PAGBABAGO
Many of us imagine a future that appears achievable except that we are not able to agree on a common direction. In almost all areas – legislature, private sector, community organizations, etc. - we are not lacking in leaders who are competent and able to match peers in other countries which have been able to energize their populace to act together to achieve a common vision. This is perhaps where we should focus as we embark on planning our mid-term election in 2025.
Again, as in the past, we shall be entering into another activity which is too familiar and where we are faced with the same choices we had made in past electoral exercises. Same promises from candidates representing the same group that had come before – members of the elite, moneyed political or economic clans. The few who dared to face the odds, if elected, found it easier to blend with the power groups; except for a few such as the likes of Senator Risa Hontiveros and some representatives of our sectoral groups.
The challenge today is to seek young leaders who share the vision of a society where everyone has the opportunity to compete and serve the common good.
It is not enough to be discerning or being able to choose leaders who are competent, honest, and trustworthy. These are important considerations to start with but we must help these future leaders by undertaking a critical task which is that of crafting a common direction for the country. And when we do that, we should be armed with the skill of consulting with people on the ground who are deeply aware of the realities and of what can be done to rectify the errors made over the past years.
We had gone through what we may describe as several “trial and error” exercises, have observed the experiences of countries that have succeeded, all of which can now serve as examples of where we want to go. We know our strengths and limitations such as our inability to lead as yet, in such areas as the “digital” route and “climate change” movement because of current vulnerabilities. But, we can compete and lead through earnest and genuine efforts in educational reforms as well as the search for community models of organizing that will result in improving our productivity as well as unifying our diverse cultures.
Specifically, this means investment in education and human resources, upgrading our systems in promoting cooperation and unity, as well as responding to reforms such as ensuring that we are able to provide an environment that would attract foreign and local investments. This, as we all know, means providing an environment that is corruption-free and easy to navigate.
We have heard of all these before. And we have embarked on countless efforts to promote these practices. Perhaps our efforts were not enough. We are aware that, compared with our ASEAN neighbors, our investment in education has been miniscule even though it is given the highest budgetary priority. The same is true with other social sectors such as health and social services.
The pact that should accompany our “futures” planning must therefore include needed support infrastructure to ensure efficient utilization of resources.
Thus, to summarize what I have said above: Our planning must include the needed attributes for elected and appointed leadership, a comprehensive framework on development priorities which is specific enough as it sets direction for the future, and a vision on the kind of community we want to create – one built on cooperativism, social justice, openness, and productivity.
As we said earlier, the above does not come easily. It is planned based on futuristic thinking. Thus, the planning must consider the expected changes in the social, political, economic and technological environment, as well as the carrying capacity of our people as well as our country’s resources.
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My deep condolences to the Regala and De Leon families over the passing of Carminda Regala. Earlier, we, at the Sunshine Recreation Center lost Barbara “Tweetums” Gonzalez who passed on a few months ago. We shall miss Carminda, a beloved friend and a muti-talented artist, a pianist and former teacher at the International School, a celebrated beauty queen, mother of four children and 13 grandchildren, and wife of a prominent lawyer. Farewell to a great lady!