Adolfo "Ado" Quizon Paglinawan
Adolfo Quizon Paglinawan, or simply “Ado” as he is popularly known, is a Filipino journalist, public intellectual, business professional, and devoted family man with extensive experience in diverse academic and professional fields. A Bedan by training, Ado completed his primary, secondary and tertiary education at the San Beda College in Manila. He holds an undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts major in English and Philosophy and is currently completing his Master of Arts in Journalism and International Diplomacy at the Lyceum of the Philippines. Between these academic pursuits, Ado had also obtained certifications in various fields of Information Technology at the USDA Graduate School, International Public Relations at the George Washington University, and Islamology at the Georgetown University.
His active engagements in journalism and social media activism undeniably served as training grounds in his writing and discursive prowess. Veering from a partisan approach to a more rationalized discourse of pressing issues confronting the Philippine society, he offers an alternative perspective that enables opportunities for peaceful diplomatic dialogues. Ado served as Press Attache and Spokesman of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC from 1986 to 1993 and was recalled to serve in the Peace Negotiating Panel with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army in 1987.
Of his innumerable contributions and services to the Philippine society, it is his participation in the South China Seas debate that is most noteworthy of the Award for the Promotion of Philippine-China Understanding (APPCU), which likewise earned him the designation of an Ambassador of Goodwill. His participation in the debate “was inspired by the scandals revolving frustrated oligarchic capture of oil and gas opportunities at the Reed Bank or Recto Reef in 2011, the incompetent mishandling of Philippine foreign affairs resulting in the Scarborough Standoff of 2012, and the subsequent filing of a case with the Permanent Court of Arbitration against China.”
Backed by his training and extensive experiences in journalism, and “motivated by nothing but reporting as close as possible to facts”, Ado stood his ground in facing-off with US Pinoys for Good Governance in a debate at Oxon Hill in Metro-Washington DC when said a group of “Sinophobics” led by Loida Nicolas launched its shame-China campaign in the U.S. Since then, Ado never lets off the South China Sea discussions, engaging his audiences through his articles in print and broadcast media, and mobilizing together with Migrants Heritage Commission chairman Arnedo Valera, a US Pinoys for Real Change movement based in Washington DC in a continuing attempt to present an alternative view amidst disinformation among Filipino-Americans.”
Furthermore, Ado authored two noteworthy books: “A Problem for Every Solution,” for most part is a situationer on the territorial dispute in the South China Sea, and “No Vaccine for a Virus called Racism,” a survey of COVID-19 implications from an international perspective.
Today, Ado serves as an inspiration to the Filipinos not only in his diverse and well-rounded interests but more so in his pursuit of a factual and rational view of matters concerning the Filipinos and the Philippine society at large.