This coming May 2010 elections, Liling will take on a road where "angels fear to tread". She joins Kaakbay Partylist as one of its nominees in their bid to capture several seats in Congress. KAAKBAY is carrying the platform of pro-people budgeting, ensuring that at the minimum, the millennium development goals are met, challenging government to become fiscally responsible. Placed alongside Liling’s sterling academic and professional credentials, one would say that the platform looks Lilliputian.

Let’s quickly run it through: Certificate in Policy for Public Enterprise, Harvard University; Post Graduate Diploma in Development Administration Major in Public Enterprises, Leeds University England; Masters in Public Administration, University of the Philippines, with distinction; Bachelor of Business Administration, Silliman University, magna cum laude…need we say more?

Alright…She worked as Secretary to the Commission on Audit, became one of the respected Treasurer of the Republic, was Vice President for Finance of the University, and is a moving spirit behind several NGOs – before the Freedom from Debt Coalition and now Social Watch Philippines.

We can still clearly recall her student activist days during Martial Law where Liling, riding on top of a jeepney donning the UP ladies’ uniform that is the mini-skirt, waiving the MPKP flag, undaunted by the dangers that lurk with our intent to barge into the gates of Malacañang to challenge the dictator. This lady is of such courage. Her stint as National Treasurer showed us another side of her valor. Rarely do we see national government officials standing up to the IMF and WB for policies that are anti-people. Liling showed them how.