there will be a lot of changes that will be upon us. What we need to do is think about how we will adapt.”

Abaya said her task to achieve a lasting peace in Mindanao and the entire country in the next eight months is a difficult one.

“The challenge of the next eight months will be difficult but we are hoping to have some breakthrough or an agenda to the peace program that the President can work on,” she said.

Abaya also served as spokeswoman of President Fidel Ramos and taught at the De La Salle University Graduate School of Business, and the Asian Institute of Management.

She is a committed teacher with extensive experience in private and public conflict management systems.

Her forte is on training and practice of mediation.

Abaya has also a strong corporate experience in marketing and strategic management; broad practice in direct mass marketing communications, using radio and television media and large public forums and has a wide experience in international business consultancy for multinational planning in Asia.

She is proficient in media and politics, in teaching and presentation of ideas and has a strong background in formulation of public policy and influence of public opinion. 

Abaya also writes political essays and speeches.

She took her Doctorate in Philosophy Degree in Program in Conflict Resolution from Tufts University – Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, a Masters Degree in Dispute Resolution from University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Masters in Public Administration and Management from Harvard University – Kennedy School of Government, all in the United States.

She is also an Edward S. Mason Fellow, recipient of Josephine Vernon Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership.

Abaya graduated from St. Theresa’s College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies with concentration in Social Psychology.

She was a consistent honor student and a writer for the school publication.

She is the president of the Conflict Resolution Group Foundation Inc., a non-profit, non-stock organization whose purpose is to celebrate human diversity through training, research, and advocacy in alternative dispute resolution.

She is also a professor – Negotiations and Conflict Resolution at De La Salle University – Graduate School of Business; adjunct professor – Mediation and Conflict Resolution at the Asian Institute of Management; and professor – Conflict Resolution at East Asian Pastoral Institute; was a former television and radio host and a newspaper columnist, is a consultant to various international and local agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and World Bank (WB); the National Institute of State Courts; US Institute for Peace of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Department of Justice (DOJ); the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection; the Intellectual Property Office (IPO); the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC); the Board of Investments (BOI); and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), among others.

Abaya is married to businessman Anthony Abaya with whom she has three children – Victor, Margaux and Ramon, all residing and working in Boston.  – Jose Rodel Clapano