Raul Socrates “Soc” C. Banzuela
Raul Socrates “Soc” C. Banzuela’s life mission is to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of a critical mass of empowered and sustainable communities in the Philippines. He serves as the National Coordinator of Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA), a national confederation of small farmers, fishers, and rural women federations committed to agrarian reform and rural development
Raul Socrates “Soc” C. Banzuela’s life mission: to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of a critical mass of empowered and sustainable communities in the Philippines. His core principles: active non-violence, dedication to truth and social justice, mutual respect and empowerment. His work objective: to produce quality work and build meaningful social relationships in the pursuit of his life mission.
Soc has earned experience and competencies in over thirty years of school, professional, and community involvement in various capacities as consultant, board of trustees member, executive director, operations manager, project/program manager, supervisor, trainer, researcher, and community organizer and leader.
He currently serves as the National Coordinator of Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA), a national confederation of small farmers, fishers, and rural women federations committed to agrarian reform and rural development. He managed a project for the Coalition for a Citizen’s Constitution (C4CC) to ensure basic sector’s agenda are mainstreamed in the current constitutional reform debate (2005-2009). He served as Consultant of the local government of his home city (Tabaco) and of Haribon Foundation’s Marine protected area program. Served as Executive Director (June 1998-March 2002), Board Member (1994-1998, 2002), and Organizer -Founder (1993) of the Philippine Agrarian Reform Foundation for National Development (PARFUND), an NGO grant-making and fund raising facility. Worked for nine years in 65-member agrarian reform and rural development NGO network (PhilDHRRA) in various capacities as Program Manager of the Tripartite Partnership for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (TriPARRD-1989-1994), Project Manager of Sustainable Integrated Area Development (1997-1998) , Department Manager (ARRD-1990-1994) and as Deputy Executive Director (1994-98). Served as secretary-general of the Citizens’ Movement for a Federal Philippines (CMFP) (2002-2006), and Vice-Chair of Project Seahorse for Fisheries Conservation (2003-2006).
Helped in setting up advocacy coalitions for citizens (KayaMo-2009, BUSINA -2008, Stop Cha-Cha-2006, BnW Movement-2005, C4CC and CMFP-2002), landless farmers (ARNow!-1997), small fishers (AKLAS-1986, NFR-1995, PAMANA-KA-2001, NAPC-fishers assembly-2002), indigenous peoples, (Task Force Bugsuk- 2002), destructive logging victims (Task Force Sierra Madre-2005, and Task Force Mt. Diwata-2005), a national professional association of Community Organizers (PhilCOS, 1995), campaigns for agrarian reform (MAPALAD-Sumilao campaign-1997-01; 2007-09; Banasi and CARPER Campaigns-2008-9) and general social change (Jubilee Pilgrimage Campaign- 2000; Pilgrimage for Truth and Reforms-2006). Conducted project formulation and/or evaluation projects for Haribon Foundation, DFID, World Bank, and European Union among others and conducted a variety of seminars and workshops to help build capacities of POs and NGOs across the country.
Supervised community organizers involved in building fishers/people’s organizations in a number of coastal communities in Batangas Bay and Laguna lake areas (1985-89) and was a community organizer for seven years (1982-89), in two institutions, namely: Service Bureau for Small Fisherfolks (1985-89); Organizing for Rural Development (1982-85), and a volunteer trainer on Active Non-Violence of AKKAPKA-1985-1986).
Authored/co-authored research reports, various proposals, project and organizational annual reports, brochures, a couple of video documentaries, and media articles. Attended a good number of international and national conferences and training courses covering a variety of topics (federalism, land tenure, food security, fund raising, active non-violence, etc).
