BLUEGREEN Politix

Hello readers. Please let me introduce to you the face behind this blogsite called "BlueGreen Politix." He is Atty. Romeo Torres Cabarde Jr., mostly known to friends and colleagues as Meong.  The title BlueGreen is inspired by his association to both the "blue" and the "green" universities of the country and "politix" is informed by his current pursuit in political studies.  Hence, this site will be about people, places and politics, with a few crazy stuff in between.   

 

Atty. Meong is engaged in various advocacy issues which include the fields of gender, sexuality, reproductive health, human rights, peace education, environment, good governance, leadership and organizational development among others. He was the Coordinator of the Ateneo Public Interest and Legal Advocacy Center (APILA), which houses the human rights programs and services of Ateneo de Davao University. Currently, he is on leave owing to his further studies at the De La Salle University where he is taking up his Masters Degree in Political Studies.

 

Before his post in APILA, he was the Executive Director of  Luna Legal Resource Center for Women and Children, a Non-Government Organization which promotes the welfare of marginalized women and children. Because of his legal background, he also became a part of the Institute of Environmental Governance of Tanggol Kalikasan, an alternative environmental law group aimed at developing the capacities of local governments in environmental protection, conservation and rehabilitation.

 

In 2006-2008 he has been elected as the Coordinator for Mindanao, National Confederation of Youth Advocates, an advocacy arm of the 6th National Youth Parliament of the National Youth Commission. Just recently, he received an Award of Commendation given by the National Youth Commission to the Top 10 Youth Advocates of the Philippines in 2008 for his unselfish and untiring advocacy for youth issues.    

 

Meong is also a member of several alliances working on various issues.  He is a fellow of the International Human Rights Training Program of the Equitas International Center for Human Rights Education, Montreal Canada. Also, he is a member of the Asian Young Leaders in Governance of the UNDP, Regional Center Bangkok, Thailand as well as the Leadership Development and Management - Institute of International Education of the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. 

 

Apart from all these, he is also serving as a full time instructor of the Ateneo de Davao University under its Political Science, History and International Studies Departments (Asian and American Studies) of the Social Sciences Cluster teaching law, history and international studies courses. He was also the Chairperson for six years of the University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council, AdDU’s governing council on all external engagements and advocacies.