vi Chasing the Wind: Assessing Philippine Democracy, Second Edition This volume should be read by democratic reformers and activists because of the concrete ideas it propounds about how to make democracy work and become more meaningful for Filipino citizens. It provides a sober look into our notions of democracy, challenging many assumptions that we may have taken for granted and also debunking others. The discourse offers compassionate insight, supported by painstaking research and empirical evidence. This book becomes all the more signicant and important with the landscape of Philippine democracy constantly evolving, especially in this age of fast-paced communication and social media. I congratulate the authors and wish them continued success in their quest to build a vibrant democracy worthy of the aspirations for freedom of all Filipinos. Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon Chairperson