A Vision for a Better Philippines (2)
The second side of the coin.
In the few months that I had been vocally expressing my views on the need for a vision, a seeming strong objection is our current political situation, particularly the ability of the various political groups to sit together and start talking about that vision. While at the onset I was growing more convinced that indeed it is difficult, a midnight caucus with Bam Aquino, Gilbert Remulla, Ayi Hernandez, Dennis Eclarin, Martin Lopez and Roby Alampay brought out the idea that if old politics would not be able to transcend present issues to define a desired state, we could make this as a "generation battle," one in which young societal leaders would sit down and, while passionately resolving immediate concerns (issues like the legitimacy of GMA presidency, land reform, globalization) a consensus will be drafted so that no matter whatever is the outcome of said issues, we should all agree that this should add up to the vision.
The question that I posed was: can Gilbert Remulla, Chiz Escudero and Mike Defensor sit together to agree on where we shoudl be as a nation in the next 20 years or so? This, of course, means that young leaders from various stakeholders, such as business, academe, culture and arts, military, civil society would sit with them in crafting such vision. When, in said meeting, I got a "YES" answer, then I think more concrete steps should be undertaken to attain this end.
What i think is needed therefore is upscaling and mainstreaming for past efforts towards a visionary Philippines. Upscaling by engaging wider constituency and working with similar groups espousing the same cause, and mainstreaming by making major institutions (more than leaders or representatives) buy-in to the processes and outputs.
The time has come therefore to start identifying concrete activities and taking steps to attain the goal. I would therefore request everyone to contemplate and thereon suggest approaches and processes that we can undertake to do this right. What easily comes to mind are models developed by Adam Kahane and his colleagues and a more recent initiatives to talk about conflicts in China and Tibet. Secondly, another next big thing is to find and channel resources to such initiatives. I can see brainstorm sessions, meetings and fora taking place to start the ball rolling.
Its never late.
In the few months that I had been vocally expressing my views on the need for a vision, a seeming strong objection is our current political situation, particularly the ability of the various political groups to sit together and start talking about that vision. While at the onset I was growing more convinced that indeed it is difficult, a midnight caucus with Bam Aquino, Gilbert Remulla, Ayi Hernandez, Dennis Eclarin, Martin Lopez and Roby Alampay brought out the idea that if old politics would not be able to transcend present issues to define a desired state, we could make this as a "generation battle," one in which young societal leaders would sit down and, while passionately resolving immediate concerns (issues like the legitimacy of GMA presidency, land reform, globalization) a consensus will be drafted so that no matter whatever is the outcome of said issues, we should all agree that this should add up to the vision.
The question that I posed was: can Gilbert Remulla, Chiz Escudero and Mike Defensor sit together to agree on where we shoudl be as a nation in the next 20 years or so? This, of course, means that young leaders from various stakeholders, such as business, academe, culture and arts, military, civil society would sit with them in crafting such vision. When, in said meeting, I got a "YES" answer, then I think more concrete steps should be undertaken to attain this end.
What i think is needed therefore is upscaling and mainstreaming for past efforts towards a visionary Philippines. Upscaling by engaging wider constituency and working with similar groups espousing the same cause, and mainstreaming by making major institutions (more than leaders or representatives) buy-in to the processes and outputs.
The time has come therefore to start identifying concrete activities and taking steps to attain the goal. I would therefore request everyone to contemplate and thereon suggest approaches and processes that we can undertake to do this right. What easily comes to mind are models developed by Adam Kahane and his colleagues and a more recent initiatives to talk about conflicts in China and Tibet. Secondly, another next big thing is to find and channel resources to such initiatives. I can see brainstorm sessions, meetings and fora taking place to start the ball rolling.
Its never late.
Labels: Vision Philippines
posted by DAVE REQUEJO BERCASIO at 5:11 PM
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