Islands of Good Governance

The latest Pos 100 plenary series tackled a very crucial issue on Philippine political system that of finding hope through the works of accomplished public servants. Despite blatant corruption plaguing our government from the president down to the baranggay captain level, it can still be said, and I quote Political Science Chair Ms. Alma Salvador in her opening remarks during the forum, there are still “islands of hope”. Though they are few and isolated from each other at the present, their existence galvanizes hope for the youth to look forward and leap into the future of our country. I am speaking here of the invited speakers whom have shared their seemingly impossible accomplishments in governance, namely Governor Teodoro Baguilat of Ifugao Province, Mayor Sonia Lorenzo of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, and Governor Grace Padaca of Isabela. Two of these great men and women I will talk about.

I especially like what Gov. Baguilat advocates which is appreciation through support and concrete steps for the appreciation of “cultural knowledge” to create a sense of national identity. I like the idea that he still believe Filipino’s can find in themselves a true identity no matter how diverse we are in terms of ethnicity, region, or language. His effort to reach out to Indigenous People (IP) and their concerns exemplifies a Filipino reaching out to his roots, transcending the hindrance of boundaries of geographical and cultural diversity. He is an Ifugao who has embraced his identity foregoing urban lifestyle. And he has extended this experience to other IP’s like the Manobos in Mindanao. His efforts showed how we can all come together if only we approach what we urban oriented Filipino’s consider as traditional, backward, and “paganism”. For according to Gov Baguilat, it is with these people that we will discover and embrace the history of this land, its identity.

Another speaker whom I give one of my highest regard is Gov Padaca. Not only because she was given recently a Ramon Magsaysay award, considered as the Nobel Peace Price in Asia, rather she has accomplished what no able bodied public servant has achieved in terms of a strong advocacy for clean and honest election. Being afflicted with polio, it has not hindered what her spirit can do in terms of promoting good governance in her locality. To quote her saying “No one is too weak or insignificant to make his [her] contribution. I especially like how she accepts the good and bad idea of power. She acknowledges that with right wielding of power one can able bodied or not make a change. We just have to be determined enough.

In a sea of corruption which the Philippines is currently grounded upon there are always signs of hope. Much like how 15^th century sea voyagers after months or even years of sailing, jump for joy at the first sight of land, they present hope that with a strong conviction for principles one can still achieve what no ordinary person can even imagine to.