| TRANSFORMATIVE POLITICS: The process of effecting positive change not necessarilly by changing our LEADERS but by changing the traditional factors upon which we base our reasons for electing them into OFFICE (like money, popularity, dole-outs, padrino system, empty promises and parochial concerns) into good governance factors (like credibility, integrity, track record, equal participation of men and women, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainable programs). If only many of us realize this, we can actually COMPEL our leaders to be more TRANSPARENT, and ACCOUNTABLE, to adhere more to the RULE of LAW and to make their leadership more PARTICIPATORY and RESPONSIVE. (These are the major benchmarks of governance, UNESCAP). Many of us use the word "good governance" but many of us fail to realize that GOVERNMENT is just one of the actors in governance. The other actors include business, civil society, urban poor, and many others. UNESCAP says the urban middle class is the most disorganized and uninformed group but it is also the most capable of bringing about change. The urban poor are the most vulnerable, most affected and the ones the suffer most. While the urban elite are the most organized and actually shape our community. If these 3 sectors unite - the potential power of the middle class, the clout of the elite and the need of the urban poor to get rid of corruption that (without their knowledge usually) results to most of their sufferings - we can actually bring about change. This is our 2010 Mission. Our chance to effect positive change, one of those moments when we fight and not consider the outcome because the mission is more important than the results. The journey is the most difficult part but every nation go through this as part of the cleansing process. When I was asked by the Philippines 21 Panel last July 31 what was the greatest thing I have done as a councilor - I was groping for the answers in my head because I had so many projects for the last 5 years - but in the end I said: HAVING RUN FOR OFFICE. It is not easy to run against the flow when almost everyone else succumb to the traditional means of winning an election. I stressed the fact that many good men and women don't run for office because of the realities of politics. But I said - only when civil society realizes - some people need to go inside to effect the change they want - then only can we actually expect these changes to happen. I thought for once that what I have done is really something which is not grand as the rest of the nominees but I left the decision to the Lord and am happy to have made it. I thank the Asia Society Philippines for chosing me to be one of the 10 emerging young leaders across various sectors selected from many nominees to comprise the Philippines 21 Class of 2009 to represent the Philippines at the Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit in Kuala Lumpur. In this batch, I shall continue to be the staunch voice of Transformative Politics as I have been since 2004! To God be the Glory! Jocelle Batapa-Sigue
Monday, August 10, 2009 at 10:43pm
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