The mess that we find ourselves in today is a consequence of poor public governance — a sweeping indictment of a democratic nation that has been in existence since our founding father of Philippine Independence, Manuel Quezon, was able to secure a promise of independence in 1934 from our overlords then, the United States of America — or perhaps they still are?
This lingering malady surely should not be taking this long to resolve. Almost a century of “now you see it, now you don’t,” vainly waiting for the realization of the supposed fruits of democratic governance by the people, for the people. Sadly, our experience so far has been governance by dynasties of the privileged few, solely for the benefit of these few and their descendants.
So what ails us? Are we destined to forever suffer under this yoke of incompetent, dishonest, and corrupt so-called leaders of our nation? Should we be giving up all hope of prosperity and a bright future for all under a freely democratic regime? Or should we resort to the rule of a militaristic dictatorial regime, which would brook no dissent in the name of well-being and a prosperous life for all?
One might assume that such thinking can only be uttered in whispers for fear of being branded a radical agitator who would be up to no good and thus would be considered an enemy of the state. But at last week’s National Summit for Public Governance, these sentiments were openly and unabashedly discussed.
The proponents of leadership change apparently differ only in affiliation and approach. One group is supposedly composed of retired military officials eager to effect immediate change through extra-constitutional measures and to install a junta to rule the country, composed of the military and selected businessmen.
In contrast, there is another group composed of Church leaders and prominent businessmen who favor change but only through constitutional means and who are prepared to sit it out and wait for the developments that will arise from the current investigations.
Most folks are probably not aware that there is a non-partisan movement going on in its 25th year that is dedicated to raising the bar of public governance with the hosting of this National Summit, aptly labeled as maka-Diyos, maka-Tao, maka-Kalikasan, maka-Bansa, the core national values that we desperately need to propagate to fulfill the dream of Isang Bansa, Isang Pangarap.
This movement is spearheaded by the Institute of Solidarity in Asia, founded by the vanguard of good governance in the Philippines, Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, or JPE, who is also the founder of the Institute of Corporate Directors, its counterpart directed to promoting good governance in the private sector.
Allow me to paraphrase JPE’s highly emotion-charged opening address — to my mind, the lone voice of God-centered sobriety and responsible patriotism, a Call for Change in our country to raise the bar of governance.
JPE exhorted all in attendance to rise above the din of protests against the hope-sapping evil of corruption that has befallen our society and to “thank God for the gift of being born in the Philippines” in spite of our “nation’s burdens of poverty, corruption, and weak civic spirit,” for we, all the good governance warriors, are the “miracle our country has been waiting for.”
Adherents of good governance under the guidance of ISA and ICD-trained advocates have demonstrated, although not necessarily in large numbers yet, but with one good story of good governance after another in both the public and private sectors, proving, according to JPE, that “good governance can happen here” and that this “revolution must be spread to every corner of the Philippines, to every sector of our economy.”
But JPE believes it is no longer the mission to just reform offices and transform institutions on a stand-alone basis — it should be about “transforming our character as a people. From cynicism to faith. From apathy to action. From corruption to courage.”
He believes that today “we are at a turning point,” that “the crisis we face is not a dead end.” But we must “rise again, as one nation under God. As one people with a shared purpose, as one Philippines with a destiny we will no longer postpone.”
“But we must act together. To strengthen our institutions. Clean our surroundings. Lift up our people. And hold one another to a higher standard of honesty and hope.”
And with the above exhortation, to close his address, JPE asked all to stand and as Filipinos to “pledge adherence to the Call to Change — sa Isip, sa Salita, at sa Gawa.”
Until next week… OBF!