THE PHILIPPINE LEADERS MUST HAVE A SERVANT-LEADERSHIP MENTALITY

A VOICE FROM AMERICA

By Ernie D. Delfin

THE PHILIPPINE LEADERS MUST HAVE A SERVANT-LEADERSHIP MENTALITY

            Today is America’s  Memorial Day 2003.  It’s  exactly a week  since President George “Dubya” Bush  gave a State Dinner to Phil.  Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo  in the  White House,  the third state dinner that he ever hosted since he became president.    With the lavish praise and recognition accorded the Philippine president in the White House,  the Filipinos in America as well as in the Philippines were again euphoric.  This is  somewhat  reminiscent of the euphoria that the Filipino people  felt during  People Power Revolution of 1986, popularly called as EDSA I,  that kicked Dictator Marcos out of Malacanang,   that was repeated in January 2000 when the EDSA II uprising forced  the actor Erap Estrada turned President out of Malacanang.   Fiesta-like activities like the State Dinner  hosted  by  the most powerful person in the world,  President  Bush with all his key cabinet members and many VIPs in the United States have  put Pres Arroyo in a pedestal,  and  made her the   “Darling of the Month” among the coalition of the willing.   To quote STAR publisher Max V. Soliven during last Saturday (May 24^th) dinner reception hosted by this columnist in Los Angeles,  “The White House accolades  are  too lavish that Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo does not truly deserve because of her “urong-sulong” (ambivalent)   commitment to the so-called Coalition of Willing in Iraq.”  (Max Soliven was  the only non-governmental official who was included in Pres. Arroyo’s  official party--Editor)  His  description probably sums up many Filipino Americans’  feelings about  Pres. Arroyo’s state visit that has  overshadowed the serious  bombings in Mindanao and ephemerally buried the   political drama surrounding the Con-Ass  or Con-Con  maneuverings  in Manila. 

            Now, President Arroyo,  with his official as well as unofficial entourage, is back in the Philippines   ------  after a week of  extravagant media coverage of her US visit that started in Los Angeles where she met Cardinal Roger Mahony in the new  multi-million cathedral that stand truly magnificent amidst the background of a poverty stricken East  Los Angles,  to  Washington D.C. where she was made to stand on a pedestal ( pun intended)  and to San Francisco where she met a chosen group of 50 people that caused some intrigues and  jealousy among the Filipinos in the Bay Area  ---  to work harder  to make the Philippines a stronger republic which she promised in her SONA last July.   Many of her opponents, however, would say that the Philippines has become a weaker republic as the socio-economic  and the peace and order situation in the Philippines, especially in Mindanao has worsened.   The peso continues to depreciate, a  barometer how the  nation’s economy is measured against other countries.  Without the billions of remittances of the Overseas Filipino Workers and immigrants, euphemistically called as the Modern Day Heroes, the Philippine government would gave become bankrupt.

           President Arroyo has another year as the president. She faces insurmountable challenge to implement programs to fulfill his SONA promise to make the Philippines a stronger republic especially in the areas of the economy and the peace and order. With the forthcoming May 2004 election, unfortunately,  her decisions and  acts  of commission or omission (supported by her “body language”)   will  again be interpreted by politics-loving Filipinos as  plain “politicking”  to regain her popularity as  more people are convinced that she will  reconsider her December 30,  2002  decision NOT to run for re-election. Bouyed by  President Bush’s  unequivocal support through military and economic and financial help to resuscitate the Philippines economy,  coupled with the fact that there is no strong contender in her Lakas Party to succeed her,  she might easily be persuaded to change her mind .  This writer joins other Filipino writers who  fearlessly predict that   she will run for reelection, either under the l987 Constitution or a new one that will convert the Philippine government into a Parliamentary form of government where the number one deal maker Joe De Venecia will be her prime minister.  In our macho society, Filipinos  still give  women  ample  allowances  for changing their minds because of their  nature, especially during their monthly mood swings.   Furthermore,  Filipinos have short memories… we have forgotten the plunder that was caused by the Marcoses.  Almost everybody has forgotten that they were accused of massive looting but now they are all in the corridors of power from the Governor’s mansion in Ilocos Norte to the Halls of Congress.

           This early,   the Filipino people  are now  beginning to enjoy their number one hobby, which is  politics that is at par with Filipinos  love for “sabung”  (cockfighting)!     Forget that we have 100l  cancerous problems that have afflicted  millions of our people --- poverty of values, poverty of good education, poverty of basic necessities,  poverty of moral and upright leaders, poverty of good governance   amidst the gargantuan material opulence  of the very few   who really do not care about our people!      A lot of these so-called business or government leaders   who   are leading the Philippines to hell have stashed some of their unexplained wealth to other countries, like Canada, United States or Europe where they can  jump ship and immigrate anytime.   Names like Dewey Dee, Atong Ang or Ricarforte and many others   come to mind as  living proofs that the Philippines still produce many millionaires despite the deplorable  economic ruins of the country.   What a country!

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           Can faith, hope and love survive decades of terror and  hellish problems of the Philippines?   That is the  challenge posed by the  recently  published book of Gracia Burnham,  “In the Presence of my Enemies”,   a  poignant story  detailing the torturous conditions that she and her (deceased) husband Martin  and l8 others suffered under the Abu Sayyafs  when they were kidnapped  in May 2001 (Memorial Day Weekend exactly  two years ago today, which we have almost forgotten due to the state dinner, Con-ASS or Con-Con factors among others).  The  lives Martin Burnham, Guillermo Sobero, Nurse Deborah  Yap,  Sonny Dacquer and Armando Bayona were just wasted by these Abu Sayyaf terrorists.  Most of the hostages survived the ordeal and  are now presumably  trying to go on their lives after their traumatic experiences in the jungles of Mindanao. 

             Unfortunately, the problems that gave rise to these kidnappings and ransom cottage industry continue to   worsen and can still explode  anytime.  While GMA was in the White House,  for instance,  a bombing in Koronadal City exploded where dozens were killed.    Why?  I am no expert as the problems of Mindanao are very complex that existed as long as centuries ago.  But,  I believe that the   solution will not only be the show of military force but also massive work to alleviate the conditions of the residents  in the areas of  education, employment,  integration and socio economic conditions of all the people. A  culture that idolizes guns and superiority of  naked force  is hard to change.  But the Abu Sayyaf’s recruitment of young people  will be much  more difficult if the young become  more educated, have good sources of livelihood and have other options in their lives.  The road to his ideal destination will  very long and difficult  but each journey always starts with the first step. 

               Mrs. Gracia Burnham (and her deceased husband Martin) were active  missionaries of the New Tribes Mission based in Kansas City   lived in the Philippines for over 15 years.  They liked the Philippines and  have learned to love the Filipinos as happy and spiritual her people despite the many ills of her government,  a  fact that can be gleaned from her book.  Understandably, the book  is also brutally honest in her portrayal of her  stay in the Philippines, which centered around her captivity by the Abu Sayyaf  that lasted exactly one year and eleven days.  As American missionaries who worked long hours without the obvious compensation of material success,  this Kansas City couple during their once-in-a lifetime wedding anniversary at an exotic Dos Palmas Resort in Palawan started a  series of mental, as well as physical and spiritual challenges that an average human being will never  experience.  The  mental scenarios caused by the uncertainties of each day is  quite tormenting;  it is a test of the resiliency or indomitability of the human spirit.

         Not only did they face near starvation, constant physical exhaustion, frequent gun battles, and cold-blooded murders around them but they also faced extra-ordinary test of their faith  and love in a God that has seemingly abandoned them. The book is filled with human real-life drama narrated in gripping first person  experiences. The reader like me is touched  by this ultimate triumph of  faith  and enduring love of an ordinary American couple  who by God’s  hands were thrown into an extra-ordinary difficult circumstances l5,000  miles away from their Kansas City home.  As active members of their New Tribes Mission Church, they were sent as missionaries to help enhance the lives of  others in a third world country which they learned  to love but were made a sacrificial lambs  of the cruelty of man’s politics against his own government.  Despite, all these tragic experiences, Mrs. Burnham was not bitter  and remains steadfast in her faith in God and the innate goodness of the Filipino people amidst the presence of her many enemies.

           To quote USA Today “ the issue … is not why an all-powerful God might choose to subject a man to evil, but how a man, with God’s help, responds to evil.” Lastly, the book gives a powerful encouragement and everlasting hope amidst the many struggles in life in a very honestly woven story of an ordinary woman who is poor in material possessions but very rich in a commodity called LOVE which the world needs most during these troubled times… The book is  a good read, I give it  a nine-and-a-half.

                                                               * * * * 

              In our cyberspace forum called ProgressiveTimes,  someone circulated some specific but disturbing  examples of some corrupt BIR government officials who have amassed great wealth that are can never be supported by their  salaries that they “legally” make, complete with names and  pictures and addresses  of their mansions, expensive cars and all their properties.  Hard working people especially the Overseas Filipino workers were not only enraged but became sick just reading these exposes.  As the creator of ProgressiveTimes,  I have suggested that we  start a “Fund to put these Corrupt People in the Government in Jail” and the responses all over the world is beyond  my dreams.  From my initial $200.00 pledge, we possibly have over $5,000 pledges now in just a week!  The idea is catching fire although we still  do not have the mechanics how to home front in the Philippines will implement this peaceful revolution of the OFWs against the corrupt, bad and ugly government officials.

           Paging  OFWNet Foundation, under Dr. Eddie “Ka Edong” del Rosario and Dr. Chee Garcia,  Plunder Watch,  Sen. Jovy Salonga’s Bantay Katarungan  and the Center for Investigative Journalism.  You guys in the Philippines must  form an alliance to do this and let us, hard-working Filipinos outside the Philippines,   be a part by contributing  some of our hard earned dollars or dinars or pounds  to  see a corrupt government official in BIR, Customs, SSS or Malacanang go to jail.  We,  the OFWs probably can even hire  unemployed people to  become the guards of these jails  that are soon  filled with corrupt government officials to  manifest to the entire world that the ordinary Filipino is sick and tired of these plunderers  who   are worse than “pulgas del tierra” (fleece of the earth).  This is one peaceful  way that the OFW can invest in the social engineering  to bring back the moral values that our grand fathers used to live by.  The possibilities of this revolutionary movement is great,  like that of Mahatma Gandhi’s   protest against the British that started with the symbol of salt.

            My dream is that 7,000,000  OFW just contributing $10.00 a year is enough to prosecute a lot of corrupt people in ALL branches of our government that  will also employ  young idealistic lawyers to put these plunderers in jail.  We then need   construction workers to build more jails,  unemployed police academy graduates to be security guards,  restaurant caterers to feed and prisoners,  realtors to sell the sequestered assets,   writers and journalists  to publish a national magazine to profile these economic plunderers  and inculcate the right values among  our young people….The possibilities are endless.  Once  we the OFWs and our  families can see that poetic  justice  (putting the corrupt in jail) is possible it will motivate us do more projects proactively.  Just dream that we if we put 50% of all corrupt people to jail, the government revenue collections will also  increase dramatically.   Everybody wins except the corrupt, the bad and the ugly government officials!

            It can be done!  We need more people to be pro-active. Join us by subscribing our ProgressiveTimes towards a more Progressive Philippines!

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 E-mail this writer at:           erdelusa@hotmail.com or  drbannatiran@yahoo.com

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       On the  Philippine front,  let me also profile  another unsung hero and silent employer who I  met during my recent visit to the Philippines. His name is Naido Duldulao, a cousin of my ‘kabagis’ (brother) Nestor Duldulao of Northern California, whom I’ve known since our  CPA auditor years in Manila decades back. Naido, a fellow GI (genuine Ilocano),  who like many industrious Ilocanos ventured in the Promised Land called Mindanao.  Married a beautiful Davaoenia, Tong, Naido ventured  into  some thriving businesses from shipping, overseas placement and recruitment and to operating bangus and catfish fish pens in Samal Island.  He also started exporting these freshly and instantly frozen  bangus to America and Europe.  After early retirement from the Philippine Navy as a Captain, he found Mindanao the perfect place for him to raise his family and grow his diversified businesses.

       A soft spoken businessman, Naido, the CEO-Founder of ND Shipping Group of Companies in Davao City and Manila,  is not only making an excellent living but also giving lots of opportunities and employment to hundreds of Filipinos.   In our trip to Davao and Samal Island, I met dozens of his employees who love working for his companies.  One late weekday late afternoon, past 6:00 PM, I was surprised that almost everyone was still working without watching the clock, unlike in most offices in America. The few days that I was with Nestor and Ceny Duldulao and  another couple Art and Essie Claveria, all from Northern California as guests of Naido and Tong Duldulao in Davao City  with an overnight stay in their luxuriously built family resort in Samal Island, where the fish pens were situated,  I  knew then that he is living in paradise compared to the Ilocandia region that he came from. Perchance,  this writer if circumstances were different I would possibly have done the same in my younger years.  (Why is it that human beings dream to be in other places other than where they are?)

      On the eve of Valentines Day 2006,  two Rotarian friends of mine, Jess Cifra and Litay Ferrera Brunner, past presidents of the Loyola Heights and Makati Rockwell Rotary Clubs, respectively,  met Naido Duldulao at Shangrila EDSA to discuss how we can jointly help employ more Filipinos. As he is in the home front, he told us that given the chance he would like to place thousands of unemployed Filipinos to work not only in cruise ships but also in North American cities that are being rebuilt, like New Orleans where massive rehabilitation and  construction work worth billions due to devastation caused by Katrina are still ongoing for  the next several years.  Collectively, we agreed with Naido that the best way to elevate the living conditions of our people is through good education and sustainable employment. For all his silent efforts, Naido’s  contributions to Philippine society did not go  unnoticed.  His fellow Ilocanos in Ilocandia honored him together with dozens of accomplished and successful “Sons and Daughters of Ilocandia” that included Supreme Court justices, military generals, educators, authors and businessmen. 

       In these competitive days of globalization and information society, our Philippine society needs more of the tribes of Naido.  The country needs doers and not just talkers. The politicians, the so-called national leaders, are often the cause of problems as evidenced by so many unconscionable, extravagant, stupid  government projects like mothballed Westinghouse project of yesteryears, the overdue NAIA 3 airport and the alleged “fertilizer scam” that apparently  did not produce more crops to eat or export  but suspiciously purchased votes for some incumbent politicians. Cumulatively these kinds of government officials’ shenanigans  and stupid ways of doing government projects  are adding tons of baggage that have prevented the economic airplane of the Philippines from taking off!

      The Philippines certainly needs more  people who  walk the talk and really  help, like our silent and modern day heroes of Davao City and Ilocandia like, Naido and Tong  Duldulao. 

       Naido and Tong, I am fortunate that our paths crossed;  thank you for that memorable trip to Davao and Samal Island and above all for the employment you create for others!   May your  tribe  increase!  Happy Easter to all!

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Email:   erdelusa@hotmail.com  or ernie.delfin@gmail.com

Visit:   www.katipunan-usa.org and www.ptag.or

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AN AMERICAN EDUCATOR VISITS MINDANAO, WHERE MANY PEOPLE DARE NOT GO

A VOICE FROM AMERICA

By Ernie D. Delfin

AN AMERICAN  EDUCATOR VISITS MINDANAO  ON HIS OWN

AND LEARNED MORE THAN HE EXPECTED /  WE NEED MORE  SILENT  HEROES AND EMPLOYERS  IN THE PHILIPPINES

         One match can start a forest fire.  One idea can start a long journey.  Indeed, literally both serendipitously happened recently to Dr. Greg Bowden, Ph.D., the  principal of Running Springs Elementary School, a California Distinguished  School in Anaheim Hills, in Orange County.   An uncommon educator,  Dr.  Bowden  just  came back from his bold  and historic trip that only the brave and ‘crazy people do’,   traveling to the Philippines up to Koronadal City in  Cotabato, Mindanao,  a ‘forbidden’ place that  even Filipinos dare not go for many irrational reasons  fostered by  people who have never been there and sensationalized by the media to help  them sell their faded wares. 

             First,  a brief background about this l0,000 mile-trip to this  ‘dangerous’ place in Mindanao: It was over  two years ago,  when one typical Sunday,  Dr. Bowden read  about  Katipunan-USA in the Orange County Register. The newspaper  detailed about our active participation to an ONLINE mentoring program that was started by our  PTAG coordinator,  (www.ptag.org)  Jing Ureta, in Notre Dame Marbel University in Koronadal City, South Cotabato in Mindanao.  That was the match that lit a small fire in Dr. Bowden’s  interest to use his computer to communicate with Katipunan-USA, (www.katipunan-usa.org)  which Donna Delfin and his dad  founded about six years ago.   Thereafter, he was communicating with   Jing Ureta, the HR Manager and professor of the Notre Dame Marbel University in Koronadal City who immediately assigned Greg his mentee, Allen Navarro, then a sophomore  at NDMU.   Over two years of regular e-mail communications and  occasional  overseas call  from the mentor in Orange Country to  the mentee in  Koronadal  City  was an opportunity for each other to learn each other’s lives and culture.  It also germinated a desire in Dr. Greg’s mind to visit the Philippines to   attend the graduation of  Allen  at the NDMU.    This  March  he left for the Philippines, where he did not know anybody,  on an exciting two week voyage sparked by the internet.

            Dr. Bowden writes about his once-in-a-lifetime experience in the Philippines:

          “It is hard to believe that it has just been one week since I have returned to the USA - I have spent most of the week loading video on my computer, organizing photos, producing slide shows - all very time intensive work.  It has given me time to process the world wind of activities I had while in that beautiful country, the Philippines.  I continue to be overwhelmed by the entirety of the experience - and I am taking the time to make the videos and slide shows so my experience will not be immediately lost into my memory - I want to be ready to present this information to any and all who will listen and are interested.  I know the indefatigable Rotarian-businessman friend,   Ernie Delfin,  will have me speak to several groups soon.

           I continue to be humbled by the experience of so many people who had no idea who I was,  being so welcoming, kind, and generous during my stay.  From the time I arrived in Manila and met Mr. Jimmy Cura, the incumbent District Rotary Governor of Makati District,  - I felt a sense of peace and safety.  When friend Litay Ferrera, a past president of the Rotary Club of Makati Rockwell, joined him - well it was like a homecoming event - although I had only met her once  before in the US.  These two special people spent a great deal of time helping me get my feet on the ground and catch my breath from the long journey.  We had lunch and dinner together, Litay was kind enough to help me select a beautiful barong which became a gift from her, and Jimmy gave me a "windshield review" of the sprawling city of Manila.  I am so thankful for their kindness, which foreshadowed the rest of my trip.  Jimmy kindly put me up in a beautiful hotel so I had a chance to regroup.

       Leaving Manila all too soon, I was flying again to the southern tip of the "forbidden" island of Mindanao - a scary place for even Filipinos!  When I arrived at the airport at General Santos, in a giant Airbus 340, it so reminded me of the island of Maui by its vegetation and topography.  When I left the plane, I was able to know that here was different, and I say the first security guards with guns - but other than that - no signs of the chaos I was told to expect.  I met Jing Ureta  for the first time and Miss Dahlia at the airport - and I was beginning to reel from the long flight and the 16 hour time change.  Jing loaded me in the University club cab pickup, and we putted off to the Durian Farm and Resto for my first trial as a Filipino wanna-be!

     On the way we stopped at the Cantagauan Street Children Compound, where a Marist Brother  Crispin Betitia has anchored a good work to save children who have been abandoned by their families.  He will  soon be taking on some of the children to be released from the jails - the current law says children can be incarcerated at the age of 9 - and he will be the trial "halfway house".  I am sure he will be successful.

      The Durian test of Filipino citizenship -- well, this is a fruit that, on the whole, smells like a dead animal's rotting carcass - but I was told that it tasted like heaven!  The challenge was on - would I trust my hosts, and put a spoon of the fruit in my mouth?  Well, I passed out - I mean I passed, and successfully finished one part of a fruit.  I could tell that I had passed an important test, and fortunate for me - as this fruit is like garlic in the breath after it is eaten - so I would have been in the truck smelling it on everyone else's breath had I not tried it! 

   So off we went to the University - and I was quite excited to meet my mentee, Miss Allen Navarro - as I had expected her at the airport.  We got to NDMU, and I was escorted to the Administration Building - where we said hello in person for the first time.  She was behaving quite shy, and I later discovered that I was bigger and louder than she had expected!  Anyway, I gave her a hug as I had warned her I would - and she then disappeared - and I went off to the Convent where I would stay for the week.

   I always thought of a Convent as a place where nuns would live - so I was anxious to see what was in store - I was staying in the only air conditioned room (thank God!) and across form another mentor named Hal  Belisario  from Garden Grove California - about 15 miles form my house!  The Convent was for the Marist Brothers - and so I was relieved to find I was with Brother Crispin, Brother Edgar, and Brother Pat who was my most cordial host for the event of my stay.  Brother Pat and I had a wonderful time - he has been  a principal and was teaching a graduate class for the university - and so we had a lot in common.  He always had breakfast ready for me, and was able to help me get my clothes cleaned - I had only taken one suitcase on this trip as I promised Ernie he could have the 70 pounds of the other bag for his balikbayan items for Jing and Dr Chito Alba, a past president of the Koronadal City Rotary Club..

     During my week, I visited many exciting places - the Rotary Club / Venture Club Dental Mission to a Barrio, Lake Sebu and the T'Boli people with Melfie Gallego who has been hired by the United Nations to work on sustainable projects, and the schools that serve Lake Sebu and the T'Boli.  We also visited a model farm where the Champagnat Community College works to teach effective farming and family planning to this community.  I was overwhelmed by the care and concern shown by all of the members of the NDMU community - and their faith in God was so evident as they walked in paths of service to those around them! 

      Of course the highlight was attending the graduation of my mentee - Allen and I had become good friends, having written email beginning in February 2004, and we began speaking on the phone in June 2005.  I was proud to see her walk across the stage to get her diploma - as I felt I truly knew the obstacles she had overcome to reach this goal.  In the crowd of 1094 graduates plus all their family and friends - I figure about 3000 people, I was one of two white people!   I don't know why the other guy was there - but I was glad to be there at what Allen referred to as "my special and most unforgettable experience in my life".  Her mother was there also - and I think she was excited to have me there as well.

      Allen's family had 2 parties - one before the graduation on Saturday, and one after graduation as well.  Both times the spread of food prepared was incredible - and they made me feel welcome and special.  Allen took me around their farm - and the second party she had all her friends at - and I have some good pictures and fond memories of these events. 

    On Monday,  I made a presentation to the faculty of NDMU and some pre-service teachers, and on Wednesday I presented to the faculty of the IBED.  I am hopeful I was able to meet their needs in some way - I discussed learning styles and ADHD.  Again, everyone was so kind - I received a T'Boli guitar from the College of Education, and a beautiful dress barong from the IBED.  Gifts I will always treasure.

      Along the way, we went to London Beach for a day where we met up with Ma'am Janet and her family, and Brother Pat came along as well.  The University took a bus so Allen could bring all her friends - and we spent a beautiful day at the beach eating, talking, and I was the only one sunning - and I got a good burn for my efforts!!  But Jing proved herself the queen of the Karaoke as the crowd got bigger and bigger as she continued to sing - well that was a little story - but we all had fun anyway.

      Jing and I went to the retirement party for Estel Barietta, the IBED principal - and we sat for 1 hour 45 minutes looking at the food - we were just ready to eat - when the Rotary Club called from downstairs and was ready for us to come to their meeting.  Thank God they were eating as well - pancit, lumpia, adobo, and of course Lechon!  I had brought $1, 000 cold cash for them on behalf of the Rotary Club of Anaheim Hills,  as their initial donation for a joint deep well water project.  The Rotary Club  plans to build  affordable housing for the poor at about $1,000 per house!.  That is amazing - a house for $1000 - how many could we build if people knew how little they cost???  Anyway, had a great time of fellowship with the Rotarians and Venture Club - and Dr. Chito Alba was very kind.

     So for the grand finale - well I had told Jing I would cook in her house.  I did not know about the despedida, and so I was surprised  that each person brought food to the event - all along I said I would cook, and I thought that meant I would cook for all!  So Jing has in her freezer a 2 year supply of spaghetti sauce courtesy of me and Allen - we went to the store and purchased all the ingredients, and did some cooking together.  Allen was kind even when she was bored and tired of listening to me talk and talk - I reminded her of a song I once had heard - "shut up man, we're makin' memories"  and I think she got the meaning as she kept telling me that at challenging times later in the day.   And many of the wonderful people I had met at the university - Ma'am Pe, Miss Dahli, Brother Pat, Lena, Ma'am Janet - and others - all came to see me off.  I had a great time, and was sad to leave - I told Allen and Jing that I had something in my eye - and so I left to go back and pack for the journey home.

     "The journey home is never long - your heart arrives before the train..."  I was so glad to see my wife at the airport - I think I surprised her!

I was so sad to leave - but Jing and her mother flew with me to Manila, where we visited her sisters and their families.  Manila is a world apart from Mindanao - and Litay was so kind to bring a wonderful dessert and a beautiful picture frame as a gift - and we shopped at a "straw market" kind of place where I bought my wife Vicky some beautiful pearls.  I was glad to have Jing and her sister with me - Manila is a huge, sprawling place.  I stayed in a hotel courtesy of Ma'am Pe - and I was glad to have hot water and no friends in the walls there! 

      I have great memories of this trip of a lifetime - and I can't thank Ma. Conception "Jing" Ureta  enough for this entire voyage.  She took the risk to let this unknown white American become a mentor, and she also said "why not" when I suggested visiting Koronadal.  She had the wisdom of experience from her position as Personnel Director of NDMU - and I hope she continues to use her expertise with people in ways to benefit those around her.  Jing, I had such fun being with you, and can never repay you for all the kindness and trust you have shown me.  I hope we can have an enduring friendship - I want to be like you when I grow up!

      To my mentee, Allen - I will never forget the kind words you spoke of me and to me - and I pray that I did make a difference in your life - I thank you for being given the chance to do so, and for all the lessons you have taught me about how people are all the same no matter who we are or where we come from.  I also pray that you will continue to aspire in your life - to strive - and that you remember two things - becoming is superior to being, and without dreams, there is no need for work - and without work there is no need for dreams.  Dream on my friend!!!

 Thank you to my family for honoring my need for this trip.  It was truly a life changing event, and it will pay great dividends.  May God richly bless you all.  I hope we can return to see all the progress we will make on the book project with Ernie’s  Katipunan-USA and Rotarian network, and to see more graduates from the NDMU Grant In Aid program.  We will be collecting and sending books for the school libraries, including the University, as the need is so great!”

.

                                       A. Greg Bowden, Ed. D.                     

* * * *

       On the  Philippine front,  let me also profile  another unsung hero and silent employer who I  met during my recent visit to the Philippines. His name is Naido Duldulao, a cousin of my ‘kabagis’ (brother) Nestor Duldulao of Northern California, whom I’ve known since our  CPA auditor years in Manila decades back. Naido, a fellow GI (genuine Ilocano),  who like many industrious Ilocanos ventured in the Promised Land called Mindanao.  Married a beautiful Davaoenia, Tong, Naido ventured  into  some thriving businesses from shipping, overseas placement and recruitment and to operating bangus and catfish fish pens in Samal Island.  He also started exporting these freshly and instantly frozen  bangus to America and Europe.  After early retirement from the Philippine Navy as a Captain, he found Mindanao the perfect place for him to raise his family and grow his diversified businesses.

       A soft spoken businessman, Naido, the CEO-Founder of ND Shipping Group of Companies in Davao City and Manila,  is not only making an excellent living but also giving lots of opportunities and employment to hundreds of Filipinos.   In our trip to Davao and Samal Island, I met dozens of his employees who love working for his companies.  One late weekday late afternoon, past 6:00 PM, I was surprised that almost everyone was still working without watching the clock, unlike in most offices in America. The few days that I was with Nestor and Ceny Duldulao and  another couple Art and Essie Claveria, all from Northern California as guests of Naido and Tong Duldulao in Davao City  with an overnight stay in their luxuriously built family resort in Samal Island, where the fish pens were situated,  I  knew then that he is living in paradise compared to the Ilocandia region that he came from. Perchance,  this writer if circumstances were different I would possibly have done the same in my younger years.  (Why is it that human beings dream to be in other places other than where they are?)

      On the eve of Valentines Day 2006,  two Rotarian friends of mine, Jess Cifra and Litay Ferrera Brunner, past presidents of the Loyola Heights and Makati Rockwell Rotary Clubs, respectively,  met Naido Duldulao at Shangrila EDSA to discuss how we can jointly help employ more Filipinos. As he is in the home front, he told us that given the chance he would like to place thousands of unemployed Filipinos to work not only in cruise ships but also in North American cities that are being rebuilt, like New Orleans where massive rehabilitation and  construction work worth billions due to devastation caused by Katrina are still ongoing for  the next several years.  Collectively, we agreed with Naido that the best way to elevate the living conditions of our people is through good education and sustainable employment. For all his silent efforts, Naido’s  contributions to Philippine society did not go  unnoticed.  His fellow Ilocanos in Ilocandia honored him together with dozens of accomplished and successful “Sons and Daughters of Ilocandia” that included Supreme Court justices, military generals, educators, authors and businessmen. 

       In these competitive days of globalization and information society, our Philippine society needs more of the tribes of Naido.  The country needs doers and not just talkers. The politicians, the so-called national leaders, are often the cause of problems as evidenced by so many unconscionable, extravagant, stupid  government projects like mothballed Westinghouse project of yesteryears, the overdue NAIA 3 airport and the alleged “fertilizer scam” that apparently  did not produce more crops to eat or export  but suspiciously purchased votes for some incumbent politicians. Cumulatively these kinds of government officials’ shenanigans  and stupid ways of doing government projects  are adding tons of baggage that have prevented the economic airplane of the Philippines from taking off!

      The Philippines certainly needs more  people who  walk the talk and really  help, like our silent and modern day heroes of Davao City and Ilocandia like, Naido and Tong  Duldulao. 

       Naido and Tong, I am fortunate that our paths crossed;  thank you for that memorable trip to Davao and Samal Island and above all for the employment you create for others!   May your  tribe  increase!  Happy Easter to all!

----- 3 0 -----

Email:   erdelusa@hotmail.com  or ernie.delfin@gmail.com

Visit:   www.katipunan-usa.org and www.ptag.or

Join us:  progressivetimesaction-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING

THE METAMORPHOSIS

By  

AG Ernie D. Delfin

Newport Irvine Rotary Club

District  Chapter Development Chair

                                     “ I  cried and cried because I have no shoes

                                             until I saw a man  with no feet at all!”

                                                                                           --- An old Hindu proverb

               My life’s journey  so far has been exciting and wonderful considering my humble beginnings in a farm village in the Philippines where there was not even electricity till I was in high school and where our knowledge of another world was only glimpsed through the pages of a book.  Visualize this daily occurrence:  there was no TV in the entire village and only a few families owned transistor radios.  Like in the camp grounds,  we used firewood to cook our daily food (and that was three times a day!) but we survived!  Miraculously, to this day, we have dozens in our family tree who are now over 100 years and many of them never visited the hospital!  Many  people there were probably healthier than the average  resident of Orange County.  To this date,  the village where I was born has  no psychiatrists,  marriage counselors  or  massage therapists  unlike  our  opulent Orange County that the rest of the world that has TV envies!  (Update as of today:   most  families now have TVs, satellite dish,  cell phones  and internet access  courtesy of  a globalized economy.)

               With that background,  my life in Orange County is completely “different”  in terms of  material comforts  YET    it does not necessarily follow that I am happier nor more fulfilled because of those “things”…It only means that NOW I can suffer in comfort!   For instance, now  I complain about terrible traffic, three  decades or so ago, our family did not even a car!  To have our drinking water, we had to pump a well, now we just get bottled water from  the refrigerator.   Yes,  that indomitable  American spirit that there is a better way led to the creation of many  things that benefited the world.  That the American dream in each one of us made the world better  in so many ways!  But not in all aspects of our lives,  I think. 

                As I travel back to the Philippines and  also visit other countries,  there seems to be a  sense of   contentment and happiness of  people in these third world countries despite what they have or what they do not  possess compared to us in America.   As I have  seen  the socio economic conditions  of the very poor and the very rich,   I  am inclined that  mysteriously there is that degree of happiness and  human fulfillment that is not only really measured in terms of material opulence  but  also in  many   aspects beyond matter.  This observation  is confirmed everytime I attend a Rotary meeting in any club in any city or country.   Whenever  we Rotarians talk,  share what we  do (utilizing  our time, talent and treasure)  with  our local or international communities  to help alleviate the sufferings of the least  of our brothers and sisters,  we become  human BEINGS,     not just robots or machines producing things.   There is so much to be done in our world and  there is a great need for more Rotarians  to do what Rotarians do best: Service to Humanity as the best work of life.  Indeed,  as America’s  foremost guru, Dr. Steven R. Covey  writes that   there comes a time when a man craves and is drawn to  a life that is more balanced in the four quadrants of his being:   physically (TO LIVE),  mentally (TO LEARN) socially (TO LOVE) and spiritually (TO LEAVE A LEGACY).   I  believe that as many Rotarians pass the mid century mark of  their earthly existence, the last quadrant, leaving  a legacy,  becomes a great motivator  for them to do more Service Above Self.   As a  Rotarian,  I  am also doing what I am doing because I love doing it,  not  in the quest for human applause but simply to leave the world a better place for my children and their children.

           At this stage of my life when my two children are now adults,  I can now understand and appreciate  different kinds of books like  “Purpose Drive Life”  authored by Saddleback Pastor Rick Warren and “Mans Search for Meaning” by a Holocaust Survivor Dr. Victor Frankl   and many other books with  spiritually sprinkled  messages.   Twenty five  years ago  I  was fascinated with  and devoured hundreds of books like   “Art of the Deal”  by Donald Trump and  “Nothing Down” by Allen  and “Speed of Thought” by Bill Gates,  and many  books on how wealth is created.   When all is said and done, however,   I believe that this kind of  profound metamorphosis  happens to any normal  man once he  is reminded and accepts  his own mortality!

            To end this column,  let me share one definition of success that I see every day that  is hanging in my home office,  to sum it all:

WHAT IS SUCCESS?

You can use most any measure

When you’re speaking of success.

You can measure it in fancy home,

Expensive car or dress.

But the measure of your real success

Is the one you cannot spend.

It’s the way your kids describe you

       When they talking to a friend!                                                           

                                                                                     ---by  Martin Buxbaum

                                                                 --- 3 0 -

WHAT IS SUCCESS?

WHAT IS SUCCESS?

You can use most any measure

When you’re speaking of success.

You can measure it in fancy home,

Expensive car or dress.

But the measure of your real success

Is the one you cannot spend.

It’s the way your kids describe you

When they talking to a friend!

---by  Martin Buxbaum

MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING

THE METAMORPHOSIS

By  

AG Ernie D. Delfin

Newport Irvine Rotary Club

District  Chapter Development Chair

MAN’S  SEARCH FOR MEANING

                                     “ I  cried and cried because I have no shoes

                                             until I saw a man  with no feet at all!”

                                                                                           --- An old Hindu proverb

               My life’s journey  so far has been exciting and wonderful considering my humble beginnings in a farm village in the Philippines where there was not even electricity till I was in high school and where our knowledge of another world was only glimpsed through the pages of a book.  Visualize this daily occurrence:  there was no TV in the entire village and only a few families owned transistor radios.  Like in the camp grounds,  we used firewood to cook our daily food (and that was three times a day!) but we survived!  Miraculously, to this day, we have dozens in our family tree who are now over 100 years and many of them never visited the hospital!  Many  people there were probably healthier than the average  resident of Orange County.  To this date,  the village where I was born has  no psychiatrists,  marriage counselors  or  massage therapists  unlike  our  opulent Orange County that the rest of the world that has TV envies!  (Update as of today:   most  families now have TVs, satellite dish,  cell phones  and internet access  courtesy of  a globalized economy.)

               With that background,  my life in Orange County is completely “different”  in terms of  material comforts  YET    it does not necessarily follow that I am happier nor more fulfilled because of those “things”…It only means that NOW I can suffer in comfort!   For instance, now  I complain about terrible traffic, three  decades or so ago, our family did not even a car!  To have our drinking water, we had to pump a well, now we just get bottled water from  the refrigerator.   Yes,  that indomitable  American spirit that there is a better way led to the creation of many  things that benefited the world.  That the American dream in each one of us made the world better  in so many ways!  But not in all aspects of our lives,  I think. 

                As I travel back to the Philippines and  also visit other countries,  there seems to be a  sense of   contentment and happiness of  people in these third world countries despite what they have or what they do not  possess compared to us in America.   As I have  seen  the socio economic conditions  of the very poor and the very rich,   I  am inclined that  mysteriously there is that degree of happiness and  human fulfillment that is not only really measured in terms of material opulence  but  also in  many   aspects beyond matter.  This observation  is confirmed everytime I attend a Rotary meeting in any club in any city or country.   Whenever  we Rotarians talk,  share what we  do (utilizing  our time, talent and treasure)  with  our local or international communities  to help alleviate the sufferings of the least  of our brothers and sisters,  we become  human BEINGS,     not just robots or machines producing things.   There is so much to be done in our world and  there is a great need for more Rotarians  to do what Rotarians do best: Service to Humanity as the best work of life.  Indeed,  as America’s  foremost guru, Dr. Steven R. Covey  writes that   there comes a time when a man craves and is drawn to  a life that is more balanced in the four quadrants of his being:   physically (TO LIVE),  mentally (TO LEARN) socially (TO LOVE) and spiritually (TO LEAVE A LEGACY).   I  believe that as many Rotarians pass the mid century mark of  their earthly existence, the last quadrant, leaving  a legacy,  becomes a great motivator  for them to do more Service Above Self.   As a  Rotarian,  I  am also doing what I am doing because I love doing it,  not  in the quest for human applause but simply to leave the world a better place for my children and their children.

           At this stage of my life when my two children are now adults,  I can now understand and appreciate  different kinds of books like  “Purpose Drive Life”  authored by Saddleback Pastor Rick Warren and “Mans Search for Meaning” by a Holocaust Survivor Dr. Victor Frankl   and many other books with  spiritually sprinkled  messages.   Twenty five  years ago  I  was fascinated with  and devoured hundreds of books like   “Art of the Deal”  by Donald Trump and  “Nothing Down” by Allen  and “Speed of Thought” by Bill Gates,  and many  books on how wealth is created.   When all is said and done, however,   I believe that this kind of  profound metamorphosis  happens to any normal  man once he  is reminded and accepts  his own mortality!

            To end this column,  let me share one definition of success that I see every day that  is hanging in my home office,  to sum it all:

WHAT IS SUCCESS?

You can use most any measure

When you’re speaking of success.

You can measure it in fancy home,

Expensive car or dress.

But the measure of your real success

Is the one you cannot spend.

It’s the way your kids describe you

       When they talking to a friend!                                                           

                                                                                     ---by  Martin Buxbaum

                                                                 --- 3 0 -

TAKE TIME .. TO THINK... TO PLAY.... TO READ

     TAKE TIME

Take Time to THINK… it is the source of power.

Take Time to PLAY… it is the secret of perpetual youth.

Take Time to READ… it is the fountain of wisdom.

Take Time to PRAY… it is the greatest power on earth.

Take Time to LOVE and BE LOVED… it is a God-given privilege.

Take Time to be FRIENDLY… it is the road to happiness.

Take Time to LAUGH … it is the music of the soul.

Take Time to GIVE… it is too short a day to be selfish.

Take Time to WORK… it is the price of success.

Take Time to DO CHARITY… it is the key to heaven..

                                       Original author… UNKNOWN

                                           (Culled from my Library/Compliments from

                                                          ernie.delfin@gmail.com)

THE STORY OF MY OLD TYPEWRITER

TO ALL MY FELLOW ROTARIAN,  PLEASE READ THE

STORY OF MY OLD “GKeRC”  TYPEWRITER

      Xvxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works quixt wxll xxcxpt for onx of the kxys.  I wishxd many timxs that it works pxrfxctly. It is trux that thxrx arx forty-six kxys that function wxll xnough but just onx kxy not working makxs thx diffxrxncx.

        Somxtimxs it sxxms to mx that our own organization is not unlikx my typxwritxr that not all of the mxmbxrs arx working adxdxquatxly and xffxctivxly.

         You may say to yoursxlf, “Wxll I am only onx pxrson. I won’t makx  or brxak any organization.”

          But it doxs rxally makx a grxat diffxrxncx bxcausx any succxssful organization to bx xffxctivx rxquirxs the activx participation of xvxry mxmbxr. So thx nxxt timx you think that you arx only onx pxrson and that your xfforts arx not nxxdxd, plxasx rxmxmbr by old typxwritxr and start telling yoursxlf:

        “I AM A KXY PXRSON IN OUR PROGRAM AND I AM ALSO NXXDXD VXRY MUCH.”

                                             ----  3  0 ---

U.S. ELECTION IS STILL THE ENVY OF THE WORLD

THE METAMORPHOSIS

By

Ernie D. Delfin

U.S.  ELECTION  IS  STILL THE  ENVY OF THE WORLD

        President Barack Obama just made history,  being re-elected to his second term as president of the USA,   despite the financial fiasco in the housing industry and the collapse of the stock market that almost brought America to another great depression, and amidst the lingering  anemic U.S. economy and high unemployment that  characterized Obama’s first term of office.  The very spirited challenge from his Republican Party opponent,  Mitt Romney, made the election very nerve cracking to the very end.   Now, the proverbial  reaching out and mending of  broken egos and relationships between the victors and losers must commence  for the common good of America.

          Like millions of Americans,  this writer was also glued on the TV screen till the early hours in the morning just to watch the real time happenings, political surprises and analyses of this exciting political exercise in  the greatest democracy on earth.   Although the surveys  several weeks before the election were quite accurate that  the battleground states, namely Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Virginia, Iowa, Florida   would  determine the final outcome,  the hours after the election  was still full of excitement.

             The wonders of social media added to the excitement and drama as millions of people learn and become witnesses of what is happening in  all the swing states in real time.  When CNN predicted just after 8:00 PM Pacific Standard time, just 18 minutes after California closed its polls,  that President Obama was re-elected for a second term, euphoria erupted, especially among the Democrats in their Headquarters and also in Time Square, N.Y. as if it’s another   New Year celebration!

         It’s also commendable that within  a couple of hours,  Mitt Romney called the President to congratulate him and shortly thereafter made his brief but very graceful concession speech sprinkled with hopeful wishes  and prayers that the reelected president will be do good for America.  That was followed by a stirring acceptance speech of President Obama that is filled with challenges to all his supporters and fellow Americans that there is still much work to be done to make America great again ---to be the beacon and envy of the world. That is quite moving to hear as the president apparently has the pulse of the people as his message resonated well with the hopes and fears of the  majority of the popular vote, that also led to his impressive  victory  in the  Electoral College.

               The recent America’s  election, political leadership  and the shinning  example of democratic exercise  became the center of the world  stage for a day and remained the envy or dream of many countries on Earth.  The spirited debates, often with some sting of bitterness,  among opposing candidates espousing  their  different visions for the  country were openly discussed and analyzed.  Despite the high octane in the verbal duels among  the candidates and their passionate followers, however, the political atmosphere was peaceful and  no one was killed or assassinated (unlike in third world countries, including the Philippines) due to political reasons. The speed and reliability of the results hours after the nationwide election  is commendable and second to none.  Politicians all over the world can emulate the deportment that America’s political leaders exhibited  throughout their campaigns across the nation.  That is the greatest centuries-old legacy that America can give to many countries in the world in their quest for a true democratic government.

                                                         * * * *

             A day after the election, however, I am still wondering  how many voters like me experienced that inexplicable angst or anxiety for feeling  out-of-sync with the American mainstream  electorate,  when I compared  my stand,  YES or NO vote,  on  all the Propositions in the ballot.  I felt some degree of anger and/or sadness that only about 40% of them passed! Simply, I did not agree with 60% of California voters!  To put in another way,  only 40% of them agree with me on the  same issues!   It will be consoling to hear, if there are readers who are feeling the  same anger or sadness that I had felt after discovering  that majority in the electorate and I no longer believe in the same issues.  Or does it really matter, if someone does not conform with the majority?

         * * * * *               

   Although I voted in the Philippines only two times before I left for the United States almost 40 years ago,   I have also followed the  political and democratic journey of the Philippines  to this day.  Although the Philippines professes to be a democratic country like the  United States, the political atmosphere and exercise between the two countries are still day and night in comparison.    For instance,  many candidates in the Philippines change party affiliation for convenience and their philosophies and convictions  change also with the political manna. In the USA, it will be highly  preposterous that a Democratic leader like Hillary Clinton or a Republican leader like Newt Gingrich to abandon their respective parties just to be a candidate of the other party.  Furthermore, Philippine candidates, especially the filthy rich buy votes from the voters in order  to win and be in a lucrative government position,  while in the USA,  it is the candidates and their party that request for political contributions from the electorate to finance their campaign expenditures.

           Due to these stark  differences between the land of my birth the Philippines and my adopted country, I am ardently praying that the political exercise be improved significantly  to really reflect the deep yearnings of Filipino citizens,  to be truly free from their political and economic shackles that is controlled by  the upper 5 percent of their so-called leaders, both in public and private.   It may take another one hundred years that this ideal scenario may happen, but it is never too late to start the process now. Education, coupled with more stable socio-economic and financial stability of more Filipino families and voters will accelerate the maturity of the Filipino  electorate, who will not sell and compromise their votes during election time.  The problems are man-made and their solutions must also be man-made with vigilance.

           There is another election in May 2013 and what happens between now and then  will be a good start. Furthermore, any electoral reforms initiated before the May 2016 presidential election will also contribute to the enhancement  of the Philippines political system, thereby strengthening the country’s democratic foundation.

           Only time will tell.

                                                 ----   3   0  ------

Email writer at:  ernie.delfin@gmail.com and  drbannatiran@yahoo.com