(Second of three parts)

Last Sunday’s part one dealt with the first third of FVR’s 4th book of “Sermons,” mainly on “Modernizing Our Philippine Ship” (on which are all Filipinos, including OFWs, dual citizens, balikbayans, and the unborn). Clearly, people in other countries are also aboard their own national ships, striving to traverse global economic, political, and socio-cultural oceans with all possible efficiency, safety, comfort, and speed.

The name of the game in our interdependent world is Competitiveness, Human Security, and Environmental Sustainability. According to the UN Human Development Index Report (2008), the Philippines, at position #105 out of 185 nations, is lagging well behind. Not too long ago (1997), the Philippines was ranked #77 among 146.

Is this the Filipino’s eventual fate? Together with “kulelats” (last-placers) in the community of nations?

We don’t think so, but that’s where we’ve been heading these last nine years. Why? Some answers were discussed in Part One. More are presented here.

On November 25, we launch FVR’s “Sermons, Volume IV” at 4:00 pm at the Manila Hotel. Journalists, professors, government officials, sectoral leaders, and veterans – in particular “presidentiables” and similar wannabes – are cordially invited. There is no charge.

Among the substantives of Volume IV are: Brotherhood: Philippine assistance to Vietnam and others. The Philippines and Vietnam are among active Emerging Market Countries. EMCs need to exert one unified voice and attain stronger standing in the global community, particularly in addressing issues affecting their sustainable development.

With two Philippine Civic Action Groups, we helped to alleviate the Vietnamese people’s poverty in 1964-1971. We implemented Plan PAGASA consisting of: Engineering Civic Action, Medical/Dental Care, Environmental Improvement, and People-to-People Brotherhood. During those difficult years, PHILCAGV’s mission was “To Build, Not Destroy.” The Philippines, further, became the main sanctuary for 20 years of Vietnam’s thousands of boat people after Saigon’s fall in 1975.

Filipinos have been helpful soldiers/policemen for other nations – under the UN banner or the “aegis of the willing” – to defend shared values of democracy and collective security for 58 years.

For the AFP and PNP. it is important to be always prepared for any contingency – to respond with audacity to political, security, economic, cultural, and social challenges confronting Southeast Asia.

Chapter III – Exploiting Opportunities Developing new national sports heroes. Developing new national sports heroes is a function of leadership.

Re the elusive Olympic gold, most analysts opine that it is so tiresome to hear the same old tune from sports leaders who wail that “fund lack hinders RP sports growth.”

Roberto Romulo recently wrote: “...Government support for sports has been weak and unfocused.

And private sector support has been meager, showering its resources only on proven events and athletes.”

In sports, it is our elected officials, more than athletes and managers, who must exercise hands-on leadership. There are enough talents and potentials among young Filipino competitors. But continuity and focus on sports programs are missing. Our Olympic sights must be targeted not just on 2012, but also 2016 and 2020.

Heroes from our uniformed services.

Within our uniformed services is a special unit worth appreciating – the PNP Special Action Force (SAF). Its mission is “to conduct special operations by rapid deployment, specifically counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, commando-type unconventional warfare, and civil disturbance control during calamities/emergencies.” Its logo “Tagaligtas” (Rescuer) is specially appropriate.

The brightest star on SAF’s record is that it had never, in its 25-year history, been part of any coup attempt/plot/conspiracy. Its commanders and other personnel have remained idealistic – without becoming derailed by blandishments of opportunistic politicians.

Linking up with our neighbors. By networking and exchange, we highlight RP’s efforts to develop major markets in the Asia-Pacific region, thereby benefitting from our favorable geo-strategic position at the center of East Asia. Through effective logistics systems, the Philippines can take advantage of its strategic location at the junction of the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean.

ASEAN’s comparative advantage.

ASEAN’s prosperity greatly depends on the efficiency, viability and safety of shipping/port facilities and maritime routes. Responsive transport systems are imperative for ASEAN countries to facilitate integration with the global economy and improve competitiveness.

ASEAN’s style in confidence-building and cooperation has prevailed in our multilateral relations, including security issues. Science networking has not only expanded our knowledge and appreciation of South China Sea resources, but also attest to the remarkably close cooperation among diplomats and those involved in marine research.

Guam: Geopolitical scenario a century later. Our close neighbor Guam is a strategic outpost developed by American leaders and strategists since the 1890s. Guam’s overall value to American deployments towards Asia and Middle East has tremendously increased. Not only has the island become a strategic US Pacific base. Washington is now making Guam the linchpin of its overall design to insure dominance in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Guam is extremely critical to American quick response to any sizeable natural disaster, civilian emergency or military crisis, given that the US continues to be the “guardian of freedom” (according to President Barack Obama).

Firm leadership to plug holes of a leaky Philippines. If Guam is America’s “unsinkable aircraft carrier,” why do many observers see the Philippines – with all our land-sea-air resources and human assets – as a fragile ship about to go under? It’s because ours is a leaky vessel, with no clear direction due to divided leadership.

The vision of a better future from which nations and peoples can benefit equitably – regardless of political ideology, religious faith, cultural background, socio-economic condition, and ethnic origin – is the unceasing, ultimate aspiration of all.

This universal hope should provide strategic guidance to the decisions/policies of today’s leaders  and their successors.

We must organize a caring and sharing international community – for it to become a family of truly principled nations daring enough to take concerted action against threats to humankind’s survival. Today’s complex world must be managed through efficient transnational governance.

We need leaders who can see beyond the gloom and doom of the moment to the brighter possibilities of the future because of their visionary qualities and political skills to carry out painful reforms.

It is toward such a world that political leaders – as “custodians of the nation’s ideals, beliefs, and permanent hopes” – must lead their peoples. This is exactly the kind of governance the Philippines needs.

Developing new partnerships and opportunities. Searching for new partnerships/opportunities is both challenging and rewarding at this time of economic turmoil. There are synergetic, advantageous combinations in the emerging Central East Asia Growth Polygon (CEAGPOL) consisting of the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and the Mainland provinces of Guangdong and Fujian – plus, eventually, Hainan, Okinawa, and Guam/Marianas. CEAGPOL could be the forerunner – and building block – of Northeast Asia’s version of ASEAN or “ANEAN,” meaning the “Association of Northeast Asian Nations.” Economic heavyweight North East Asia is the world’s last remaining regional bloc still without an inter-governmental organization of the likes of ASEAN and the EU.

Mutual benefits for Philippines-China-Taiwan. What better timing than now and what more favorable network to exploit than the Philippines-China-Taiwan corridor?

Given our productive Filipino-Chinese community and dense networks of shared socio economic/cultural interests with China and Taiwan already in place, our officialdom and private sector should exert extra diligence to maintain competitive positions in our region – in which China is the biggest player.

Reaching out to Muslims: One message, one Ummah. Last January 26-29, a little publicized but important gathering among leading Muslim teachers and scholars took place in Quezon City – the foundation of the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines.

The NUCP’s importance cannot be overstated because of its commitment to moderation, peace, and democracy based on principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. In Southeast Asia’s culturally diverse societies, Ulamas have always been spiritual guides of the Ummah (Muslim community) because of their deep knowledge of Islamic law and theology.

As community leaders, Ulamas provide moral/spiritual leadership and teach their constituents practical methods of self-reliance leading to modernization. In the process, Ulamas have helped make Islam a force for peace, and harmony in Southeast Asia.

Against political, security, and socio-economic challenges, Filipinos find guidance and comfort from religious leaders who, in concert, exert strong moral force on national society. At last, our Ulamas have transcended sectarian, feudal and personalist differences to ensure “One Message to One Ummah” in the spirit of Unity, Solidarity and Teamwork.

As a nation, Filipinos should rejoice in such unification – with tremendous dividends for promoting peace, development, and democracy – not only in Muslim and Lumad enclaves but in the whole of our beloved Philippines. Abangan, Part Three: “Don’t Sink Our Ship.”

Please send any comments to fvr@rpdev.org. Copies of articles are available at www.rpdev.org.