The Philippine Patriotic Oath: An Independence Day Trivia

We have recited the Patriotic Oath so many times in our school life we have taken for granted (or probably have never known) that it was originally written in English. The recitation of this pledge is required by law specifically under Department Order No. 8 issued on July 21, 1955, by what we now know as the Department of Education. This department order was the implementing guide for Republic Act No. 1265 otherwise known as the AN ACT MAKING FLAG CEREMONY COMPULSORY IN ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. The republic act was approved June 11, 1955.

The "Panatang Makabayan" we know so well is actually the direct translation of the English version of the Patriotic Oath below:

I love the Philippines.

It is the land of my birth;

It is the home of my people.

It protects me and helps me to be strong, happy and useful.

In return, I will heed the counsel of my parents;

I will obey the rules of my school;

I will perform the duties of a patriotic, law-abiding citizen;

I will serve my country unselfishly and faithfully

I will be a true Filipino in thought, in word, in deed.

Here is the Panatang Makabayan as we had always recited it:

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas

Ito ang aking lupang sinilangan

Ito ang tahanan ng aking lahi

Ako'y kanyang kinukupkop at tinutulungan

Upang maging malakas, maligaya at kapakipakinabang

Bilang ganti, diringgin ko ang payo ng aking mga magulang

Susundin ko ang mga tuntunin ng aking paaralan

Tutuparin ko ang mga tungkulin ng isang mamamayang makabayan at masunurin sa batas

Paglilingkuran ko ang aking bayan nang walang pag-iimbot at ng buong katapatan

Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Pilipino sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa.

Many Filipinos probably haven't notice it but in November 2001 the then Department of Education secretary Raul Roco revised the "Panatang Makabayan" into a more conversational version. Here is the November 2001 version:

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas, aking Lupang Sinilangan

Tahanan ng aking lahi, kinukupkop ako at tinutulungan

Upang maging malakas, masipag, at marangal.

Dahil mahal ko ang Pilipinas,

Diringgin ko ang payo ng aking mga magulang.

Susundin ko ang tuntunin ng paaralan,

Tutuparin ko ang tungkulin ng mamamayang makabayan;

Naglilingkod, nag-aaral, at nagdarasal ng buong katapatan.

Iaalay ko ang aking buhay, pangarap at pagsisikap sa bansang Pilipinas

And with the version above, here is the Patriotic Oath of November 2001 translated in English:

I love the Philippines, the land of my birth,

The home of my people, it protects me and helps me

Become strong, hardworking and honorable.

Because I love the Philippines,

I will heed the counsel of my parents,

I will obey the rules of my school,

I will perform the duties of a patriotic citizen,

Serving, studying, and praying faithfully.

I offer my life, dreams, successes

To the Philippine nation.

The Patriotic Oath or the Panatang Makabayan is just one of two pledges, the other being the Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas (Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine Flag). It is commonly recited at school flag ceremonies, after the singing of the national anthem, Lupang Hinirang, but before the Pledge of Allegiance.

On June 12, 2010, Saturday, is a "Gathering of Patriots" at the 8th Avenue and 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Philippines, beginning 5:00 in the morning. This event is referred to as the 2010 Philippine Independence Day Marathon (Ang Takbo Para Sa Ating Kasaysayan). It is a non-profit endeavor whose vision is to institutionalize a very meaningful yearly celebration of our INDEPENDENCE.

Everyone is invited.

References:

http://filipino.biz.ph/history/panatang_makabayan.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_Allegiance_%28Philippines%29

Your Vision of the Philippines

Most of the vision about our country we know of have come off the propaganda of politicians. A body of literary wish lists for their reign that only reflects that they want and not what the nation needs.

From the first Philippine Republic which reflected the agenda of the Illustrados, to the Commonwealth that clearly showed the stamp of the United States, the Philippine vision was dictated by personalities and the "special interest groups" that partake of the pie we call the Philippine economy. After, the Philippine Republic was supposedly independent, the political agenda of a president became the de facto vision of the country until the next national election introduces the nation to a new one.

It was always an incumbent president dictating the vision of our country. This actually means the Philippines has a new vision every three (3) years. Rather than uniting Filipinos, Philippine leaders are actually confusing Filipinos every three (3) years and spending resources and their personal energy convincing the nation it will work and that Filipinos should support it. For many generations, the Filipinos have experienced the rollercoaster of open hostility to these visions or silent disobedience to their implementation.

What is a vision? If somebody writes on the wall about their vision of the Philippines, how will it sound like? Understanding what a vision is requires that we know what it means. Let's start with its definition.

Wikipedia gives the meaning of vision like this:

"Vision: Defines the desired or intended future state of an organization or enterprise in terms of its fundamental objective and/or strategic direction. Vision is a long term view, sometimes describing a view of how the organization would like the world in which it operates to be. For example a charity working with the poor might have a vision statement which reads "A world without poverty".

Defining Vision

Another definition of vision comes from Oren Harari: "Vision should describe a set of ideals and priorities, a picture of the future, a sense of what makes the company special and unique, a core set of principles that the company stands for, and a broad set of compelling criteria that will help define organizational success." (National Defense University)

Harari is a professor at the Graduate School of Business in the University of San Francisco. He teaches strategic and global management to MBA and executive MBA students.

By this definition, it is obvious that the meaning of vision is framed in the context of organizational development. Most definitions of vision you will find will be within the framework of organizational development simply because most research on the subject were done and advocated by management practitioners and management educators. There will be more lectures on the subject applied to business organizations than applied to the development of a country. For purposes of creating analogy with defining vision for national development, this definition for now should suffice. For further clarity, additional definitions should be explored. Burt Nanus is a well-known expert on the subject and provides a more operative definition of vision for organizations and for countries pursuing national development agenda.

Burt Nanus' management theory focuses on the leadership requirements for non-profits. According to Nanus in his book "Guide to Management Theory", a vision must be realistic, credible, attractive and in the future:

• "Realistic: A vision must be based in reality to be meaningful for an organization."
• "Credible: A vision must be believable to be relevant."
• "Attractive: If a vision is going to inspire and motivate those in the organization, it must be attractive."
• "Future: A vision is not in the present, it is in the future."

From an article published in the National Defense University: Nanus' concept of a vision being realistic, credible, and attractive future for an organization, can accomplish a number of things for the organization:

• "It attracts commitment and energizes people. This is one of the primary reasons for having a vision for an organization: its motivational effect. When people can see that the organization is committed to a vision-and that entails more than just having a vision statement-it generates enthusiasm about the course the organization intends to follow, and increases the commitment of people to work toward achieving that vision."
• "It creates meaning in workers' lives. A vision allows people to feel like they are part of a greater whole, and hence provides meaning for their work. The right vision will mean something to everyone in the organization if they can see how what they do contributes to that vision."
• "It establishes a standard of excellence. A vision serves a very important function in establishing a standard of excellence. In fact, a good vision is all about excellence."
• "It bridges the present and the future. The right vision takes the organization out of the present, and focuses it on the future. It's easy to get caught up in the crises of the day, and to lose sight of where you were heading. A good vision can orient you on the future, and provide positive direction."

Once you have a true grasp of what vision is all about, the most obvious next step is to know how to create a vision for an organization and in this case for a country.

Guidelines to Creating a Vision

Nanus suggests several guidelines for creating a realistic, credible, attractive future for an organization:

• "A good vision is a mental model of a future state."
• "A good vision is idealistic."
• "A good vision is appropriate for the organization (or country) and for the times."
• "A good vision sets standards of excellence and reflects high ideals."
• "A good vision clarifies purpose and direction."
• "A good vision inspires enthusiasm and encourages commitment."
• "A good vision is well articulated and easily understood."
• "A good vision reflects the uniqueness of the organization, its distinctive competence, what it stands for, and what it is able to achieve."
• "A good vision is ambitious."

Once you understand how a vision is created, how do you go about starting the process of actually making a vision? Nanus also sugguests a process, a seven step process in fact to creating a vision.

The Seven-step Process for Formulating a Vision:

Nanus describes a seven-step process for formulating a vision, as follows:

1. "Understand the organization."

   The organization in this case is the Philippines. The first step in creating a vision is understanding the Philippines, its government and its people (the Philippine nation). Filipinos must know and understand how our government works, how the economy works, and the dynamics of a multi-cultural nation dispersed in more than 1,700 islands. Relevant links about government, about the Philippine economy, and Philippine politics are found at the bottom of this post to get you started in understanding the Philippines in the eyes of foreign governments and international organizations. What will it take for the Filipinos to get from now to where they want to go? Who should be participating in the process of creating the vision and formulating the strategy to accomplish the vision? What will be the expectations of all those participating and contributing to the process?

   
   
2. "Conduct a vision audit."

   Supposedly this step involves assessing the current direction of the Philippines and its momentum. Since we do not have a clear direction or vision, the country or its leaders must articulate clearly in a unified voice (Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches) the current direction of the country. The executive, legislative and the judicial branches of government must show both in their policies, statements and programmes how the country will go from its existing state to the desired state. Is the structure of government designed to pursue the vision? Will the laws and policies support the initiatives or programmes of the government? Are there legitimate processes for the different stakeholders to participate contribute to the formulation of strategy and in implementing it? Does the Philippine government have the people, incentives, resources and information systems to support the direction it is taking?

   
   
3. "Target the vision."

   The Philippines as a country must narrow in its vision. Key questions must be answered such as, what will be the constraints to the vision? What must the Philippine vision accomplish? What critical issues (corruption, poverty, illiteracy, health, etc.) must the Philippine vision address?

4. "Set the vision context."

   This is where the formulation of the Philippine vision becomes difficult. The vision is the desirable future for the Philippines. Filipinos must make an approximation or estimate of how the Philippines will look like in the future. First, Filipinos must categorize future developments in the Philippine environment that might affect the Philippine vision. Next is to list down the Filipinos' expectations under each category. Third, determine which of those expectations in the list will most likely happen. Last, assign a probability of occurrence to each of the expectations.

5. "Develop future scenarios."

   Having determined expectations most likely to occur and those with the most impact on the vision, you are to combine these to create scenarios showing the range of possible futures. These scenarios are to be the alternative "futures" that we anticipate will be the environment under which the Philippines will operate within.

   
   
6. "Generate alternative visions."

   Just as there are alternative scenarios (futures) there are also alternative directions that can be taken by the Filipinos in the future. "Do not evaluate these possible visions at this point but use a relatively unconstrained approach" according to Nanus.

   
   
7. "Choose the final vision."

   This is the step where you are suppose to select the best possible vision. According to Nanus:'To do this, first look at the properties of a good vision, and what it takes for a vision to succeed, including consistency with the the culture and values. Next, compare the visions you've generated with the alternative scenarios, and determine which of the possible visions will apply to the broadest range of scenarios." The final version of the vision must:

   • meet the criteria of a good vision
   • be compatible with the Filipino culture and values
   • applies to a broad range of alternative scenarios (or possible futures)

With the above guide for creating a vision, anyone who wants a better future for the Philippines can attempt to frame a vision for the country.

A good example of a vision is the one created by Singapore and express in a speech by the country's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. The speech was entitled "A Learning Nation, A Thinking Nation" as Singapore's "Vision for a New Era - Singapore 21".

Are you ready to participate in creating a vision for the Philippines?

If you are ready, please complete a Survey Form. Click to open the online form.

References:

"Strategic Leadership and Decision Making"
National Defense University
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ndu/strat-ldr-dm/pt4ch18.html

"The Way to Become"
The Filipino Ideology
http://filipinoideology.blogspot.com/2008/01/way-to-become.html

"Vision"
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_planning

"Life-and-Times of Oren Harari"
Oren Harari
http://www.harari.com/

"Guide to Management Theory of Burt Nanus"
Nanus's Management Theory for Nonprofits
By Geraldine McGowan
Business.com
http://www.business.com/directory/management/management_theory/management_theorists/nanus,_burt/

"A Learning Nation, A Thinking Nation"
Singapore 21: Vision for a New Era
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
Excerpt from a speech made in Parliament, June 5, 1998
http://www.nlb.gov.sg/annualreport/fy97/htm/vision.htm

Get to know the Philippines in the eyes of foreign governments and international organizations.

"Country Profile: The Philippines"
BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1262783.stm

"Profile of the Philippines"
AsianInfo.Org
http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/profiles/philippines.htm

"Philippines"
InfoPlease
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107887.html

"Philippines"
NationsOnline: Countries of the World
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/philippines.htm

"Country Profile: Philippines"
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - United Kingdom
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/asia-oceania/philippines/

"The World Factbook: Philippines"
Central Intelligence Agency
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rp.html

"Philippines"
National Geographic
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_philippines.html

"Philippines Economic Profile"
EconomyWatch
http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/philippines/

"Background Note: Philippines"
U.S. Department of State
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2794.htm

"Philippines: Country Profile"
National Implementation of Agenda 21
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development
http://www.un.org/esa/earthsummit/pilip-cp.htm

Republic of the Philippines
Official Web Portal of the Government of the Philippines
http://www.gov.ph/

Know how your local government works through Republic Act No. 7160.

Republic Act No. 7160 (PDF)
Philippine Export Processing Authority
http://environment.peza.gov.ph/getfile.php?fileid=28

The Local Government Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7160
The Chan Robles Virtual Law Library
http://www.chanrobles.com/localgov.htm

History of Section 119 of Republic Act No. 7160:
House of Representatives
http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/researches/rrb_0307_5.PDF

"Politics of the Philippines"
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_the_Philippines

National Heroes are National Symbols…We Have None!

Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines, to Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandra II (1818-1898) and Teodora Morales Alonso Realonda y Quintos (1827-1911). His parents were prosperous farmers granted lease of a hacienda and an accompanying rice farm by the Dominicans. Jose was the seventh of eleven siblings. His early years of study was under the tutelage of Justiniano Aquino Cruz in Biñan, Laguna. He was one of nine outstanding students when he completed his degree in land surveying and assessor's degree from Ateneo Municipal de Manila while also studying Philosophy and Letters from the University of Santo Tomas. It was in Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery did Rizal pursue his study of medicine specializing in ophthalmology. His desire to complete this specialization was driven by the fact that his mother was going blind.

Substantial studies of Rizal reveal him to be a polymath with the ability to master various skills and subjects. He was a sculptor, painter, farmer, playwright, poet, historian, journalist, educator, and ophthalmologist. He has expertise in architecture, cartography, ethnology, sociology, anthropology, economics, dramatics, fencing, pistol shooting and marital arts.

If historian's are to be believed, Rizal would turn out to be the first advocate of peaceful change. Rizal's biographer and writer Benedict Anderson believed that Rizal gave the Philippine Revolution a genuinely national character; and that Rizal's patriotism and his standing as one of Asia's first intellectuals have inspired others to the importance of a national identity to nation-building.

In June 1901, the Taft Commission renamed the district of Morong into the Province of Rizal through Act 137 and subsequently passing Act 346 authorizing the installation of a national monument in Rizal's honor. In 1956, the Philippine legislature pass Republic Act 1425 requiring the teaching of the life, work and writings of Rizal in all high school and college curricula. These actions were to honor the hero believed to have ignited the flames of revolution.

Along with Rizal were others who were also honored with holidays and monuments such as Apolinario Mabini, Gabriela Silang, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Melchora Aquino, etc. Our heroes are part of our national symbols. They represent the best of who we are as people. It shows to the world our greatest achievement, our strongest character, our values, our hope, and our vision.

Each generation of government leaders enacted laws to honor our heroes.

• The Decree of December 20, 1898 by General Emilio Aguinaldo declared December 30 of every year a day of national mourning in honor of Rizal and other martyrs of the Philippine Revolution.
• Act No. 137 of the Taft Commission renamed the district of Morong to the Province of Rizal in honor of Rizal.
• Act No. 2760 issued on February 23, 1918 provided for the erection of a monument to the memory of Andres Bonifacio.
• Act No. 2946 enacted by the Philippine Legislature in 16 February 1921 declared November 30 of each year as a legal holiday to commemorate the birth of Andres Bonifacio.
• Act No. 3827 was enacted by the Philippine Legislature on 28 October 1931 declaring the last Sunday of August of every year as National Heroes Day.
• On November 30, 1994, President Fidel V. Ramos issued Proclamation No. 510 declaring year 1996 as the Year of Filipino Heroes as "a tribute to all Filipinos who, directly and indirectly, gave meaning and impetus to the cause of freedom, justice, Philippine independence and nationhood."
• Republic Act No. 9070 passed into law April 8, 2001, declared the eighteenth of December of every year as a special working public holiday throughout the country to be known as the Graciano Lopez-Jaena Day.

We have extolled the achievements of our heroes, proclaimed national holidays in their name, erected sculptures and monuments, named streets, cities and provinces after them, but not a single man or woman had been declared a national hero, not one, not even Jose Rizal.

Our national leaders however still have to proclaim by law a national hero.

On March 28, 1993 , President Fidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No.75 entitled “Creating the National Heroes Committee Under the Office of the President”. This Committee is to study, evaluate and recommend Filipino national personages or heroes in due recognition of their sterling character and remarkable achievements for the country. In compliance with Executive Order No. 75, a Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee was created. This committee was composed of the following:

• Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz
• Samuel K. Tan
• Marcelino Foronda
• Alfredo Lagmay
• Bernardita R. Churchill
• Serafin D. Quiason
• Ambeth Ocampo (Dom Ignacio Maria)
• Prof. Minerva Gonzales
• Mrs. Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil

The Committee organized and attended a series of meetings as follows: June 3, 1993, August 19, 1994, September 12, 1994, and November 15, 1995. These meetings defined, discussed and deliberated on the merits of the various definitions and criteria of a hero.

The Committee came up with a set of criteria to guide historical researchers in determining who among the great Filipinos of past will be officially proclaimed as national heroes and thereupon become national symbols.

The Committee agreed that the following should determine who should become a national hero:

1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s freedom. Our own struggle for freedom was begun by Bonifacio and finished by Aguinaldo, the latter formally declaring the revolution’s success. In reality, however, a revolution has no end. Revolutions are only the beginning. One cannot aspire to be free only to sink back into bondage.
2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a nation. Freedom without order will only lead to anarchy. Therefore, heroes are those who make the nation’s constitution and laws, such as Mabini and Recto. To the latter, constitutions are only the beginning, for it is the people living under the constitution that truly constitute a nation.
3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation.
4. A hero is part of the people’s expression. But the process of a people’s internalization of a hero’s life and works takes time, with the youth forming a part of the internalization.
5. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations.
6. The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting of an episode or events in history, but of the entire process that made this particular person a hero.

On November 15, 1995, the Technical Committee came up with a list of nine (9) names of Filipino historical figures to be recommended as National Heroes:

1. Jose Rizal
2. Andres Bonifacio
3. Emilio Aguinaldo
4. Apolinario Mabini
5. Marcelo H. del Pilar
6. Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
7. Juan Luna
8. Melchora Aquino
9. Gabriela Silang

These report and recommendations were submitted by the National Heroes Committee to then Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports on November 22, 1995.

No action was taken on these recommendations.

Speculations abound that proclamations of national heroes might trigger a flood of requests for such declarations and that proclamations can trigger bitter debates about the historical controversies involving the endorsed heroes. In a way, this is much a reflection of the political will (or lack thereof) of leaders past as it is of the current political leadership.

The nation glorify the names of recognized heroes. The country fully integrated the story of these heroes in the teachings of its history and social sciences but it has not fully embraced these heroes as part of its national symbol by declaring them as such. National heroes are symbols telling a great story of a great people.

The Philippines is a courageous nation about to be robbed of its national symbols--Its heroes. It is unfortunate that a colorful history of the Great Pearl of the Orient was not enough to inspire our leaders to proclaim its national heroes.

The National Symbols We Take for Granted

National symbols. Each country that takes pride in its national identity holds their national symbols with reverence and respect. It is the symbol of their national sovereignty and solidarity. It translates the nation's virtues into images that stays in the minds of its people. We saw most of these images in our first day in school or in our first attendance of a public event like a fiesta.

Growing up we raised our flag every sunrise and every celebration sang our national anthem and in few occasions recite our allegiance to the Philippine flag. In studying our community we eventually got one of our teachers or our social studies books pointing out the carabao as our national domestic animal, the bangus as our national fish, anahaw as our national leaf, and many bits of our national relics. We took these as true and believe them to be a fact hammered consistently through more than ten years of education. Eventually, we took these symbols for granted. All of a sudden our perception of what is a fact and what is not change through an innocent search over the web of the keyword "filipino ideology", "national flag" and "national symbols".

"Reverence and respect shall at all times be accorded the flag, the anthem, and other national symbols which embody the national ideals and traditions and which express the principles of sovereignty and national solidarity. The heraldic items and devices shall seek to manifest the national virtues and to inculcate in the minds and hearts of our people a just pride in their native land, fitting respect and affection for the national flag and anthem, and the proper use of the national motto, coat-of-arms and other heraldic items and devices." - Declaration of Policy, Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 8491).

According to the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) the "Cariñosa is not the national dance of the Philippines, neither is it Tinikling. It has no basis in Philippine law such as the claims to the supposed Philippines' National Animal (Carabao), National Fish (Bangus), National House (Nipa Hut), National Leaf (Anahaw), National Fruit (Mango), National Sport (Sipa) that are circulating through various sources."

Arrange chronologically as they were prescribed in law, here are some of our most important national symbols.

• In 1934, Narra or scientifically referred to as Pterocarpus indicus was declared our national tree and Sampaguita (Jasminum sambac) as our national flower. Governor-General Frank Murphy issued Executive Proclamation No. 652 on February 01, 1934 declaring Sampaguita the national flower and narra the national tree of the Philippines. Frank Murphy is the last Governor General of the Philippines. He subsequently became the first American High Commissioner after the first Philippine Commonwealth Government was established.
• Our Panatang Makabayan or The Patriotic Oath is prescribed in Republic Act No. 1265 approved on July 11, 1955 and implemented in schools through Department Order No. 8 of the Department of Education, which was approved on July 21, 1955.
• Former President Fidel V. Ramos proclaimed the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) as the national bird in 1995 through Proclamation No. 615.
• President Ramos named the Philippine Pearl through Proclamation No. 905 series of 1996 as the National Gem.
• The Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine Flag or referred to in Filipino as "Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas" was first defined in Executive Order No. 343 issued June 12, 1996.

In 1998, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8491, or referred to as "AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE CODE OF THE NATIONAL FLAG, ANTHEM, MOTTO, COAT-OF-ARMS AND OTHER HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES OF THE PHILIPPINES" was signed into law on February 12, 1998. This law is more briefly referred to as the "Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines." This law prescribed our national symbols which we now know today such as the national flag and the pledge of allegiance to the Philippine Flag. It also defined a less known national symbol our National Motto. Here are some important provisions of the republic act:

• The National Flag described in Section 4 of Chapter I entitled "The National Flag."
• National Anthem (Lupang Hinirang) is defined and prescribed in Section 25 of Chapter II "The National Anthem".
• The Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine Flag (Filipino: Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas) is found Section 25 Chapter I entitled "National Flag", repealing EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 343 June 12, 1996.

Under Section 40 of Chapter III of Republic Act No. 8491 is prescribed one of our least known national symbol our national motto:

"MAKA-DIYOS, MAKA-TAO, MAKAKALIKASAN AT MAKABANSA"

Centre for International Education Launches Books

The Centre for International Education (CIE) has launched two books that inspire appreciation and emulation of the Filipino ability to transform adversity into positive endeavors.

Written by Professor Nelia Cruz Sarcol, visionary and Filipino thought-leader, the books are “The Legend of the Pearl of the Orient: The Philippines” and “The Pearl Principle: Ang Diwa ng Perlas ng Silanganan”.

The books were first unveiled to the public on September 20, 2008 at the Casino Espanol de Cebu in Cebu City. The Metro Manila launch will be held on September 30, 2008 at the Makati Sports Club.

“The Legend of the Pearl of the Orient” is an illustrated storybook that depicts the perilous journey of merchants from China in search of wealth of neighboring lands by which to trade. Shipwrecked in a storm, they are guided by the lights from some of the islands that now compose the Philippines. They think that the lights come from legendary mermaids who are said to possess pearls that have extraordinary glitter. However, they are rescued by the islands’ inhabitants, who showed them that the greatest treasures are found in the hearts of the people.

The Legend book displays the true nature of Filipinos, their resilient attributes that enable them to conquer life’s most devastating storms.

“The Pearl Principle: Ang Diwa ng Perlas ng Silanganan” probes deeply into what could be a workable modern-day Philippine ideology. Through its “Ten Tenets of the Pearl Principle”, it presents its worldview “that is rooted in the transformation of adversity into a gem of a life … as in the creation of a pearl.”

For Inquiries contact:

CIE Main Campus
168 Pres. Magsaysay St., Kasambagan
Cebu City, Philippines
Call: (032) 412-7622

CIE Makati Extension Campus
Gold Tower, Palanca Street
Legazpi Village, Makati City, Philippines
Call: (032) 888-0909

“The Legend” book sells for P200 while “The Pearl Principle” book is pegged at P150.

In A Time of Great Uncertainty: Unrequited Love for Country

As our senses reverberate with the news of the armed conflict in Mindanao, the realities of the skyrocketing cost of living, and the diaspora of our countrymen in search of perceived green pastures overseas, an institution dares to reiterate its stand that the greatest thing a Filipino can do today is to love his/her country, no matter what the state it is in.

The call for unconditional love for country may run counter to the popular pastime of government and institution bashing. Even the token Philippine delegation to the 29th Olympics in Beijing who brought home some recognition in the exhibition sport of wushu and also broke some regional and local marks, was not spared from the brickbats.

Such is the point of the Centre for International Education (CIE), a 23-year old school with campuses in Cebu and Makati cities, which prides itself as The School for Leaders. It believes that the Filipino should not just roll over and die when subjected to the myriad of difficulties, both natural and man-made, that it is going through at this time. Rather, the Filipino should use these adversities to polish itself and become better persons, individually and a better nation, collectively.

This phenomenon is best illustrated in the creation of the pearl, the only precious gem that is created from a living organism – the oyster. Seemingly secure at the ocean floor, the oyster’s shell of protection is breached, and its tender tissues violated by irritants called “teredos”. In an act of survival, the oyster coats itself with nacre, putting its original form to rest, but in time resurrecting as the shiny gem called the pearl.

CIE celebrates the Filipino’s resilience and other positive values by publishing two books: “The Legend of the Pearl of the Orient”, and “The Pearl Principle: Ang Diwa ng Perlas ng Silangan.” The books are written by Prof. Nelia Cruz Sarcol, founder and concurrently president and chief executive officer of CIE.

The Legend of the Pearl of the Orient is an illustrated storybook that depicts the perilous journey of merchants from prehistoric China in search of wealth of the neighboring lands by which to trade. Shipwrecked, they are guided by the like glitter of lights from the islands of what are now the Philippines. They think that the lights come from legendary mermaids who are said to possess pearls that have extraordinary glitter. However, the shipwrecked traders are rescued by the island’s inhabitants, who showed them that the greatest treasures are found in the hearts of the people.

The Pearl Principle: Ang Diwa ng Perlas ng Silanganan probes deeply into what could be a workable modern-day Philippine ideology. Through its “Ten Tenets of the Pearl Principle”, it presents its worldview “that is rooted in the transformation of adversity into a gem of a life … as in the creation of a pearl.”

The launches will be held in Cebu City on September 20, 2008 at the Casino Espanol de Cebu and Makati City on September 30, 2008 at the Makati Sports Club.

Within the classrooms of CIE, The Pearl Principle and love for country are embraced right into the academic mainstream and taught to every student. The essence of caring for the community and the country is best reflected in a programme called the Gift of G.O.L.D. It essentially means the”Giving of One’s self to those who have Less and are Disadvantaged.” While the acronym reflects giving per se, the concept goes far beyond the old ways of charity.

Today, the Gift of GOLD has been integrated into CIE’s Basic Education academic programme, from Levels 7 to 12 (equivalent to Grades Five to Fourth Year High School). Under this program, the children learn the basics of business, learning practical skills to come up with marketable products and eventually set up a small enterprise. The difference in the way CIE does it is that each class will be putting up an enterprise with an economically-disadvantaged family as partner.

By creating micro-enterprises with beneficiary families, these families are helped to liberate themselves from poverty. At the same time, CIE students are developed to become social entrepreneurs, primed for leadership to become future captains of industry who open opportunities for others to grow.

The Gift of GOLD defines the kind of leaders that CIE grows and primes; the very one described in the CIE Vision: “CIE is a veritable institution in the Asia-Pacific that develops and nurtures influential generative leaders who champion the upliftment of the quality of human life.”

“Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas. Gagawin ko ang lahat upang siya’y maiangat sa pagkakasadlak.” This is a pledge that Teacher Nelia and other advocates of The Pearl Principle solemnly swear to. If more and more Filipinos would just keep the essence of this pledge to heart, then perhaps the Philippines will be able to conquer the adversities of the past and the present and subsequently shine forth to the rest of the world.

It's Time

This is Chapter 8 of "The Pearl Principle" book.

It’s time to do it right.

We need to properly express a collective consciousness through a national philosophy that will unify the Filipino people.

This national philosophy must be traceable to our roots as a people. It should reflect our heritage and our history that will define our soul as a nation, and proclaim our true identity as the pride of the Malayan race.

We are the Pearl of the Orient.

Ang lupa nating hinirang, ang Inang Bayang Pilipinas, na kung saan tayong lahat ay nagmula, ay siyang sinasambit ng ating mga ninuno na namumukod-tangi sa dakong Silangan.

Bayang magiliw,
Perlas ng Silanganan.
Alab ng puso,
Sa dibdib moý buhay.

We sing this song almost everyday of our lives, but do we really understand what it means?

Why don’t you try singing the Lupang Hinirang softly, the way it’s meant to be sung as an anthem, and not as a call to march to a war? Maybe by singing it softly, gently, with closed eyes, we can understand what the song is trying to tell us.

Let’s ponder on the significance of this beautiful song in our lives as citizens of this country.

Beloved country, Pearl of the Orient
The fervor of our love burns our being.
Chosen land, cradle of noble heroes,
You overcome by your tenacity.

Over the hills, valleys, mountains and seas
Skies so blue, royal blood, noble and true
Poems and songs of freedom soar through the breeze
Our love for you shall never ever cease.

To the triumphant luster of our flag
Shining brightly over the chosen land,
The sun, our beacon, and the stars, our guide
In the quest for eternal enlightenment.

O land of the enlightened,
To adore you is glorious!
In your paradise,
We live a gem of a life!

Our hearts overflow with joy and gladness
As we struggle for our nation’s rebirth.
Our happiness is to live our destiny,
Transformation over adversity.
It is not just the lyrics. It is the story.

It is our story.

It is our destiny.

Lupang Hinirang

The Philippine National Anthem
By Julian Felipe

Bayang magiliw,
Perlas ng Silanganan.
Alab ng puso,
Sa dibdib moý buhay.

Lupang hinirang,
Duyan ka ng magiting.
Sa manlulupig,
Di ka pasisiil.

Sa dagat at bundok, sa simoy at
Sa langit mong bughaw.
May dilag ang tula at awit sa
Paglayang minamahal.

Ang kislap ng watawat mo’y
Tagumpay na nagniningning.
Ang bituin at araw nya’y
Kailan pa maý di magdidilim.

Lupa ng araw,
Ng luwalhati’t pagsinta,
Buhay ay langit
Sa piling mo.

Aming ligaya
Na pag may mangaapi,
Ang mamatay ng
Dahil sa ‘yo.

Ang Takdang Panahon

Dumating na ang takdang panahon na tayo ay kailangan nang magkabuklod - buklod at magkaroon ng isang adhikain para sa ating Inang Bayan.

Matutupad lamang ito kung maigpawan natin ang ating makasariling pangitain. Paano nga ba natin ito maisasagawa nang wasto? Di ba’t sinubukan na ito ng napakaraming nilalang sa iba’t-ibang henerasyong dumaan? Di nga ba’t sinubukan nating gamitin ang isang pambansang wika sa tangkang pag-isahin ang damdamin ng buong sambayanang Pilipino? Ngunit, nagtagumpay ba ito?

Hindi kaya ito’y naging sanhi pa ng hindi pagkakaunawaan?

Hindi sapat ang pambansang wika bilang kasagutan sa usaping ito.

Ang diwa ng bawat Pilipino ang siyang kailangang pagbuklurin. Hindi ba’t diwa rin ang dapat nating kasangkapanin sa layuning ito?

Meron bang patutunguhan,

Itong ating Inang Bayan?

Dapat na ngang pag-isipan,

Ang kanyang kinabukasan.

Gulong-gulo ang isip ko.

Paano pag-isahin ‘to?

Lahi sa lupang hinirang,

Upang magkaintindihan.

Sinubukan nang ibuklod,

Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao.

Gamit-gamit ay ang wika,

Ito sana’y naging tama.

Ngunit hindi naging sapat,

Mga puso’y watak-watak,

Kanya-kanyang adhikain,

Makasariling hangarin.

Ano nga bang diwang tunay?

Sa Inang Baya’y i-alay,

Na ang buong sambayana’y

Iisang adhikáng buháy.

Ni Jose Rizal binansagan,

Na Perlas ng Silanganan,

Hindi lamang kathang isip,

Katutubong panaginip.

Pilipinas – tunay na perlas.

Kuminang- kumuha ng lakas,

Gumanda at bumusilak,

Sa kanyang pagkakasadlak.

Ang diwa ng sambayanan,

Hiyas na Perlas ang huwaran,

Sa kawalan ng pag-asa

Lilikha ng bagong umaga.

Pagbabagong anyo

Kumilos kayo!

Pagbabagong anyo

Kumilos tayo!

Pagbabagong anyo

Kumilos ngayon!

Pagbabago

Sisimulan ko!

The Pearl Advocacy Makes Landfall in Occidental Mindoro

(Article written by Virgilio Paralisan, Executive Director of the Pearl Principle, for Volume 3, Issue 2 of The Village Centrex and published here with permission. The Village Centrex is the Official Publication of the Centre for International Education.)

Mamburao is an out of the way town in Occidental Mindoro. The sleepy capital town of the province, it has a population of 30,378 people and 6,259 households. It can be reached from Metro Manila by taking a bus to the Batangas City pier, taking a roll-on-roll –off (RORO) to Abra de Ilog Pier, which is about two hours travel, and finally riding a vhire, jeepney or bus to the town proper.

Mamburao is geographically cut off from most government services and most government agencies are not based in Mamburao but in Oriental Mindoro. There are limited opportunities for development.

Most of the time nothing much happens in Mamburao. This has changed. Last June 2007, the Centre for International Education (CIE) opened a Pearl Principle Formation School (PPFS) in the town in partnership with the Jubilee Parents Association (JPA). This special pre-school is called the JPA Learning Center.

You might ask why all the excitement about a pre-school in Mamburao? The PPFS is part of our Pearl advocacy- our effort to initiate positive change in our community and country. The PPFS, in particular, is our response to illiteracy in the urban and rural parts of the country. Making a PPFS work and even turning a profit in a community like Mamburao will give us the opportunity for learning and experience to make PPFS work in other areas with no investment from government, and no grants from foreign funding organizations. Since a PPFS is a social enterprise and a social franchise, it operates on a sound business model and has the capacity to replicate its success.

The establishment of a PPFS in a far off province like Occidental Mindoro was made possible through our partnership with the Jubilee Parents Association, an association made up of parents of children who were beneficiaries of the programs formerly managed by the World Vision Development Foundation.

World Vision Development Foundation is a foundation based in Canada. Preparing for the eventual phase out of the project funded by World Vision Development Foundation, the parents decided to establish their own support program for education and formalized the existence of their association. The Jubilee Parents Association was formally recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 1989.

JPA is currently governed by a Board of Directors made up of parent volunteers. These directors have served JPA for almost ten years now. The members of the board are:

Mary Ann Nares
Chairperson

Lorena Umali
Vice Chairperson

Estrellita Alafriz
Secretary

Givi Paglicawan
Treasurer

Soccoro Tesorio
Assistant Treasurer

Pilar Alfaro
Member

Rowena Aquino
Member

The program funded by World Vision Development Foundation was officially terminated on September 30, 2005. When the JPA considered running their own school, the development of the curriculum and the management of the school itself became a challenge. Initial information gathered by officials of JPA introduced them to the difficulty of setting up a school not only because of the legal requirements but also because of the experienced needed to set up a school that can deliver quality education.

The Pearl Principle Formation School is a special pre-school program developed by Professor Nelia Cruz-Sarcol, the founder and president of the Centre for International Education. It draws on her long years of experience in starting and running the Child Development Center of CIE, Cebu Campus. The PPFS uses the first-rate curriculum developed by Teacher Nelia for preschool children.

The PPFS was introduced to the Jubilee Parents Association through Jay Tabana, a Pearl Principle Advocate. Pastor Jay, as we call him, works through his Lighthouse Ministries. He encouraged one of JPA's most dedicated volunteer and youth leaders, Arturo "Art" Alafriz, Jr., to get involved in the Pearl Principle which eventually got him educated about the PPFS concept on August 12, 2006, in a PPFS Phase 1 Orientation held in Cordova Condominium, Makati City.

On August 14, 2006, the Board of Directors of JPA led by its Chairperson, Mary Ann T. Nares, unanimously voted for the operation of a PPFS and the creation of a committee to oversee its operation. The board also authorized the participation of Mr. Alafriz and two more teachers, Lianne Joy Saberola and Chandeleth Yanzon, to the PPFS Phase 2 Orientation in Cordova Condominium on December 9, 2006.

Even though CIE would have helped JPA prepare the feasibility study for the PPFS in the Municipality of Mamburao, JPA took the initiative of investing on a feasibility study themselves. It gave them confidence that they can actually operate a PPFS in their community. Clearly, JPA wanted the school to operate as early as June of 2007.

Against the limitations imposed by their own project schedules, JPA sent its volunteers to the CIE PPFS Training Workshop for Administrators and Mentors on May 21-23, 2007, at Cordova Condominium, Makati City. The three-day intensive training started as early as 8:00 am and finished as late as 8:00 pm.

The three volunteers, Art Alafriz, Lianne Joy Saberola and Chandeleth Yanzon, who all have bachelors in education and are licensed teachers, went through a rigorous introduction to the CIE methods and techniques of teaching developed by Teacher Nelia. These principles and strategies form the foundation of 21 years of pre-school education in CIE. Now for the first time these methods and techniques are being shared with institutions outside CIE in a common effort to end illiteracy.

In a wholehearted effort, Teacher Nelia not only gave them access to CIE programs an methods for preschool teaching, she also mentored them herself. The whole Presidential Management Staff (PMS) was also in the workshop learning for the first time how we are making life-long learners out of our own CIE pre-school kids through our academic programmes.

The JPA team was clearly very interested in learning more about preschool education. They took a lot of notes and asked very good questions about the learning process of pre-school age children. Teacher Nelia was very patient in going through the slow process of explaining the teaching principles she used in designing lessons for our pre-school.

The workshop covered topics on learning, the reading process, teaching math, teaching science, and critical thinking and culminated in the actual writing of lesson outlines. The participants were then required to make a teaching demo using their written lesson outlines for the different learning areas.

The PPFS training is an on-going process because the rest of the training is spent on site. The JPA mentors are submitting their lesson outlines via email and we critique each of these lesson outlines and then send them back for use for a week's set of lessons. Presently the mentoring and consulting are done through our Global Examinations and Qualifications or GEQ (pronounced "Check") and of course under the very methodical supervision of Teacher Nelia.

After the JPA Team successfully completed the 3-day intensive workshop they had to start the tedious process of organizing their school, marketing it and preparing for the opening of classes. We were quite optimistic that the school would not start empty. However, we did not expect them to get more than ten pupils by opening week.

They had barely two weeks to prepare for classes and they were still sending their lesson outlines a week before classes. Added to the challenge was the fact that there is a reputable pre-school in the poblacion that almost all pre-schoolers go to. Everyone's fingers were crossed.

We sent them the forms they will need to get their student registration process up and running. The Office of the CEO also sent designs for collaterals they can use for marketing the school. JPA tapped its network of volunteers to distribute flyers to inform the community that JPA Learning Center would be opening this June 2007.

Just as we were opening classes here in CIE Main, JPA informed us that they opened as scheduled with two classes in their first term with more than thirty pupils. It was an exciting feat for JPA Learning Center considering that they had barely a month to market the school with severely limited resources.

The JPA Learning Center just completed their first grading examinations. CIE has sent the first batch of official report cards for students to Mamburao. Parents’ sessions for Pearl Principle value formation are done at least an hour and a half every Saturday. Everything is coming into place for the JPA Learning Center. We will be evaluating the JPA Learning Center this coming first quarter of 2008 to find out if they have come up to CIE GEQ standards. We are very optimistic about the outcomes.

Everyone A Leader

This is Chapter 7 of "The Pearl Principle" book.

Last August 2004, my friends and I were talking about grim news in the broadsheets, radio and television. We felt that there had been too many talks and debates of “why” these awful things continue to happen to our country and “who” are causing these events to occur.

Many of us keep looking back and digging dirt while creating other mounds as we dig. These mounds will eventually have to be cleared and dug again. The endless transferring of dirt from left to right, front and back, continues… Are we digging ditches everywhere to bury ourselves in?

“Does anybody have a solution?”

One of my friends, who had seen efforts from the farthest left to the farthest right, had been battle-scarred, so to speak, in quest of an answer. According to him, everyone has advice to give, but not many are acting on their proposed solutions. Too difficult, they say. But I guess, it is because they themselves are part of the problem.

My small group comprises of “Don Quixotes”. These are Filipinos who dare to dream the impossible, who dare to fight the unbeatable… and challenge the culture of passivity and apathy.

However, we do not wish to fight windmills. We are dreamers, yes -- not of a new Philippines but of the TRUE Philippines -- which has always been called “The Pearl of the Orient.”

Perlas ng Silanganan.

The truth of the matter is that, solving the problems of our country is possible.
It is not a Herculean task. This process of transformation will take some time.

Yes. But, by accepting this fact, we would have already won half the battle.

Yes. It will take sometime. But, we can make use of this time to our advantage, by planning our actions very well. History should have taught us enough. Haven’t we learned our lessons?

We have been used to “band-aid” solutions here and there. But “band-aid” solutions have never taken us anywhere.

What it takes are small but sustained, purposive actions guided by the People’s Vision as presented earlier in page 30 (Chapter 4 - The Way to Become).

This fact leads us back to the Pearl Principle.

To be able to solve the problems of our country, we need to individually take it upon ourselves to change for the better.

The ability to change ourselves is the foundation of authentic leadership. Each one has this capacity. Each one is a potential leader.

Change can be willed by anyone.

But let it begin with me.

And, as we evolve and reach out to people within our spheres of influence, something will eventually spark!

As an old song goes, “It only takes a spark to get the fire burning. And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.”

It will only take one ordinary person who dares to be a leader to start that SPARK, and spread the flame until it becomes big enough to warm others and move them towards the same direction.

This FLAME is NOT the destructive fire, but the PASSION intense enough to smelt passive individuals to become leaders themselves.

This is only possible if you are an inspirational leader who can infect others with a vision. The leader leads himself. The leader inspires others. The leader draws others towards a vision.

The leader engages people into action.

This is the leader we need right now. This is the kind of leader the Pearl Principle calls us to become.

The Pearl Principle cultures GENERATIVE LEADERS.

Generative Leaders bring hope so that people can “LIVE” again. He Leads, Inspires, Visualizes, and Engages people to CREATE new solutions, generate new ideas, and think out of the box.

CREATE also stands for creation, reinvention, enrichment, adaptation - assimilation, transformation and enlightenment.These thinking processes are activated in one’s consciousness only if that person is in a state of optimism. Pragmatic idealists, we call them, who are true disciples of the Pearl Principle, possess this mindset.

A person who is in a state of optimism, has the capacity to see what others do not see. Has that intuitive power to recognize opportunities from adversities. Sees possibilities rather than impossibilities.

Generative leaders inspire others with the way they live their lives inspired by The Tenets of the Pearl Principle. They are also guided by a noble aspiration -- living lives in communion with God, possessing integrity in thought, word and deed, empathizing with commitment, and being accountable for their actions.

They are governed by a purpose greater than their own to make a difference in the lives of others and contribute to creating a better world.

Genuine Generative Leaders see themselves at the center of a unified field of diverse energies that can fuel change. They can show how dreams can be fulfilled and that dreams can still be fulfilled. They can be the bridge to our future as a people.

This is the mission of the Pearl Principle: To awaken the Generative Leader in every Filipino who has the resolve to make our Motherland live up to its historical destiny as THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT.

Coming up is Chapter 8 "It's Time!"

First Things First

This is Chapter 6 of "The Pearl Principle" book.

There were seven problems of the country brought up and discussed in that Conference. These were the issues on poverty, unemployment, underemployment, peace and order, the deteriorating standards in education, corruption, over-population and our national “identity crisis.”

The participants presented possible solutions followed by the usual debates. Most of the proposed solutions were “top-to-bottom” strategies.

We are not saying we do not need change at the top. We are in total agreement that we do — but we must be able to do more from where we are standing right now.

The Pearl Principle believes in a “bottom-to-top” approach. This begins with change from within and from within one’s sphere of influence. Thus, ensuring a solid footing for any long-term change to be sustained.

However, you might ask: ‘What kind of people can take on the Herculean task of solving problems with such magnitude -- without political power or without resources?’

The answer is simple.

Disabuse your mind that it is a Herculean task. It is not. What we need are incremental changes.

One step at a time. One Filipino at a time.

Ang bawat hakbang ay siyang magdadala sa atin sa tugatog na gusto nating marating at nais nating buuin.

Just like building a cathedral, stone by stone, block by block, we pile them up. But merely piling them up is not enough.

Dapat isaisip natin na tayo ay lumilikha ng isang katedral, ng isang adhikain, ng isang bansa. It is picking up that block, with each mason carrying and offering it with all his heart, mindful of his role that he has to perfectly cut that block and place it on top of the other blocks that have also been rightly laid out by the others, making sure that the very foundation of the cathedral is strong enough to withstand the test of time. That without this individual contribution, the edifice shall never attain the magnificence we have envisioned it to become.

We need to be totally and inexhaustibly determined to pursue the task of transformation. What we need is NOT POLITICAL POWER, but the WILL POWER to initiate change beginning with ourselves and the people immediately around us.

Next is Chapter 7 "Everyone A Leader".

Where Do We Go From Here?

This is Chapter 5 of "The Pearl Principle" book.

As a nation, we should have a ROADMAP.

This roadmap must show how we can fulfill our destiny. Our destiny is a consequence of our past and the decisions we make today. It may not be a perfect roadmap. Surely, we have to “re-route” several times as we journey on.

This roadmap tells us what is important, the things that we should be doing and how we should be doing them.

This roadmap must be articulated, understood and accepted by all, so that everyone journeys in the same direction and reaches a common destination.

This roadmap manifests the essence of our very existence as a nation and must be deeply rooted in our collective consciousness.

As citizens of this country, we call for the immediate commencement of an inspired collective action to steer massive change that will bring each and every Filipino to attain a decent and meaningful life in a society enshrined in The People’s Vision.

This transformation could only come to fruition if change is initiated from within and from within one’s sphere of influence.

The basic rule is to “begin with the end in mind.” The end must be clear, easy to understand and owned by those who are involved in the change process.

We have attempted to change over and over. But we always start discussing problems, airing our gripes without offering solutions, and end up blaming each other.

Everyone has a hand in the predicament we are in. No one is innocent, nay guiltless, except our children who will inherit the mess we have created.

Unless…

Chapter 6 will be next: "First Things First".

The Way to Become

This is Chapter 4 of "The Pearl Principle" book.

They all came to satisfy a hunger. On September 28 and 29, 2004, a large group of Filipinos from all walks of life, found themselves huddled at the Hotel Intercontinental, Makati City -- looking for a new meaning and searching for the vision to guide their resolve to better themselves –ourselves -- for the country.

They responded to a simple invitation, a general newspaper announcement for a Conference on “The Pearl Principle: Tools and Strategies for National Recovery.” There were no promises of names of renowned speakers nor of financial incentives. Yet, they came, all 518 of them. Exceeding the seating capacity of the venue and surpassing the maximum expectations of the organizers. For over eight hours, they stayed glued to their seats. The speakers exhorted the audience to conjure images of a great future. But what this future exactly is, must be visualized individually, by everyone. The future can not be created, unless first, formed in the mind.

The audience was asked point blank, “What is your dream for your country?”

They unleashed a torrent of emotions as they unfolded their long-kept hopes and dreams. Otherwise shy to open up for lack of opportunity to be heard, to be recognized and to be involved, they seized the moment as they passionately revealed themselves to each other. Collectively, they painted a beautiful picture of the Philippines!

The speakers taunted them further, “What is your dream role to make your vision for our country come true?”

A rush of adrenalin filled the room. Everyone engaged in very animated discussion, spurred by the thought that they indeed have a role to play in making this dream for their beloved country come true.

Individually, they searched for their meaningful part in the orchestration of these dreams. Together, they found the way to become, and they crafted…

The People’s VisionThe Philippines: A S.T.R.I.N.G of P.E.A.R.L.S.

The Philippines is a Soaring and Tenacious Republic Instituted by Nation-loving Generations of Passionate, Ethical, Action-driven, Results-oriented Leaders of Society

The People’s Mission
We T.E.A.C.H.

We Train, Engage, Assess, Create opportunities, and Harness individuals, communities and organizations to apply The Ten Tenets of the Pearl Principle within their spheres of influence.

The People’s Strategies
We D.R.E.A.M.

Discover who you really are. Use your inherent God-given gifts for a higher purpose.

Reinvent yourself. Create a personal vision aligned to the service of your fellowmen.

Energize yourself. Be a life-long learner by re-tooling and associating with positive-minded people.

Act on your 4 Ps. Pray for discernment Plan your course of action Persist on achieving your plan

Pursue your dream with passion

Manage yourself. Be driven by SUCCESS:

Sense of
Urgency
Competence
Congruence
Enlightenment
Self-sacrifice
Service

How We Measure Success
We measure success by the number of people whose lives have improved because of our existence.

Personal success is only a means to an end, making the world a better place.

The Goal of Life:
Be A C.I.E.A.N.

Communion with God
Integrity in thought, word and deed
Empathy with commitment
Accountability for actions
Nobility in aspirations

THE TENETS OF THE PEARL PRINCIPLE
Our worldview is rooted in the transformation of adversity into a gem of a life…as in the creation of a pearl. We believe that…

1. Adversity is the catalyst of growth and progress.

2. Transformation is the proactive engagement of one’s sphere of influence.

3. Every person has inherent gifts that can be used to overcome challenges.

4. People can reinvent themselves at will.

5. Introspection is the key to unlocking the right core values that guide our discernment for
change.

6. Self-sufficiency is a philosophy that we can nurture to eradicate mendicant behavior.

7. Personal success is only a means to an end: making the world a better place.

8. Success is measured by the number of people whose lives have improved because of our
existence.

9. Wealth accumulation is only justified when it is re-channeled to uplift the quality of
life of communities through purposeful intervention.

10. Change begins from within...change begins with me.

Myriads of questions. A plethora of possibilities. An array of answers. An army of potential leaders emerged.

And when it was all over, they hovered around the venue, oblivious of time, reluctant to leave. They asked the question, “What’s next?”

From each discussion group, a leader was chosen. Forty two leaders were called upon and commissioned to further their new found cause. In that commissioning, each of them received, in the palm of their hands, the symbol of hope and transformation. The pearl.

THE SYMBOL OF HOPE AND TRANSFORMATION

We need a Symbol of Hope and a Model for Transformation. It cannot just be anybody. Anyone can come and go. Many of them have let us down.

Almost everyone has a hidden agenda. Most have turfs to protect. There are those weak in character.

And they betrayed our trust!

The perfect Symbol of Hope of our nation is the “pearl.”

The inner struggle of the oyster to survive has a profound meaning. The story can move anyone who has gone through a similar struggle, enough to hit you in the heart. It is faceless but it has life. It is the only living organism which can transform an “irritation” into a priced gemstone.

It is very easy for anyone to identify with the story of the pearl. It is easy to recall. It has no race, no creed, no political bias, no gender. Yet, it has a universal appeal. When your life is in disarray, think of the pearl – our National Symbol of Hope.

The flicker of hope will begin to warm your heart, warm enough to revive your strength, to force you to stand with courage, to transcend your fears and hopelessness, fired by your new found enthusiasm and optimism. Only then, will you be able to see beyond the pain. No longer a victim.

But a victor, free to soar.

Next is Chapter 5 "Where Do We Go from Here?"