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.
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.”
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.)
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
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
Link to FILCOLS blog
https://filcols.blogspot.com/2025/03/filcols-enhances-board-and-management.html