Mong Palatino

Email: mongpalatino@gmail.com

I was once introduced as a two-timer member of Congress. Of course I politely responded by saying I’m a two-termer member of Congress representing Kabataan (Youth) Partylist. But maybe the emcee could be referring to my membership in two parliaments: The Batasan Parliament near Payatas and the Parliament of the Streets.

As student and youth leader, I once led the University of the Philippines Diliman Student Council (2000) and National Union of Students (2001). I’m one of the founders of Kabataan Partylist and co-convener of Txtpower, a consumer advocacy group.

I became a blogger in 2004 but before that I was a columnist of Tinig (Voice) web magazine. I was news editor of Yehey! for three years (2005-08), and columnist of UPI-Asia from 2007 to 2009. I’m currently the Southeast Asia editor of Global Voices and contributor to the ASEAN Beat of The Diplomat online magazine. I’m one of the ‘angry birds’ on Twitter and Facebook.

As legislator, I’m the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development.

The ‘Speaker’ in our house is my wife Frances and we are blessed with two kids. I’m known as a blogger-turned legislator but I should also mention that perhaps I’m the only congressman with working-class OFW parents. I’ve written about my life adventures as a young man in the Youngblood section of Inquirer: An activist son, Activist lover, and Neophyte.

Some of my pictures in the years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. A few articles about me:

1. Blogger of the week: Mong Palatino
2. The World of Chairman Mong
3. Mong’s Moment
4. Filipino blogger-turned-legislator on role of youth and New Media in politics
5. RP’s eyes and ears in the Global Voices blog network
6. Rep. Raymond Palatino ng Kabataan
7. Mong Palatino: Mula Chairman Patungong Congressman?
8. Economic Sabotage: The extent and impact of smuggling in the Philippines
9. Interview with Rep. Raymond Palatino on Internet censorship
10. Going Mobile: Text Messages Guide Filipino Protesters
11. Bulatlat Live: Webcast Interview with Kabataan Rep. Mong Palatino
12. Unang Hirit interview on extension of voters’ registration
13. State Universities 2011 budget interpellation
14. On K+12. Reporters Notebook
15. Guardian: Censorship in Southeast Asia
16. Press conference on Conditional Cash Transfer
17. Speech during Joma Sison book launch, February 22, 2011
18. My EDSA Dos Story
19. Pnoy Sona 2011 reaction (video)
20. Keynote Speech, Nafcon General Assembly, New Jersey
21. ANC Headstart Student Loan Program January 23, 2012
22. Umagang Kay Ganda Punto por Punto re Study Now Pay Later program
23. Quezon Hall press conference on missing UP students
24. Punto por Punto Umagang Kay Ganda Telcos Overcharging Issue