ASALUTETOKoniDeGuzman

    CONSTANCIA 'KONI' POSADAS-DEGUZMAN
    RP-CWY 1976-77
    Government Leadership

       Koni was among 15 international citizens awarded the 2007 Gusi Peace Award for
       her outstanding leadership in fighting corruption in the Philippines. The following
       article was written by Director Carlo Paras honoring Koni. She wrote: "I dedicate
       this to Mr. Jacques Hebert and to all of you who have been instrumental to the
       amazing transformation that CWY participants experience."

Constancia Posadas De Guzman: Lady Crusader
By Dir. Carlo Caparas

      A wife, mother, an educator, a military reserve officer, a graft-
buster, a   true-blooded public servant, Dr. Constancia Posadas de
Guzman, fondly called Koni, is the youngest daughter of a soldier
father and a public school teacher mother. Both her parents, Gonzalo
B. Posadas and Maria Ramona Toledo Posadas, during their lifetime,
instilled in their daughter, in her growing up years in San Antonio,
Nueva Ecija, the value of human life - through the dictum that says:
“What you are is God’s gift to you. What you become is your gift to
God.”

      Koni internalized such value as manifest in the manner she was
giving her best in everything that she went into --- her studies, work
and family life. In all the schools she enrolled, she always registered top
on her teacher/professors’ class records. She graduated Magna Cum
Laude in both her Baccalaureate and Doctoral courses. She was
adjudged the Most Outstanding Leader in College and was considered
an ambassador of goodwill as she became one of the Philippines’
representatives to the Canada World Youth Exchange Program which
to her transformed her into becoming a stronger and a better person – a
team player, learning to live harmoniously in the midst of diversity.

As a professional, Koni has a very impressive credential with almost
all of her stint in the various offices she has been to – always ending up
working with the Heads of those Agencies, the most notable of whom is
– then Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry –now
President of the Republic of the Philippines Her Excellency Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo, who likewise took her in at the Office of the
president, at the Department of National Defense, and to her current
post as Chairman of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission. In all
these engagements, Koni has registered remarkable accomplishments as
she was always at the forefront of reform measures to improve the
quality of governance as a means to make public servants become the
best gift to God.

      As a Military Reserve Officer with the rank of a Full Colonel at
the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Air Force, Koni served in various
capacities each of which was marked by dignity and honor expected of a
reserve officer. At present, she is the Deputy Wing Commander for the
1st Ready Reserve Air Wing. She takes pride in her being a reservist
and a recipient of the Sharp Shooter badge and offers this to her
departed soldier father.

      As an educator, Koni opts to focus on just two areas of disciplines
which she patiently and passionately teaches to her graduate students
at the Lyceum University and the Ateneo School of Government, Public
Ethics and Accountability and Public Finance and Budgeting,
respectively. As she honors her father-soldier through her military
service, it is her passion to teach that she offers to her teacher mother.

      Koni is married to Rodelio de Guzman, a Department Manger of the
Land Bank of the Philippines, They have three sons – Rydel Kristian
(26), Reindl Kaizer (25) and Randall Kervin (16). One might think that
because of Koni’s activities in the world of work and in the other
activities that she has been tied up with, she won’t have time for her
family. But, contrary to this – one will be surprised to find out that
Koni’s priority is always her family – still finding time to enjoy every
single second spent with her husband and children anytime, anywhere
– at home, at the mall, at the Church, and at the farm – their family’s
hideaway near the peak of a nearby mountain. Koni’s family was
picked as a “Model Family” during the International Year of the Family
celebration at the Holy Family Parish in Barrio Capitolyo, Pasig
City. On this, Koni says, “this is the most significant award I have
received so far – not the medals and trophies for academic excellence or
outstanding performance in work other endeavors” – as this one speaks
well of her ability to carry out her mission –her life’s purpose for this
earthly journey.

      The Koni that her playmates in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija knew
then,the Koni that her schoolmates from elementary, secondary,
tertiary and up to post graduate school laughed with, and the Koni that
her peers at all the Offices she has been to and in the neighborhood
that she stayed,

is very much the same Koni that she still is today – exactly the kind of
person that her name – Constancia – represents—a pleasure to know, one
who gives her all to fight the good fight, smart with a quiet, sweet manner,
lives a life that is full of love/care/sympathy, an ethical person who is
committed to do all –for the betterment of the greater number of people – and
definitely for God’s glory.

        For steering the Presidential Anti Graft Commission (PAGC) towards
professionalization, and, earning for it the elusive credibility and respect as a
graft busting body, of both Filipinos and foreign stakeholders involved in
anti-corruption work.

      She exhibits a unique brand of leadership that is anchored on her faith in
God and love for her country, backed up by a strong conviction that
whatever it is that she is asked to do must be done in an outstanding
manner, not to outdo others, but because of a set standard that calls for a
person’s minimum effort at 100 percent all the time --- a means to dignify the
value of human life – as what her favourite dictum says: “What you are is
God’s gift to you. What you become is your gift to God.”

      This soft spoken chair of PAGC –known to everyone as a true-blooded
public servant, dedicated to duty and always driven by high level of moral
integrity, infuses the workplace with dynamism. Under her reign, PAGC’s
operations are guided by its first ever set Vision, Mission, Goals and
Objectives that are well defined in its first ever PAGC Medium Term Plan -
all crafted under her guidance.

      People who deal with her are one in saying that she is the fiercest graft
buster to have emerged from the Macapal-Arroyo administration – making
crooks in the government tremble. This non-lawyer leader, whose
impeccable credentials include competence and unsullied reputation, refuses
to compromise the sanctity of PAGC’s mandate as well as her own moral
values. She is quick in decision-making and is consistent in standing by
controversial cases with courage. Under her supervision, PAGC’s
investigations on legitimate complaints against presidential appointees are
reflective of its adopted policy –that in anything that they work on, there will
never ever be cover ups, no whitewash, and no sacred cows. And, this is
evidenced by their accomplishments under their investigation strategy – a
long laundry list of big fishes, the biggest haul so far, of presidential
appointees ordered dismissed from their respective posts. In the list are
Heads of Offices and their Deputies ---including very influential personalities
who once upon a time in their lives thought that they were untouchables.
Even members of her own team are not exempted from this policy.

      Her PAGC term has been marked by many firsts in the anti-corruption
efforts. She spearheaded many unprecedented moves –which included the
introduction of a holistic approach in fighting corruption – one that is focused
on not only running after the crooks, but more importantly, cutting
corruption from the source –through systems and process reforms; opening of
the government offices’ doors for the entry of the members of the civil society
and faith-based organizations, business community and international donor
agencies – as partners in curbing corruption; and the use of a “multi-
disciplinary” approach in investigation of cases. This she did to ensure that
every angle of the case, not only the legal aspect, is considered before
submitting the same for resolution. This holistic strategy is embodied in the
first every national anti corruption framework for the Executive Branch
called the Integrity Development Action Plan (IDAP) composed of 22 very
specific and doable anti-corruption measures in the areas of prevention,
education, investigation and strategic partnership that top government
officials crafted in December 2004, launched in January 2005 in 39 offices
and is now in 120 offices nationwide. All of those moves and Dr De
Guzman's no-nonsense attitude in the fight against corruption were lauded
by no less than Hong Kong’s top graft buster, Mr. Tony Kwok.

      Her unwavering commitment to totally stamp out corruption the
bureaucracy as exemplified by her actions and policy moves is
unquestionable and what made his attitude more special and admirable is
the fact that she is not doing it to get rewards, fame, or satisfaction, it is
simply who she is

koni's email: konipdg@yahoo.com
.

Koni with her husband Rodel, sons Rydel, Reindl
and Randall

Koni being sworn in as head of the Presidential Anti
Graft Commission by Pres. Gloria Macapal-Arroyo

Koni welcoming Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo at the
IAACA Conference

Koni with her husband Rodel at a dinner celebration on
the eve of the Gusi Peace Award Night.

Koni, as a panelist in one of the IAACA conferences that address
the fight against corruption.

Koni with her family at the Gusi Peace Award ceremony

Koni, with Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo representing the
Philippines in an international forum on Anti Corruption.

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RP-Canada World Youth Alumni Association, Inc.(Philippines)
Head Office: 1229 Chino Roces Suite 412, MCS Tower Condominium, Barangay San Lorenzo Village, Makati City, Philippines
Email: admin@rpcwyalumni.org
Phone: 011-632-889-0929

A SALUTE TO: RP-CWY OUTSTANDING ALUMNI