Who is...
NORBERTO B. GONZALES?

Born on April 17, 1947 in Balanga, Bataan, Secretary Norberto Gonzales is presently the Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns at the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Malacañang, Manila.

He is also the Chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP – Democratic Socialist Party of the Philippines) since 1973.

Advocate of People Empowerment
In 1972-1974, wanting to advance the rights of workers, Sec. Gonzales introduced moderate labor unionism within the Bataan Export Processing Zone, under the Federation of Free Workers.

In 1990, he initiated, along with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), and the Lakas Manggagawa Labor Center, the creation of the Workers Fund. He was part of the formation of the Peasant Development Fund (PDF), as well as the formation of the Kapulungan ng mga Magsasaka at Mangingisda sa Pilipinas (KAMMPIL – Federation of Farmers and Fisher Folks in the Philippines).

Sec. Gonzales has been initiating the organization of farmers, agricultural workers, fisher folks, urban poor, and indigenous people in Northern and Southern Mindanao, Western Visayas, Bicol, Southern Tagalog, and Central Luzon.

Promoter of Democracy and Peace
It was during the era when freedom was severely oppressed that he proved his mettle, as a public servant and a freedom fighter.

He was detained in 1978 by President Ferdinand Marcos for being one of the leaders of Ninoy Aquino’s LABAN in Metro Manila during the Interim Batasang Pambansa (Philippine Parliament) election.

In 1990, he led the creation of the September 8 Movement, a coalition consisting of Catholic and Protestant Church elements and other sectors of society.

In 1992, he assisted in founding the SAMBAYANAN, a national coalition of people’s organizations and cooperatives. He was also co-founder of the Lakas ng EDSA (Lakas EDSA) coalition which launched the candidacy of former President Fidel Ramos.

He also formed, in 1994, the Konsyensyang Pilipino (KP – Filipino Conscience), meant to advance and uphold political and social moral order.

Secretary Gonzales has at least 20 years of experience as a peace adviser and negotiator for the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) – Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Peace Process, the GRP – More Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the GRP – National Democratic Front (NDF) Peace Talks. He also served as a panel member of the GRP-MNLF Peace Process under President Corazon C. Aquino.

His preoccupation with the preservation of peace continues with his attending and participating in numerous international conferences, bilateral talks and discussions on world security issues, models of social and political development in Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

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