MEDIUM RARE

Yes, he did, the magic words that I’ve been waiting to hear throughout the campaign and for the longest time, years and years since the last century.

In Pursuit of Excellence is the title of a book written by Terry Orlick, a sports psychologist, in 1980. In real life and local management circles, Felipe G. Medina Jr., GM of Kanlaon Broadcasting System that operated Channel 9 “The Leader” made the pursuit of excellence the mantra for his executives, beginning with the news department. The network’s president, Xyke Garcia, who headed a separate group that published the original Lifestyle Asia magazine, translated the goal to earthy Tagalog as “Hindi puwede ang puwede na” (It won’t do to say it will do).

Last week, after what seems like half a century, Bongbong Marcos uttered the magic words during his conversation with Korina Sanchez: “We are constantly in search of excellence. We need to bring in people with a wealth of experience and talent.” Eureka! The other presidentiables sound the same, vowing to establish a Utopian state without corruption and poverty while improving education, healthcare, the economy. But not one has mentioned raising the quality of our thinking, being and doing the best we can when no one’s looking or judging.

Have we so lost sight of doing excellent work because we’re happy with a grade of 75? So much so that we forget to look up and raise the bar higher and higher ‘til we can touch the stars? Competence is fine but not enough; even then, how many of our leaders are competent -- “puwede na” – for the job cut out for them?

Fans of BBM can’t get over how he looks, talks, walks and moves like his father. Taking one step back, Marcos Sr. to this day is praised for the quality of the men he recruited for his government: Juan Ponce Enrile, Cesar Virata, Estelito Mendoza, Lolong Lazaro, Blas Ople, Bong Tangco, Roberto V. Ongpin, Jaime Laya, Jess Tanchangco, Jun Cruz, and Their Excellencies Ambassadors Jaime Zobel, Roberto Benedicto, Benjamin Romualdez, JV Cruz. By no means a complete list, they were the best of the best, a roster of stellar performers.

Just arrived, as we speak, The Pursuit of Excellence by leadership guru Ryan Hawk.