Rappler’s Pat Evangelista among 2013 Freedom Flame awardees

MANILA, Philippines – Rappler multimedia reporter Patricia Evangelista was a recipient of a 2013 Freedom Flame Award on Sunday, November 10, for her “insightful video documentaries and news reporting on issues on freedom and human rights.” 

The Freedom Flame Award is a recognition given to individuals for their commitment to good governance and freedom. In addition, the award also serves as an appreciation of the recipients’ continuous support for the freedom campaign of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), a German political foundation that promotes participatory democracy, human rights, and free trade.

A writer, producer and videographer, Evangelista covered, among others, the Zamboanga crisis last September. (READ and WATCH: Blood from the sky)

Evangelista joined 13 other recipients of this year’s Freedom Flame Award:

• Batanes Representative Henedina Abad, for her steadfast support for innovative liberal initiatives
• Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, for his inspiring leadership that encourages communities especially the youth to follow the straight path
• House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr, for the passage of landmark reform laws like the Reproductive Health Bill during the 15th Congress
• Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco, for her leadership in handling the recent security crisis in Mindanao
• Victoria Garchitorena, former Ayala Foundation president, for her strong commitment to empower women and engage civil society in governance
• Jose Luis Martin Gascon, Undersecretary for Political Affairs, for his firm commitment to liberal principles and for his continuous support for the work of FNF
• Bart Guingona, convenor of Media Nation, for his unwavering determination to fight corruption in the media
• Harvey Keh, lead convenor of Kaya Natin! Movement, for his dynamism and ingenuity to engage more leaders and citizens in good governance 
• Carlos Medina Jr, Ateneo de Manila University professor, for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of human rights in the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
• Bienvenido Oplas Jr, head of the Minimal Government Thinkers Inc., for his staunch advocacy for economic freedom and for his continuous support to the work of FNF
• Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Grace Padaca, for her unrelenting efforts to stop vote buying and secure clean and honest elections
• Former senator Francis Pangilinan, for his active commitment to good governance and ethical leadership
• Samar Represenative Mel Senen Sarmiento, for his inclusive leadership that harnessed citizens’ participation in governance, particularly through Mamamayang Liberal and for strengthening party structures

The awarding ceremony took place at the San Diego Gardens in Intramuros, Manila. It was also attended by international delegates from Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD).

During the program, Senator Aquino delivered the annual Freedom Speech, addressing the state of freedom in the Philippines. “We are a freedom-loving people. It seems to be ingrained in each Filipino the love for freedom and the willingness to fight for our freedom,” Aquino said. – Rappler.com