Corruptionary book is re-launched

Corruptionary, the only dictionary in the world containing corruption-related words, was re-launched on July 20, at the Powerbooks, Megamall, Mandaluyong City. The 450-page book that has an English translation, is published by the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) and Anvil Publishing and will be available at all Powerbooks and National Bookstore outlets throughout the country.

The book was first launched in May 2008 and had an international launching during the 13th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) in Athens, Greece in December that year. Corruptionary, the book, has been nominated as an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first dictionary of corruption words in the world.

A project of CenPEG and conceptualized by its Director, Evi-ta Jimenez, Corruptionary is a product of research by students from the University of the Philippines (Manila) taking their summer practicum with CenPEG in 2006 and 2007. Adopted as a centennial book by UP in 2009, it is edited by acclaimed Filipino writer, playwright and film scriptwriter Bonifacio Ilagan who is also a CenPEG Fellow with illustrations by CenPEG’s graphics artist, Fidel dela Torre.

The book was launched days before new President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) before Congress on July 26. Mr. Aquino III has vowed to end corruption in the country with an election campaign slogan, "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap."

Especially under the watch of former President Gloria M. Arroyo, the Philippines earned the notoriety of being one of the most corrupt countries in the world and the distinction of being the most corrupt in Asia. Included in the dictionary are the words “tong-pats” and “moderate-the-greed” which whistleblower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada mentioned at the height of the hearings in the ZTE-NBN scandal in 2008.