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When word came out of Congressman Teddy Casino's visit to Cebu, I also grabbed the chance to get to know him more.
Seeing him in person, he looks to be a simple man. He was wearing a blue polo shirt and was pleasant to talk with.
When he was asked by a reporter about projects planned for Cebu, he somewhat reminded the audience that in the Senate, it's more about legislation than projects (and he is right). People tend to forget that the Senator's job is to make legislation and only because of the pork barrel that these projects arose.
He thinks legislation regarding industrialization will benefit Cebu best since Cebu is known to be a manufacturing city in the 70's according to him.
On some people telling him he does not have the political pedigree, money and resources: "...This candidacy is not about me. It's about you and the kind of representation you want in the Senate. It's about what we are willing to do to bring that new voice in the Upper House."
Here are 8 Things you might not know about him:
3. His parents were devout Catholics. Casino was once an altar boy and he once wanted to be a priest or a La Salle brother. His oldest brother was the one who ended up in the seminary.
4. His political awakening so to speak came during his high school days at La Salle Green Hills when he volunteerd for NAMFREL in the 1986 snap elections.
5. He also has a love affair with writing and journalism. He had a brief stint as reporter for ABS-CBN's Hoy Gising and the Correspondents. He wrote columns for People's Bagong taliba, Frontpage, Pinoy Gazette and online newsmagazine bulatlat.com.
6. He was awarded one of the Ten Outstanding Congressmen for 2012 by the Publisher's Association of the Philippines, Inc.
7. He declined a scholarship in De La Salle University to study at UPLB where he became a student leader. Despite his extracurricular activities as student leader, he consistently made it to the honor roll.
8. He entered the UP College of Law in 1996 only to leave it for three days as it interfered with his work in the labor sector. According to Casino, "I said to myself, why spend another four years in law school when there are so many things that need to be done right now."
9. Changes sought if given the chance in the Senate: Lower prices of good and services, good governance, people empowerment, agrarian reform, national industrialization, respect for human rights in all aspects, truly independent foreign policy and comprehensive political settlement of the Muslim and Communist rebellions.
10. He is the principal author of the Rent Control Act of 2009 (RA 9653), Public Attorney's Act of 2007 (RA 9406), Tax Relief Act of 2009 (RA 9504) and Anti-Torture Act of 2009 (RA 9745). He is the principal author of the Whistleblowers' Protection and Rewards Bill, Freedom of Information Bill and House version of the Anti-Epal Bill.
