“Calidad Humana: Sharing the Filipino Spirit” a book launch

Culture so they say is the “soul of the nation”. It is something which makes a country unique from the rest. In fact, tourists and travelers are eager not only to see and know the histories of the civilization but also to marvel and experience the culture which made the country stand tall and proud.  Culture is a gift bestowed by the divine and to share it, opens doors for more understanding which brings about strength and pride.

Last December 2, a book entitled “Calidad Humana: Sharing the Filipino Spirit” was launched at the historic Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City. With a book that yearns to share the identity of the Filipino people, CCP proved to be a good venue as the nation’s official cultural home.

But what is Calidad Humana? The founder of the project, former Chilean Ambassador to the Philippines Roberto L. Mayorga now a consultant of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) states that Calidad Humana means Human Compassion or in our parlance, “Kabutihang Loob sa Kapwa”. After visiting more than 60 countries and experienced practically everything the world has to offer, he found the Philippines a nation plenty of Calidad Humana, plenty of Kabutihang Loob sa Kapwa. He even compared the Chile of 40 years ago with the Philippines of today and concluded that his country developed and matured fairly but forgot to nurture the Calidad Humana which for him is the most precious thing a country can ever have. With an abundance of Calidad Humana, the former Ambassador wants the Filipinos to keep and preserve this in spite of the rapid economic development the country is facing.

Amb. Mayorga hands over the first copy of the
 Calidad Humana: Sharing the Filipino Spirit
to Mercedes Lopez-Vargas,
President of the Lopez Group Foundation 

Back to the book launch, the ceremony was very simple but was well attended by several sectors, the academe, business, diplomatic communities, arts and culture. It is not an ordinary book launching as everyone supports the preservation of the Filipino Calidad Humana and committed to share it to the world. To add more to this, Undersecretary Laura Q. del Rosario of the Department of Foreign Affairs committed to distribute 400 copies of the book to all existing Philippine embassies and consulates so that everyone would know of this advocacy.

Mercedes Lopez-Vargas, President of the Lopez Group Foundation read the message of his father, Oscar M. Lopez, Chairman Emeritus of the Lopez Group, a staunch supporter of the Calidad Humana Project and good friend of Ambassador Mayorga. Mr. Lopez is very instrumental in making the Ambassador return to the Philippines to continue the project and even the publication of the Calidad Humana Book.

The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) provided the music while Mr. Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz a renowned Filipino Concert Pianist, tickled the ivory keys for the audiences’ delight. Perhaps the most important part of the program is when Mark Solis was redeemed. Back in 2013, one of the projects of the Embassy of Chile was the “Smiles for the World” Photo-Essay Competition. Mark Solis was originally the winner of the contest but was proven to be a fraud when a Brazilian Photographer accused Mark of stealing the picture. It was truly a scandal since the winner that won a competition that promoted the authentic smiles of the Filipinos stole a picture. The Ambassador did not push for any legal actions but instructed Mark that in order to redeem himself he must participate in a local street football project and in this way, reform his character. At present Mark is already  a community organizer of a street football team at the Baclaran Church and have since been helping the kids in their soccer practices.

The book says a lot about the Filipino Spirit and how we Filipinos came to be. The authors of the book praised the strong Calidad Humana of the people and the importance of sharing, preserving and promoting this gift. All authors are respected social scientists and professors from different universities such the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and the University of Santo Tomas.

The Calidad Humana: Sharing the Filipino Spirit is available at the Lopez Museum and Library, ground floor of the Benpres Building (Landmark: Tektite Towers) Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The book costs Php 650/copy.   

The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth performs Classic Filipino Songs.
Song which makes us proud to be Filipinos

Some of the members of the Diplomatic Corps

Ballet Philippines President and former Miss Universe Margarita Moran-Floirendo

The Authors (Dr. Abigail de Leon, Prof. Darren Dumaop, Prof Mark Joseph Callano,
Dr. Ernest Gonzales and Kidlat Tahimik representing his wife Dr. Katrin de Guia)
with Amb. Mayorga, Ms. Cedie Vargas and CCP Pres. Dr. Raul Sunico,

Ms. Lopez-Vargas with some of the guests
(far right: Mellie Ablaza, Honorary Consul to Guatemala)

from left: Dr. Ted Esguerra, Amb. Mayorga,
Dr. Katrin de Guia and Kidlat Tahimik

Dr. Antonio Torralba and Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz

The CCP Main Theater Lobby was filled with people from all walks of life who
find the Filipino Calidad Humana worthy of sharing, promoting and preserving.