Presidential aspirant Norberto Gonzales on Tuesday said that his vision for federalism is not just for the Philippines, but for the entire southeast Asia.
"Ang federalism para palakihin ang bansa, 'yung mga iba't ibang bansa nagsasama-sama. Magandang pangarap kung titignan natin ang ating ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region kung magsasama-sama tayo napakalakas na bansa 'yan sa kinabukasan," he said during Tuesday's Bakit Ikaw: The Presidential Job Interview.
(Federalism is for the expansion of a nation, for countries to unite. A good goal for us is for the ASEAN region, if we unite, it could be a strong country in the future.)
Gonzales brought back the non-political confederation of Maphilindo, which he claimed was the dream of the country's heroes.
"Alam mo sinimulan natin 'yang ideya na 'yan, natatandaan natin yung Maphilindo? Malaysia, Philippines, saka Indonesia. 'Yan ay pangarap ng ating mga bayani katulad ni Jose Rizal, tinitignan nila ang pagbubuo ng tinatawag na Malay civilization dito sa Asia," he said.
(We already started with this idea, remember the Maphilindo? Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia. That is the dream of our heroes like Jose Rizal. They are looking into the formation of a Malay civilization in Asia.)
"Sa tingin ko, kung tatanungin niyo ko, when it comes to Federalism, I think that is the direction that I'd like to take," he added.
(For me, when you ask me when it comes to federalism, I think that is the direction that I’d like to take.)
According to Gonzales, the remaining aspect that needs to be established to make the dream happen is an agreement among ASEAN states on bilateral and multilateral defense.
"'Pag natapos na 'yung mga 'yan, I think in a way prepared towards the federalism of southeast Asian states."
(Once done, I think in a way we are prepared towards the federalism of Southeast Asian states.)
For the Philippines, Gonzales said having autonomy among regions will be enough.
"Tingin ko autonomy will be sufficient to satisfy the demands, 'yung pagkakaroon ng different formulas of economic growth na naaayon sa kondisyon ng bawat region natin," he said.
(I think autonomy will be sufficient to satisfy the demands, which is having different formulas of economic growth that is appropriate for the conditions of every region.)
