Karangalan 2006 launched

The Karangalan organizing committee launched yesterday its 2nd National Conference and Festival set for Jan. 27-28, with the theme "Lakas ng Loob: Harnessing Inner Strength to Create Successes out of Societal Challenges."

Organizers will hold the event at the main performance hall of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Karangalan 2006, a non-partisan spiritual-cultural event, focuses on the excellence and moral integrity found in the "other Philippines" to give Filipinos a realistic sense of hope amidst today’s moral exhaustion and political turbulence.

Karangalan 2006 will highlight exciting examples of "lakas ng loob" to inspire Filipinos to move beyond apathy and harness their inner strength and capacities to transform the country.

Speakers include Gov. Grace Padaca, Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ., Dr. Vicente Perlas, Antonio Oposa, and others.

In addition to speeches by exemplary Filipino achievers and workshops on outstanding initiatives, Karangalan 2006 will also harness the profound power of art to communicate its messages. Art stimulates the emergence of heart and collective intelligence which are essential in establishing creative responses to societal challenges.

Karangalan’s January 2005 inaugural conference was an outstanding success. Attended by over 2000 people over a three-day period, Karangalan 2005 highlighted the importance of mobilizing excellence to create a visionary Philippines.

Karangalan 2005 also had extensive media coverage, exposing millions of Filipinos to the importance of positive images of the future in nation building. It triggered the more extensive coverage of positive news in the media as well as stimulated similar initiatives and events in other parts of the country including Dungog Panay, attended by over 2,000 microentrepreneurs, environmentalists and cultural workers.

Karangalan comes from the word "dangal," meaning honor and dignity.

"The Philippines has its weaknesses. However, when we focus on what gives us dignity and vision, we can mobilize the deepest aspect of our creativity and spirit to create a better country," the group said.

Karangalan 2006 is organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Organizational Change Consultants International (OCCI), Center for Alternative Development Initiatives (CADI), Anthroposophical Society in the Philippines, Asian Social Institute, Ikapati Farm, COMPACT, Lifebank Rural Bank, Lifebank Foundation and TruthForce!.

Sponsors include CCP, ABS-CBN Network, Lifebank Foundation, CADI, Truthforce! OCCI, Timeline Productions, Asia United Bank, Planters Bank and Globe.

Fore more information, contact the Karangalan Secretariat at 687-1309 or visit the Karangalan website at www.truthforce.info.