PART I - AN INTRODUCTION
The Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI) was just established end of last year. But its venerable roots go back a long way to the late 60s when, Raul Manglapus, senator of the land and foremost Christian Democratic ideologue and allied leaders met with a young and newly elected member of the then West German Bundestag who came to the Philippines for a visit – Helmut Kohl of the Christian Democratic Union. This lead to the founding of the Christian Social Movement (CSM) in 1967 – and the start of what will prove to be a tumultuous but fruitful relations with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).

The intervening years were marked by the aborted formation of a left-of-center Political Party by the imposition of Martial Law and the dormancy of the CSM and its youth arm the Young Christian Socialist Movement (YCSP). There were various initiatives by Christian Democrats to form groupings with limited success foremost among which was the Partido Democratico Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban), a Mindanao lead party headed by Nene Pimentel and after the People Power Revolution that catapulted Cory Aquino to power - the launching of Ramos-De Venecia-Manglapus, National Union of Christian Democrats (NUCD). This became the political party in power up to the time this was perverted by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo thru their merger with Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI).

Over the years, the remnants of the CSM/YCSP were into all sorts of political organizations mostly within the center of the political spectrum but a few were radicalized and went underground.

We, the original recruits of Raul Manglapus even then were already pushing for the creation of a Political Institute which was to be the repository of the Christian Democratic Themes, advocating its Ideology and the development and inculcating into the body politic the values of good governance.

Having been advantaged by exposures in Germany to the Social Market Economy and its highly developed Political Parties, we dreamt of someday conceiving our own EICHHOLZ.

The middle of 2009, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) assigned a new Country Representative to the Philippines replacing Klause Preschle - who in his 6 year stay in the Philippines has elevated German relationship with the Filipinos into a higher plane.

Dr. Peter Koeppinger could be the answer to our long smoldering ambition for a Political Institute. He met in earnest with the Philippine Partners, particularly the Technical Assistance Center for the Development of the Rural & Urban Poor (TACDRUP) based in Davao. This meeting together with the other partners of KAS initiated a rethinking of the political programs of KAS in the Philippines.

His appearance in the scene was very timely indeed as the political life of the country was to undergo emotional turmoil in the passing of the revered Cory Aquino and the impending eclipse of the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo government.

In consonance with a conventional pattern over the years, an imminent change in the presidency triggers a convoluted spasm of party realignments – culminating in the advent of and possible dominance of another administration party.

It was towards a similar end game, when the Kampi-Lakas-CMD merger was stressfully forged, and the rush to the popular political heir, Ninoy of the LP became frenetic, that the seed of an idea and political strategy offered itself to KAS and its political partner.

It was not of a small consequence also that the sudden and unexpected passing of the Executive Director of TACDRUP, Rey Magno Teves added to the urgency. He was a prime mover of a flagship program under KAS/TACDRUP.

The SUCCESSOR GENERATION Program was to pass on to our descendants, our doctrinal heirs, the mantle of political responsibility for their lives – from those like us who were in political technocracy from the time we were recruited by the Christian Social Movement of Raul Manglapus, the Young Christian Socialist of the Philippines (YCSP) and the various centrist movements of the 1st quarter storm. We were ourselves the youthful Successors then to the likes of Manuel Manahan, Manuel Pelaez and Ramon Magsaysay.

Needless to say, we, denizens of the political era of the 60s and 70s are now in our 60s and 70s too. Perhaps, it was time for us to retire and pass on the torch – thus, the founding of the Centrist Democratic Movement (CDM). Composed of young professionals in various fields, they have banded themselves into a dues paying federation, with their own elected leadership, widely operating regional councils and a set of internal rules of discipline and governance.

They are comfortable adapting to an emerging political culture shaped by the electronic social networking. This new found power embeded in the internet mitigates their frustrations on current realities borne out by acts of their elders. They could be the precursor of a new political party or a movement capable of influencing one.

Affiliated to the CDM is the newly formed CENTRIST DEMOCRACY POLITICAL INSTITUTE (CDPI) of which I and Peter Koeppinger are intimately attached - servicing the various Centrist Democratic ideology driven groups, primarily but not exclusively the CDM.  Funded by KAS, it is meant to provide orientation and training to the CDM and similar centrist groups including specific leadership training; promote centrist values and policies for public consumption; conduct research and studies on programmatic issues on good governance; and publish these documents, literature and outputs.

CDPI was also designed to be a platform for developing creative ideas and concepts together with other like-minded institutions and stakeholders and provide a forum where these can be widely debated; and link these various endeavors thru seminars, training, conferences.

The themes that distinguish the Centrist Democrats are anchored on the following universal principles and dogma: Respect for Human Dignity is a primordial consideration and its enhancement takes precedence over all. This is our CORE value.

Political, Economic and Social Order must be so logically designed towards its upliftment.

Therefore, the Centrist Democracy Concepts adhere to:           

- A truly functioning Democracy and the Rule of law;            

- A thriving Social Market Economy;           

- The principle of Subsidiarity in all structures of governance; and           

- The building up of strong, sustainable and real political parties as catalyst for effective governance.

Current existing centrist political aggrupations play certain variations around the main themes. The LP, NP, PDP & Lakas may be indistinguishable in their platitudes in times of electoral contests – basically revolving around: poverty alleviation; solutions to graft & corruption; and campaign for peace and order. But these always adjust in tandem with regime changes.

An area where all the Centrist Parties can be non-partisan is on political party and financing reforms. There are pending bills in congress right now addressing these. Features of the bills can be debated and shaped – without having to undergo stressful initiatives to change the constitution.

We therefore propose a healthy clash of ideas between and among the centrist aggrupation – precipitating what could be the best for the Filipino.

The CDPI will be at the service of these centrist groups in trying to refine the ideology based nuances, issues and strategies of governance.

In the absence of sanctions and incentives in real reforms, governance will always be held hostage to the passing dominance of the winning marque.

ART II - SPECIFIC PROGRAMS
A. For CDM Expansion/Education/Training Help publish documents, research outputs and other literature relevant to the development of Centrist Democratic Policies on good governance;               

 - Provide a platform for dialogues and exchanges with other Centrist Democrats and allies, with and among academic institutions and other stakeholders in the civil and political society;               

 - Provide linkages for international cooperation with Centrist/Christian Democrats abroad; and               

 - Support efforts on promoting peace and development, particularly in the long festering Mindanao conflict.

B. For Allies and other Centrist Parties (with planned remunerations from clientele)                

- Conduct/provide Basic Orientation Seminars & Conferences on Centrist Democratic Principles;               

 - Help in the formulation of policy papers on issues on good governance;                - Help produce primers, modules and brochures;               

 - Conduct joint dialogues with like-minded centrist groups; and               

 - Share research & publications on thematic issues.

C. Provide Political Services (with  planned remunerations):               

- Coaching politicians & aspirants on election strategies;               

- Help in political party formation, speech writing, platform formulation, resolution making, lobbying budget formulation and tracking; and               

- In tandem with the Congressional Roundtables, exposures and legislative internships.

Upon the invitation of KAS, Peter and I together with 13 CDM leaders visited Germany in the summer of 2011 to study and learn about the German political & economic system. Inspired by German successes, the delegation produced a document, the 1st paragraph of which I will quote: Emboldened by our strong resolve and the guiding principles of human dignity, subsidiarity, solidarity and the rule of law, we the officers, members and convenors of the Centrist Democratic Movement Federation of the Philippines manifest our ardent commitment to be constituted into an authentic political party in the Philippines.

This document is aptly titled: The Manifestation of Political Party Constitution by the Centrist Democratic Movement Federation of the Philippines.
This was attested to by 15 signatories on the 9th day of May 2011 at the Maritim Hotel in Berlin, Germany.

This document is now known as the BERLIN PROTOCOL.

Let me review for you who we are and what this party stands for that differentiates us from the rest of the political parties in this country:

We are dues paying members. Our party is a breathing living organism that needs to be nurtured so we can perform our tasks of political education, training our leaders and supporting our candidates. Therefore we, the members own this party – not by any moneyed patron who dictates where we go and what we do.

We practice Internal democracy, with clear structures we agreed on that help define each of our roles and we impose discipline on ourselves learning to follow simple rules  - before we ask the governed to follow the rule of law -  If by the grace of God, we are allowed by our citizens to govern them.

We anchor ourselves and our concepts and platform of governance on a clear Centrist Democratic Ideology – respect for human dignity - our core value.

We exist not only during campaign periods but in between elections – holding our elective officials accountable to those that put them in power - the constituents.
The year 2013, will be a defining moment for the CDP. This will be the first encounter of a fledgling party that will strive for the modification of the political environment of the country. Indeed, we will be engaged in an electoral contest where our resolve will be severely tested. This will mark the beginning of strife towards ending the vicious cycle of Philippine traditional politics.

In the elections of 2013, as in any crusade we need a field general. I believe we have chosen well. Our incoming party president, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, scarred in many electoral encounters will lead us into the political arena.