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Marietta Primicias Goco
carries on the legacy of
Eleanor Roosevelt

Like Eleanor Roosevelt, Marietta Primicias Goco has lived her life at the center of her country's most significant events. As a child, Marietta had a front-row seat on history-in-the-making. Her father, the revered Senator Cipriano Primicias Sr., was the country's Senate Majority Floor Leader during some of their nation's most challenging times: World War II, the American liberation, Philippine independence from the U.S., writing the Philippine Constitution and the post-war reconstruction. Through all these events, Marietta learned by her father's side.

When she was just 10 years old, Marietta left her family's seaside home in Pangasinan to live with her father in Manila, so she could attend the best schools. An avid book-worm, Marietta read the entire encyclopedia - and the biographies of great people. Every night Marietta and her father would have precious time together at dinner. He shared colorful stories about his day's events and encouraged his curious daughter's thoughtful questions. Some of Marietta's favorite stories were the ones he told her about President Franklin and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Marietta was fascinated to hear how Eleanor Roosevelt was living her life in the center of the 20th century's most significant events, especially her involvement in the creation of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). She was impressed with the way this woman was "a trendsetter - and especially the way she was able to manage herself in the company of men." She was also inspired by the way Mrs. Roosevelt confronted both opportunity and adversity with a sense of optimism and determination.

Marietta remembers that her father had referred to Mrs. Roosevelt as a brave warrior. "Look at this woman," he would say, "Even though the Atlantic isn't safe for travel, she's going to London just to lift the morale of the soldiers."

At a very early age, Marietta decided that this woman from a far-off land was her heroine. Little did Marietta know how much 10-year-old Eleanor had always longed for, but never realized her dream, to live with her own father.

"My father used to tell me about Bayanihan, one of our traditional Filipino values," says Marietta. "To help me understand, he used to tell me stories about people who worked together for the common good. These people were called, Bayani, our heroes, for our country. What made them special is their willingness to think of others instead of themselves."

"My father told me that Bayanihan gave people the courage to face their fears, stand up for their convictions and make choices that bettered their families, their communities and the world." As Marietta reflected on her father's words, she said, "Over the years, we've forgotten about the importance of working together for the common good. If we're ever going to create lasting peace in the Philippines, we'd better remind our people --and teach our children-- about Bayanihan."
Excerpted from Stone Soup for the World: Life-Changing Stories of Everyday Heroes

Like her father, Marietta has dedicated her life to helping her country find and hold onto its freedom. While she was groomed for a political life, serving as her father's Chief of Staff for 13 years, she ended up chosing the road less traveled. Instead of becoming a career politican, Marietta became an un-elected policymaker, and often acted as the politicians' conscience, reminding them of their solemn duty to serve all Filipinos, not just their financial supporters.

Whether by design or by divine intervention, Marietta has spent much of her life carrying on the legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt's work with the United Nations. She even married a man, Raul Goco, who would one day become the first Asian to serve on the UN's International Law Commission. Over time, their partnership has reinforced Marietta's respect for the power that laws can have and their significance in bringing good ideas into action. For Marietta, the cornerstone of her work must always be the UDHR - Eleanor Roosevelt's greatest accomplishment. Over the years, Marietta carefully studied the UDHR principles and was convinced that it was soundest document from which to build a healthy society. Much like her famous needlepoint projects, Marietta carefully wove these basic principles into all aspects of her work.

During the 1970-80's, it was heart-breaking for Marietta and most Filipinos to helplessly watch as President Marco sold their beloved country's soul to the highest bidder. During his twenty-year regime, the Philippines went $28 billion in debt, and became a breeding ground for corruption, rampant environmental destruction, and global terrorism. Desperate economic situations tempted even good people to do bad things, that bankrupted their nation and their children's future.

Marietta worked tirelessly, first to help overthrow Marcos in 1986 and then to help reclaim her country's independence. Under President Cory Aquino, "Mrs. NGO Networker," as Marietta has been affectionately called, fought hard for the rights of the poor. She founded the non-governmental organization, FEED (Foundation for Education and Economic Development), which then served as the first intermediary entity to manage US AID grants for 80,000 NGO's. She also took Dr. Yunus's micro-credit program to the next level by pioneering the first micro- finance programs in the Philippines.


Dr. Yunus with women and their families involved with microcredit in Bangladesh


Even with their hard-earned freedom and a renewed commitment to democracy in 1986, the nation still wasn't moving forward. Then Marietta's childhood friend, Fidel V. Ramos was elected President of the Philippines. As the military general who had ensured that the overthrow of Marcos was peaceful, Ramos firmly believed that fighting poverty was the best strategy to combat the war on terrorism and to bring peace and stability to the Philippines. In fact, he became the first Asian to receive the UNESCO Peace Award for achieving a peace agreement between military rebels and secessionist MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front).

In 1995, Ramos invited Marietta to head up the first Presidential Commission to Fight Poverty and set an ambitious goal: develop a plan to bring the disenchanted into the mainstream, and decrease poverty by 10% in 5 years. Marietta accepted her new role in shaping her country's
future with passion and determination.

She launched a multi-faceted initiative by rekindling Filipino values like Bayanihan to help rally her countrymen to make the goal of eradicating poverty their own. The Moral Recovery Program, a values-based re-education program, helped people remember their God-given talents, honor their capacity to realize their own visions and encourage them to give back to their communities. Each person who went through the program then created a personalized plan for meeting their own basic needs and for helping to rebuild their country. Some started with simple steps -- quit smoking, learn how to read, or be a better father. Others had larger goals -- to help their neighbors, care for their communities or run for local government. Together, they came to see that when each person gave a little of themselves, it made a difference for everyone.

Marietta was determined to demonstrate how the basic principles of UDHR could be used to help measure progress towards reducing poverty. Most importantly, she wanted to add a human face to poverty-to define easily-understood terms that showed exactly what constituted a person's basic human rights. Ever the practical statesman, she knew that facts and figures could convince even the most skeptical leaders in Manila.

Marietta and her colleagues went through a thorough process to determine exactly what a person needed to be self-sufficient. They designed the MBN Survey to measure a person's 33 Minimum Basic Needs. The survey establishes a direct link to the "human dignity as human rights entitlements" of the UDHR. This practical tool enables every neighborhood (barangay) to find out exactly which of the peoples' basic human rights aren't yet being met. Equipped with this data, even the poorest people can help plan projects, learn how to allocate resources and measure their barangay's progress. Marietta and her colleagues worked with local government officials to implement the MBN Survey in all 45,000 barangays - and make sure the data was available to all local barangay officials.


Marietta Goco walking with Susie through her family's former land in Pangasinan


Next, Marietta built a coalition of supporters to pass landmark legislation, The Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act," -- (R.A. 8425), which institutionalized micro-finance in order to address the vicious cycle of poverty. Much like Eleanor Roosevelt's tedious three-year formulation of the UDHR, Marietta championed the coalition-building SRA legislative process for three years, and ultimately succeeded in creating the first such law in the world that guaranteed each person's human rights. The Presidential Commission to Fight Poverty touched the lives of an amazing six million people, and they reached their goal -- two years ahead of schedule.

Marietta credits much of her success to President Ramos who has vigorously supported her every step of the way. His strong support for Marietta gave her the courage to overcome many obstacles. Like an older brother, he coxed, calmed, supported and strengthened Marietta's resolve. Their relationship began when they were still children in Pangasinan. Whenever she was frustrated or discouraged, Ramos would affectionately remind her, "Remember, when you were just a baby, I was your nanny." Their close personal relationship resulted in tremendous benefits for their country. Like the Roosevelt's, they became a formidable team who helped the Philippine economy to dramatically recover. On his last day of office, President Ramos awarded Marietta with the Order of the Golden Heart, the Filipino equivalent of being knighted, for her "lifetime work in meaningful access, participation and empowerment of the marginalized basic sectors in the alleviation of poverty in the Philippines."

Shortly afterward, Marietta was asked her to run for office. Filipinos were hungry for honest leaders who could guide their country towards a better future. Marietta was flattered by the request, but also reluctant. Over the years, she'd become disenchanted with the political process and weary of the graft, corruption and rampant vote buying. In 1992, she experienced it first-hand when she lost her bid for Congress. Often the candidates who won were those who tempted the poor with cash and false promises. Human nature - the longing of the poor to feed their children -- won out over their better judgment: to vote for the best candidate. As economic conditions worsened, temptations grew, so did corruption. It was a vicious circle.

From her studies, Marietta knew that the political system needed fundamental changes. Under the present bi-cameral system, politicians were elected on a national basis, too often based just on their name recognition. As a result, they weren't accountable to the people in their own provinces. In fact, when Marietta's father helped draft the Philippine Constitution, he had argued for a federal system, but had to settle for the bi-cameral system urged by the Americans. Marietta had learned that the most stable countries like the U.S. and Western Europe had a federal system. While Filipinos longed for this kind of stability, getting it would mean changing the Philippines Constitution. And that was a monumental undertaking. Every so often people would try to rally support for a change. But, with all the vested interests, it was impossible. Those who benefited most from the present system would be the ones who would have to change it. And no one was yet ready to take on that challenge.

In the meantime, Marietta was willing to try one last time to work within the system. Reflecting on President Cory Aquino's words, "If good people don't run for office, then we have no one but ourselves to blame." She decided to seriously consider running for office again. But before making her final decision, Marietta conducted a survey in her home province of Pangasinan to see who were the strongest names on the ticket. When the results were tallied, Marietta decided not to run. She was actually relieved, because she knew that her true calling was elsewhere. The political survey process, had rekindled her appreciation for the poor women in her province who were working hard to improve their lives and their communities. For years she had longed for a way to test out her ideas, policies and programs with people in her hometown. Marietta took a leap of faith and founded the Sambayanihan Foundation in 1998 - the 50th year anniversary of the UDHR. As chairperson of this NGO, she was able to bring the best of what they created on national policy to her family's homeland.

A Social Experiment
A Demonstration Project in Pangasinan


Zinnia, Marietta and Sambayanihan staff Pangasinan

As a first step, Marietta invited her friends and colleagues in Manila to join her. For years, they'd designed and lobbied for national policies to alleviate poverty through efforts like the Moral Recovery Program, micro-finance programs and the Kabisig People's Movement - and finally, the hard-won Social Reform Act (SRA). Now Marietta was offering them a chance to "get their hands dirty"- and see if their plans could actually work out, in the provinces, and truly benefit the poorest people far from Manila.


Zinnia, Sally Gonzales, Marietta Marianne

A true-blooded NGO visionary, Marietta was passionately committed to the principles of self-empowerment and self-determination. She wanted this social experiment to emerge from - and support the poorest people in the country. She was convinced that only with a bottoms-up approach -- connecting people's needs and concerns with local and national resources, would real, sustainable long-term change be able to occur. And from her experience with micro-finance, she knew that women had the best track record for creating lasting local initiatives.

Marietta embarked on this ambitious undertaking by investing her own personal resources, time and energy. She also invested in the poorest people in the country, especially those who'd initially volunteered to work on her survey. They became the first local coordinators for her new program, and their villages (barangays) were the first to participate in this social experiment.

As a child, Marietta had learned from her father about the importance of "walking one's talk." In the 1960's Senator Primicias had led by his own example the nation's first land reform movement in the 1960's. He was among the first to give away the family's lands so that the poor could build their future. Years later, Marietta could see how her family's land has grown into a community where people are planting gardens, harvesting their own crops and creating small businesses. Thatched-roof nipa huts are slowly being replaced with sturdy homes, and families are able to plan for their future. There's even a Geo Farm that is testing out innovative recycling ideas for sustainable development. Marietta still likes to visit the mango groves -- where as a young girl -- she created her own private sanctuary.


Marietta and Zinnia at Geo Farm, Pangasinan

Marietta asked her most loyal and trusted colleague, Zinnia Cariasa-Arcinue, to head up her project. Just as how Trude Lash served Eleanor Roosevelt, Zinna became Marietta's eyes and ears. She listenened carefully to the women and took their concerns and ideas to Manila. Fondly called "the little chili pepper," she often took a mighty stand for these women.

Each and every week for two years, Zinna took the 5-hour bus ride from Manila to Pangasinan.



Susie with Zinnia with rural transportation

After a week of traffic, pollution and crowds, the ride was actually a welcome relief. Looking out the window, Zinna would see the lush green countryside and the gentle people working in the fields. When she finally arrived, Zinnia was warmly welcomed by the women who entrusted her with their deepest hopes and dreams. Once a month Marietta would joined Zinna for a weekend trip so she could see for herself how things were progressing - and spend time with these inspiring Pangasinan women.

Marietta wanted to see first-hand how effective the new MBN survey was in achieving its goal of reducing poverty. She invited the six newly-hired local coordinators to join sixty regional government officers in attending Moral Recovery Program training. At their first-ever training program in the mountain-resort town of Baguio, the Pangasinians were a little shy, especially among all these prominent people.

However, after trainer Vic Pascua encouraged them to look within, to find their God-given talents, they found new confidence. Returning home, they were eager to share their new tools with their neighbors, and to begin digging themselves out of poverty and start planning for their children's future.

Back in Pangasinan, they made a plan for how they would go door-to-door to survey each and every one of the 20,000 families in the 306 barangays. This ambitious task took six months. They knew that their data there were gathering could help them reduce the poverty that was plaguing their families. Once all the surveys were tallied, they created a large map for each barangay and hung it proudly in a public place for everyone to see. The color-coded houses -- green, yellow and red -- clearly showed which families most urgently needed care. Poverty now had a face and everyone knew who among them needed help. In the place of shame and isolation came community action and a hopeful sense of direction.


Marietta, Zinnia, women and MBN Survey map

Next, the coordinators invited their neighbors and barangay leaders to join in Sambayanihan Circles to talk about the survey results and explore ideas for where they could find the resources to meet their community's needs. Women were offered the opportunity to submit small business plans to the Sambayanihan Foundation for a microfinance loan of 10,000 pesos ($200). Up until then, people had been paying an exorbitant 20% month "curb rate" for bank loans. This was a sure way to keep them impoverished. Now with access to capital for only a 4% interest rate, women could finally start to grow their own businesses. Since Marietta had championed the micro-finance movement in the Philippines, she made sure that each loan included a built-in savings account. If women felt secure in their lives, they could plan for their children's future. Step by step, these poor women worked together to build a powerful army of people who slowly began to make their dreams come true. Where once there had been despair, now there were opportunities for a better future. Where there had once been a fertile ground for breeding corruption and even terrorism, now families have their own small businesses and savings accounts to help plan for their future.


Marietta Goco with basket-weavers, Pangasinan

What started in 1998 as a social experiment has become a successful five-year demonstration project that has benefited more than 20,000 families. During all this time, Marietta continued her treasured weekend trips to Pangasinan with Zinna, to renew her spirit and strengthen her resolve to the arduous process of bringing human rights to the poorest people in her country. As the local coordinators for the Sambayanihan Foundation's demonstration project, Fely Visraras, Africa Catungal and Marietta Arangul are on the front-lines of the war on poverty and terrorism in the Philippines.

The Impact of Marietta Goco
Receiving the Eleanor Roosevelt Award

In 2002, at the age of 66, Marietta had thought that it was time to retire. She felt that she'd earned a well-deserved rest at her mountaintop retreat in Tagaytay -- out of the Manila spotlight. She longed to read, reflect, and get back to her needlepoint. She also wanted to travel and spend some time with her grandchildren, some who lived in America.


Marietta and Marianne, listening to D. Woolner

But once again, destiny called upon her. When Marietta received the Stone Soup Leadership Institute's Eleanor Roosevelt Award, she received accolades from many friends and colleagues - as well as tremendous media recognition. When she returned from the global awards ceremony in New York City, Marietta was amazed to see all the attention she'd gotten. She was featured in nearly every Filipino newspaper and was on radio and television; she'd become a media sensation.

Once in a while, someone from our country takes home a medal from an international event. This makes us feel good about ourselves, and inspires us to believe once more that yes, we have what it takes. Stories like these remind us of what we can do at a time when we have begun to wonder if there is hope. Today another Filipina has brought home an international award. Mrs. Marietta Primicias Goco as the first non-American to receive the Eleanor Roosevelt award.
Lyn Besa-Gamboa, Governor, Pacific Area 1 International Federation of Women's Organizations, The Philippine STAR OPINION

We felt proud and joyful when we read that the first recipient of the Stone Soup Leadership Institute's Global Eleanor Roosevelt Award was Marietta Primicias Goco for being instrumental in mainstreaming micro finance into a state policy through The Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act (RA 8425). Like Eleanor Roosevelt, Marietta Goco has dedicated her life to working for the most neglected and underprivileged members of our society. To do good, two things are necessary. First, one must think correctly' second, one must mean well. To love the people and work for the improvement of the oppressed and the underprivileged is the height of goodness. We are glad that M. Goco has received due recognition for her good works here and abroad. May her tribe increase!
Roses and Thorns, Alejandro R. Roces,
The Philippine Star


President Franklin Roosevelt once told historian Arthur Schessigner Jr. the achievement of which he was most proud was the creation of the United Nations. Eleanor Roosevelt told biographer Joseph Lash that her proudest achievement was the UN Declaration of Human Rights which met in Geneva, this important document set a world standard for fulfilling the obligation of the UN Chapter to the rights and dignity of the world's people. The Philippines, represented by Carlos Romulo, served on that commission in Geneva….Dr. Muhammed Yunus received the Gandhi award for launching micro credit as the most viable means to fight global poverty. Mrs. Goco's work has been to take that concept one step further, from small loans to individuals, to the concept of "micro finance" … which raise the living standard of families.
Beth Day Romulo, Manila Bulletin

Marietta was asked to speak at numerous events in honor of International Women's Month. Each time, she talked about Mrs. Roosevelt's vision and the living legacy she had inspired through the UDHR. These speaking engagements also gave her the opportunity to share the success of her demonstration project with some of Manila's elite - and to encourage them to find ways to help their impoverished people. The Award gave Marietta renewed energy and strengthened her convictions to extend the opportunity to succeed to more women. She felt it would encourage other women to carry on Mrs. Roosevelt's great legacy.

Marietta elevates us to a higher ground of public service -- to serve the poor, break free from bondage, and become a shining light.
Luisa Rosales, UN Human Settlement Program

Marietta lit the flame that rooted microfinance in the Philippines. Today, serving more than half a million enterprising poor. The flame is spreading.

Marcia Feria Miranda Punla sa Tao Foundation

The "Iron Lady" was at the forefront of mobilizing civil society and the Philippine Basic Sectors in the quest for community centered, people-empowered anti poverty campaign.
Dr. Athir Sajid, De La SallesUniversity

Buoyed by her newly-achieved celebrity status, Marietta has now embarked on the greatest challenge of her life. She is using her new forum in the media to champion the arduous process of changing the Constitution of the Philippines, so that her country can build a more equitable, humane society.


Senator J. De Venecia signing People's Summit

When actor Joseph Estrada first bought his way into the presidency in 1998 and then squandered the Ramos' hard-earned gains, Filipinos were embarrassed and Marietta was understandably furious. While EDSA II successfully ousted Estrada's corrupt regime, the damage was done. Marietta knew that as usual, the poor would suffer the most. She also knew the only way to prevent this from ever happening again was to finally change the political system.


Senator J. De Venecia with indigenous leaders

To finish the job her father had started nearly 50 years ago, Marietta is now working along side another leader from her father's homeland of Pangasinian -- Speaker of the House, Senator Jose De Venecia --"To fully modernize Philippine politics and bring it closer to the democratic ideal." Interestingly, it was President Roosevelt who supported the first Philippine Constitution they are now rewriting.

With renewed resolve, Marietta agreed to champion the Constitutional Change movement. With the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, they began months of careful planning with a diverse representation of people from all sectors of the Philippine society. On February 24, 2003 the eve of the 17th anniversary of EDSA/People Power, the People's Summit on Constitutional Reform was convened. As co-convenor of the Consultative Group for Constitutional Reform, Marietta guided the growing coalition of diverse sectors, organizations and communities of Philippine society, individually and collectively -with the stated goal "to honor our forebears who sacrificed their lives and fortunes to create a free, democratic and strong nation - to preserve the best traditions of our history for future generations of Filipinos." Step by step, they are traveling together on a long journey -- committing themselves to arduous process of changing their Constitution in time for the 2004 elections. They are building a broad consensus - the largest ever in the history of the Philippines who are willing to rise above narrow personal and partisan interests. They are rallying the nation's 84 million Filipinos to finally do something that had never been done before -- to finally create genuine self-determination -- and to ensure human rights for all.

Marietta serves as an interlocutor of sectoral demands for access and equity, for real on-the-ground changes, and for integrity in governance. She is in politics, but she is not of politics….and uses her political power to push concerns that create a countervailing force to the blind forces of market determinism and globalization. Her choice as an awardee is well-deserved.

Louie Corral, Assoc. Philippine Electric Coops


M. Goco, Senator J. De Venecia with leaders

Support is building each and every day. Once Marietta would have to buy advertisements to educate people about coalition-building issues, thanks to the prominence she achieved through the Eleanor Roosevelt Award, and her new access to the media, she is now being widely quoted as an authority. And support for the revised Constitution is growing: a March survey of 3,600 respondents, quoted Marietta as saying, "We see a dramatic rise in the number of Filipinos who seek Charter change to amend the Constitution-- a leap from 38% in December to 58% in April in just 4 months!"

Once you have been 'contaminated' by Mrs. Goco, you have no other choice but to choose the difficult path that others refuse to take, but which you will never regret taking in your lifetime, because it is, in the end, the road to a better life.
ZINNIA CARIASA-ARCINUE
Executive Director, Sambayanihan Foundation


When the road seems long and success unsure, Marietta renews her spirit by remembering Mrs. Roosevelt and her tireless, three-year struggle to achieve adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Marietta is hopeful that her people's longing for real autonomy and human rights for all her people will come in her lifetime. She's grateful for Eleanor Roosevelt's living legacy that continues to inspire her and her people.

Today the world faces a great challenge: on one side a government preserved by fear, on the other a government of free men. I have never believed that anything supported by fear can stand against freedom from fear. Surely we cannot be so stupid as to let ourselves become shackled by senseless fears. The result of that would be to have a system of fear imposed on us.


Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke to let the oppressed go free. Share your bread with the hungry and shelter the homeless poor. Clothe the man you see to be naked, and turn not from your own kin. Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Your integrity will go before you, and the glory of the Lord behind you. Cry, and the Lord will answer. Call, and He will say 'I am here."

If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fish, and the wicked word. If you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed, your light will shine in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon.

The Lord will always guide you, giving you relief in desert places. He will give you strength to your bones, and you shall be like the watered garden. Like the spring of water whose waters never run dry.

The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up. 'Repairer of the breach' they shall call you. 'Restorer of ruined houses.'

Isaiah 58:6-12
Marietta Goco's favorite needlepoint

Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.

Eleanor Roosevelt



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