Summer time is travel time and reunion time for me. Last month, I was in Indonesia for the fifth time and the night before my flight I was at the grand reunion of Metrobankers at Club Filipino, Greenhills.
Indonesian travel
I have been to Bandung twice at Maranatha Christian University for an MBA lecture as faculty of De La Salle Professional School, Inc. and twice at Unaaha, Konawe, South Sulawesi for a mining conference as faculty of Philippine Women’s University (PWU). Last month, the fifth was at Halu Oleo State University (UHO), Kendari, carrying the name of De La Salle University.
Aboard Cebu Pacific flight, Dean Martin’s rendition of Memories Are Made of This popped in my ears. But my memory of Indonesia is all about conferences, lectures and speaking engagements. Like Dean, I get exhilarated in front of an audience. I combine education and entertaining and come out with edutainment.
This time around, the ASEAN Economic Community forum brought me to Kendari City. Together with Dr. Girlie Amarillo, PWU social development professor, I was booked at its first world-class 14 story Grand Clarion Hotel. Its airport was upgraded to land the new generation of Boeing 737 800. Noticeable too at the Sokarno-Hatta International Airport is a carpeted corridor that welcomes the visitors on their way to a new immigration counter.
At the ASEAN forum organized by Dr. Sudjono and Sri Wiyati Mahrani [PWU MBA graduate] of Halu Oleo State University (UHO), I met Dr. Sanihu Munir, Dr. Jasmuri Munir, and Dr. Harun, all graduates of social development at PWU. Dr. Girlie Amarillo presented a research paper on the stories of landless peasants in the Philippines. Dr. Munir was our interpreter and moderator; he also delivered a paper on the Competitive Challenge for Nursing Graduates of Indonesia. Dr. Jasmuri delivered a paper on the Threat of HIV in the South Sulawesi and the Implications on the Workforce.
On the first day I delivered a paper on the ASEAN Opportunities and Challenges in the region. On the last day, I gave a general lecture on Leadership and Social Responsibility in the ASEAN region. My introduction was La Salle spelling to perk up the audience, majority of whom were non-English speakers. Three volunteers from UHO became instant cheer leaders (Nur Erlinda Dasia, Meitraiani Louisa M. and Fitri). Enthusiastically, their group mates with one voice joined the cheering; they were Fitri Suratin, Sukmawati, Vita Sari Lestari, Nilan Sartika, Evi Mulyani, Eva Lestari, Irawati, Nuraini, Hilmanwati, Nindya Kiski, Suli Prianti, Dvi Answar, Rosdiana, Ariani Triastuti, Widya Rahayu, Jumni H., Devinta Septianti, Siti Saptika, Andi Adri Alamsyah, Haptati, Heno Edi S., Laras Isvandiary, Ihasan Abdiliana, Febrianto Irawan, and Fatmawati. Since then, when they meet me they gesture “La Salle spelling.”
Metrobank reunion
On April 26, I attended the reunion of former Metrobankers at the Corazon Cojuangco Aquino Kalayaan Hall, Club Filipino in Greenhills. Like all reunions, it was a moment of recounting memorable events. The reunion on its third year (first in 2006, second in 2009) was organized by Rey Liao, Bong Dungo, Melinda Ching, Elsie Silverio, Rollie Bostre, Oscar Acopiado and Celso Cruz (who used social network).
It was an occasion to say hello and how are you to: Elvira Ong Chan, Angelita Jao, Atty. Alfredo Javellana, Henry Sun, Edmundo Villano, Angelito Villanueva, Milet Araneta, Ray Banico, Atty. Alberto Quimpo, Atty. Tony Viray, Joshua Naing, Ed Plana, Benjo Arcinas, Babes Gonzalez, Leony Francisco, Nonoy de Vera, Benjo Arcinas, Larry Malilin, Bert Alvior, Natalie Ng, Lita Ang, Julia Co, Virgie Lo De Guzman, Lito Angeles, Irene Tan, Irene Lim, Helen Fargas, Tony Cabaguing, Kelly Avena, Gail Quizon, Let Jacinto, Peter Dominguez, Jonathan Del Prado, Philip Wong, Ramon Rocamora, Abner Malabanan, and Remie Capili.
I was seated with Lilibeth Tan Wong (who called, visited and convinced Metrobankers to attend the affair), Lita Salonga Tan (who was one of my first students in MDP Batch 1 Class 91, now regional supervisor), Martini Conmigo (a kababayan from Bacolod), Jocelyn J. Chua, Marylou T. Oliveros, Violy Fernandez, and Natalie Ng.
The emcee was our charming Elsie Silverio, who called on Angelito Villanueva for the opening remarks. Manny Tabara who came all the way from California, USA to join the reunion and by special request he belted out two Pinoy classics, “Ikaw Lang Ang Ibigin” and “Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig.” Other Balikbayans were: Cesar Esteba from Canada, Celso Cruz and Alfred Estrada from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Alex Arcangeles from United Kingdom
This year, Metrobank eyes 30 new branches and additional 200 automated teller machines to meet the expanding requirements of the retail market. A similar situation 23 years ago called for a massive human resource training under SVP Elvira Ong Chan and VP Aurora Yambot. For this reason, I joined Metrobank for the managerial and leadership training program nationwide. The opening of new branches then had a domino effect on career movements; a surge of new energy went viral among the new officers and staff. Most of the reunion attendees were part of that corporate growth that pushed Metrobank to a number one position for the first time in 1994 and sustained it in the early 2000.
Our nationwide training then included Orientation of New Employees, Managerial Leadership Program, Management Development Program, Teambuilding Program, Supervisory Skills Building Workshop and Career Enhancement Workshop. With fond memory I remember being part of the human development team headed by Aurora Yambot, together with Rene de Jesus, Mely Veluz, Connie Tamundong, Baby Dumdum, Ma. Teresa Natividad, and Rois Dones.
Hawaiian Ho’oponopono
I was in Hawaii 40 years ago and Pearl Harbor was a historical must. But I was recently introduced to Ho’oponopono by my wife, Pearl. through Joe Vitale’s of Zero Limits. He says, “Memories are programs. They aren’t just yours. They are shared. The way to release the memory is to send love to the Divinity. When you clear memories, what comes through is inspiration. When you do Ho’oponopono, what happens is that the Divinity takes the painful thought and neutralizes or purifies it. You don’t purify the person, place or thing. When we see a program in another, we have it too. The way out is to clear. Complete responsibility means accepting it all – even the people who enter your life and their problems because their problems are your problems. They are in your life and you take full responsibility for your life, then you have to take full responsibility for what they are experiencing too.”
Ever since I learned this Hawaiian mantra, I travel to places, meet people, and do things without fear of any painful memory by repeatedly saying, “I love you; I am sorry; please forgive me; and I thank you.” With Ho’oponopono, I choose is to relive every wonderful experience and clear all painful events.
Summer time is travel time and reunion time for me. Last month, I was in Indonesia for the fifth time and the night before my flight I was at the grand reunion of Metrobankers at Club Filipino, Greenhills.
Indonesian travel
I have been to Bandung twice at Maranatha Christian University for an MBA lecture as faculty of De La Salle Professional School, Inc. and twice at Unaaha, Konawe, South Sulawesi for a mining conference as faculty of Philippine Women’s University (PWU). Last month, the fifth was at Halu Oleo State University (UHO), Kendari, carrying the name of De La Salle University.
Aboard Cebu Pacific flight, Dean Martin’s rendition of Memories Are Made of This popped in my ears. But my memory of Indonesia is all about conferences, lectures and speaking engagements. Like Dean, I get exhilarated in front of an audience. I combine education and entertaining and come out with edutainment.
This time around, the ASEAN Economic Community forum brought me to Kendari City. Together with Dr. Girlie Amarillo, PWU social development professor, I was booked at its first world-class 14 story Grand Clarion Hotel. Its airport was upgraded to land the new generation of Boeing 737 800. Noticeable too at the Sokarno-Hatta International Airport is a carpeted corridor that welcomes the visitors on their way to a new immigration counter.
At the ASEAN forum organized by Dr. Sudjono and Sri Wiyati Mahrani [PWU MBA graduate] of Halu Oleo State University (UHO), I met Dr. Sanihu Munir, Dr. Jasmuri Munir, and Dr. Harun, all graduates of social development at PWU. Dr. Girlie Amarillo presented a research paper on the stories of landless peasants in the Philippines. Dr. Munir was our interpreter and moderator; he also delivered a paper on the Competitive Challenge for Nursing Graduates of Indonesia. Dr. Jasmuri delivered a paper on the Threat of HIV in the South Sulawesi and the Implications on the Workforce.
On the first day I delivered a paper on the ASEAN Opportunities and Challenges in the region. On the last day, I gave a general lecture on Leadership and Social Responsibility in the ASEAN region. My introduction was La Salle spelling to perk up the audience, majority of whom were non-English speakers. Three volunteers from UHO became instant cheer leaders (Nur Erlinda Dasia, Meitraiani Louisa M. and Fitri). Enthusiastically, their group mates with one voice joined the cheering; they were Fitri Suratin, Sukmawati, Vita Sari Lestari, Nilan Sartika, Evi Mulyani, Eva Lestari, Irawati, Nuraini, Hilmanwati, Nindya Kiski, Suli Prianti, Dvi Answar, Rosdiana, Ariani Triastuti, Widya Rahayu, Jumni H., Devinta Septianti, Siti Saptika, Andi Adri Alamsyah, Haptati, Heno Edi S., Laras Isvandiary, Ihasan Abdiliana, Febrianto Irawan, and Fatmawati. Since then, when they meet me they gesture “La Salle spelling.”
Metrobank reunion
On April 26, I attended the reunion of former Metrobankers at the Corazon Cojuangco Aquino Kalayaan Hall, Club Filipino in Greenhills. Like all reunions, it was a moment of recounting memorable events. The reunion on its third year (first in 2006, second in 2009) was organized by Rey Liao, Bong Dungo, Melinda Ching, Elsie Silverio, Rollie Bostre, Oscar Acopiado and Celso Cruz (who used social network).
It was an occasion to say hello and how are you to: Elvira Ong Chan, Angelita Jao, Atty. Alfredo Javellana, Henry Sun, Edmundo Villano, Angelito Villanueva, Milet Araneta, Ray Banico, Atty. Alberto Quimpo, Atty. Tony Viray, Joshua Naing, Ed Plana, Benjo Arcinas, Babes Gonzalez, Leony Francisco, Nonoy de Vera, Benjo Arcinas, Larry Malilin, Bert Alvior, Natalie Ng, Lita Ang, Julia Co, Virgie Lo De Guzman, Lito Angeles, Irene Tan, Irene Lim, Helen Fargas, Tony Cabaguing, Kelly Avena, Gail Quizon, Let Jacinto, Peter Dominguez, Jonathan Del Prado, Philip Wong, Ramon Rocamora, Abner Malabanan, and Remie Capili.
I was seated with Lilibeth Tan Wong (who called, visited and convinced Metrobankers to attend the affair), Lita Salonga Tan (who was one of my first students in MDP Batch 1 Class 91, now regional supervisor), Martini Conmigo (a kababayan from Bacolod), Jocelyn J. Chua, Marylou T. Oliveros, Violy Fernandez, and Natalie Ng.
The emcee was our charming Elsie Silverio, who called on Angelito Villanueva for the opening remarks. Manny Tabara who came all the way from California, USA to join the reunion and by special request he belted out two Pinoy classics, “Ikaw Lang Ang Ibigin” and “Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig.” Other Balikbayans were: Cesar Esteba from Canada, Celso Cruz and Alfred Estrada from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Alex Arcangeles from United Kingdom
This year, Metrobank eyes 30 new branches and additional 200 automated teller machines to meet the expanding requirements of the retail market. A similar situation 23 years ago called for a massive human resource training under SVP Elvira Ong Chan and VP Aurora Yambot. For this reason, I joined Metrobank for the managerial and leadership training program nationwide. The opening of new branches then had a domino effect on career movements; a surge of new energy went viral among the new officers and staff. Most of the reunion attendees were part of that corporate growth that pushed Metrobank to a number one position for the first time in 1994 and sustained it in the early 2000.
Our nationwide training then included Orientation of New Employees, Managerial Leadership Program, Management Development Program, Teambuilding Program, Supervisory Skills Building Workshop and Career Enhancement Workshop. With fond memory I remember being part of the human development team headed by Aurora Yambot, together with Rene de Jesus, Mely Veluz, Connie Tamundong, Baby Dumdum, Ma. Teresa Natividad, and Rois Dones.
Hawaiian Ho’oponopono
I was in Hawaii 40 years ago and Pearl Harbor was a historical must. But I was recently introduced to Ho’oponopono by my wife, Pearl. through Joe Vitale’s of Zero Limits. He says, “Memories are programs. They aren’t just yours. They are shared. The way to release the memory is to send love to the Divinity. When you clear memories, what comes through is inspiration. When you do Ho’oponopono, what happens is that the Divinity takes the painful thought and neutralizes or purifies it. You don’t purify the person, place or thing. When we see a program in another, we have it too. The way out is to clear. Complete responsibility means accepting it all – even the people who enter your life and their problems because their problems are your problems. They are in your life and you take full responsibility for your life, then you have to take full responsibility for what they are experiencing too.”
Ever since I learned this Hawaiian mantra, I travel to places, meet people, and do things without fear of any painful memory by repeatedly saying, “I love you; I am sorry; please forgive me; and I thank you.” With Ho’oponopono, I choose is to relive every wonderful experience and clear all painful events.
On March 18, 2014 I delivered a keynote address at the International Social Work Day forum organized by Dean Emeritus Nenita Cura of the Philippine School of Work of PWU and national president Eva Ponce de Leon of the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc., coordinated by Nancy Pareno, and hosted by Dr. Girlie Amarillo. While the forum highlighted the theme, “Economic and Social Crises: The Social Work Response,” I chose to speak on “Socio-economic problems, Social development solutions.
Social and economic problems
Eva Ponce de Leon reminded the social workers that their task is “to promote equality and equity, enable people to living life sustainably, build participation, facilitate caring communities, and respect diversity by connecting people.” In short, deal with “the social and economic” problems that are inseparable. She said, “Kung saan ang isa [social] nandun din ang isa {economic].” She echoed what Rosabeth Kanter observed 15 years ago In Harvard Business Review (1999) who said that “social problems are economic problems.” That early, she challenged business to do corporate social innovation, not just philanthropic CSR.
Dr. Emiliano T. Hudtohan, EdD Management Organization Department De La Salle University, Manila Speech delivered at the ASEAN Economic Community International Seminar Halu Oleo State University, Kendari, South Sulawesi, Indonesia April 28, 2014
Management Organization Department, College of Business, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
Abstract: The AEC Blueprint has four pillars which contain 17 core elements and 176 priority actions whose implementation begins in December 2015. These pillars provide: Opportunity No. 1 to review our economic fundamentals based on Smithian Wealth of Nations and search for Common Wealth. Opportunity No. 2 to reshape management according to our Asian culture and conflict management approach based on the Asian face theory. Opportunity No. 3 to consider building new structures that will extend the reach, expand the capacity, and go beyond the limits of our institutions founded on 18th century Newtonian principles and shift the principles of New Science. Why is AEC an Opportunity?
Economist Benjamin Diokno (2014a, 2014b) of the University of the Philippines made a study which showed that the Philippines will be the least attractive investment destination in ASEAN Integration in 2015. However, the Philippines Ease in Doing Business score moved from No. 138 to No. 108, it still has to work hard to improve its processes (Luz, 2014) and it is recommended that we repeal some of our laws and lower the cost of doing business to be at par with our ASEAN partners. What is not fully articulated is that originally, the Philippines and the ASEAN members, have five more years and that is 2020. The Declaration on the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint (p.20) states the establishment, the actualization, and the fulfillment of a dream come true is in 2020. Learning from history, real transformation is very show. In fact, 50 years is estimated by social scientists as mere transition.
The Economic Community The 2013 assessment of Asian Development Bank in Asian Economic Integration Monitor states that: “The success or failure of the AEC ultimately lies in the hands of the national decision- and policy-makers who make it happen, and who have the political backing to overcome vested domestic interests that stand to lose from liberalization…The flexibility that characterizes ASEAN cooperation and institutional arrangements could give member states a pretext for non-compliance – and these are enforcements issues. This is the key challenge to be overcome in realizing the AEC as more than a political exercise in solidarity.”
A scorecard based on March 2012 data on the four pillar of AEC showed the following accomplishments: 1.Single Market and Production Base is 66%, 2. Competitive Economic Region 68%. 3. Equitable Economic Development is 67%, and 4. Integration into the Global Economy is 86%. The overall performance of AEC reached is about 68% of its overall targets between 2008 and 2011. Le Luong Minh, Secretary General of ASEAN says as of 2014 implementation is already 80% (Oxford Business Group, 2014).
The biggest strides have been made in integrating into the world economy Pillar 4 registered 86%. This is due to the fact that that ASEAN economies trade mostly with the rest of the world. According to Hill and Menon (2013), since 1970, intraregional trade has generally been between 15% and 30% of total ASEAN trade, and while the has been trending upward, it remains low in comparison with the shares of ASEAN’s external trading partners, particularly the European Union. (Hill and Menon 2012).
According to the Asian Development Bank (ASEAN Economic Monitor, 2013), there are five key drivers to the AEC integration: 1. Political will, 2. Coordination and resource mobilization, 3. Implementation and arrangements, 4. Capacity building and institutional strengthening, and 5. Public and private sector consultations.
Based on the four economic pillars of AEC and the five key behavioral drivers for ASEAN integration, I would like to see our predicament as opportunities for establishing an ASEAN community. The ASEAN challenge is an opportunity for 1. Promoting commercial and common wealth, 2. Advancing Asian Conflict Management and 3. Superstructing regional organizations and institutions.
Opportunity No. 1 Promoting Commercial and Common Wealth Under Section II. Characteristics and Elements of AEC, Item 7 states, “Other areas of cooperation are also to be incorporated such as human resources development and capacity building”. In this regard, an updated understanding by regional managers on management is Opportunity No. 1.
Our coming together to work together as a regional hub of global economic center is an opportunity to raise the level of our business organizational management. The mainstream and multistream approaches to management will allow us to view and review our own management styles and principles.
The concept of community in business is emerging based on multistream approach. According to Dyck and Neubert (2011), “Multistream management is characterized by its emphasis on multiple forms of well-being for multiple stakeholders… [where] any group or person within or outside an organization who is directly affected by the organization and has a stake in its performance.” Our respective ASEAN managers need to recognize multistream management which nurtures community through virtuous acts. Thus, management nurtures community via virtue; planning is about wisdom and participation, organizing is meeting goals with courage and experimentation, leading working alongside with others through relational self-control and with human dignity, and controlling ensures actions that are just and fair in holding the organization together (Dyck and Neubert, 2011, p. 16).
The ASEAN Integration speaks of economic community. I think the dynamics of being a community are of far greater importance at this point of journey towards building an economic community. What is community then? Historically, community was built around the concept of everything being held in common. The concept of ownership was in common. No one owned anything but everything was in common. Then came the privatization of the common. Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations held the notion of a commercial society that produces commercial wealth.
However, Marvin T. Brown (2014, p. 17) argues that there is a need to balance commercial wealth which is driven by private property, land as commodity and exclusive ownership with common wealth which advocates shared provision, land as provider and membership that is inclusive. He further elucidates: In a commercial society, what counts as wealth is what can be treated as a commodity in the market. In a common society, wealth will not be limited to what we can purchase, but will include all that we need for a good life…Instead of focusing on the accumulation of property; the focus will be on the making of provisions. A common society will provide for one another through process that are based on shared endeavors…A common society will also allow us to recognize the planet as a living provider instead of only seeing its property value. Most importantly, instead of treating the planet as an object we control, we can see it as something to which we belong. This means that inhabitants of the planet can relate to one another not primarily as owners, but rather as members of a commons. (Brown, 2014, p.37).
Because business is commercial, there is a need to create a civic platform for commonwealth. He says conversation between commercial and common will lead to integration by answering the following questions: 1. how should we design an economy that makes provisions for everyone? 2. How should we deal with disagreements among citizens? and 3. How should we govern a civic commonwealth?
Brown (2014, p. 44) believes that “The work ahead is the work of citizens, who through civic conversations give shape to a viable relationship between the commons and the commercial. Business leaders can participate in this work by exploring the role of their business in a particular system of provision. Ethicists and others can help to facilitate such conservations, so that civic defines our commonwealth rather than the commercial.”
Matthew Taylor’s (2010) of the 21st Century Enlightenment asks, “Will the ideas and values which transformed our world in the last two centuries be sufficient to find solutions to the challenges we now face or do we need new ways of thinking?” Thus, the matter of ‘solidarity and community’ among ASEAN members must be nurtured because these cannot be legislated.
Community is a union of consciousness; it is about our humanity in this region. And our economic community based on material exchange must never exclude our transcendental relationships that bind us together in Asia and around the globe.
Regional Comparative Advantage David Ricardo’s (1817) theory of comparative advantage suggests that a nation should concentrate solely on those industries in which it is most internationally competitive, trading with other countries to obtain products which are not produced nationally. This means that industry specialization and international trade always produce positive results. Philippine DTI Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal, Jr. (2014) describes the AEC a vast opportunities for growth, dynamic competition as well as complementation. I translate ‘complementation’ as a comparative advantage.
Although Sec. 8 of AEC Blueprint talks about the region as a community, it in the same breath identifies the region under Item b. as “a highly competitive region.” I believe it continues to subscribe to the Smithian theory of competitive advantage. The AEC Community has the greatest opportunity now to make Ricardian comparative advantage work in this region. Article 8 of AEC Blueprint states that “the AEC envisages the following key characteristics: (a) a single market and production base, (b) a highly competitive economic region, (c) a region of equitable economic development, and (d) a region fully integrated into the global economy. (AEC Blueprint, p. 6).” In addition to the current practice of competitive advantage, there is a need to study and experiment with comparative advantage to balance individual ASEAN member’s exclusive economic growth at the ‘expense’ of other members.
Philippines Competitiveness According to Julius Cesar I. Trajano (2013), “The Philippines and Indonesia, [are] now considered ASEAN’s fastest-growing economies and brightest spots amidst gloomy global economic outlook, are both crucial to the establishment of the AEC. Assessing the level of preparedness of Indonesia and the Philippines to achieve AEC targets, however, indicates some daunting challenges, particularly in three critical areas, namely, (1) free flow of investments, (2) interconnectivity and infrastructure, and (3) poverty reduction and equitable economic development.” Both performed poorly in eliminating stumbling blocks to investments as they ranked 138th and 128th, respectively out of 185 countries in the World Bank’s 2013 Ease of Doing Business Index. Both remain reluctant to open up their protected services sector to foreign investors.
In 2012, FDI inflow in the Philippines rose by 10% to US$2.033 billion. However, this figure is dwarfed by Indonesia’s $22.8 billion, Malaysia’s $10 billion and Thailand’s $8.1 billion. Clearly, FDI remains the missing piece in the Philippines’ growth because of Philippine Constitutional provision of 40% limit of foreign ownership of companies as shield for domestic businesses from competition.
As the ASEAN region come to economic terms, the opportunity of each member to create comparative advantage, side-by-side with its current competitive advantage, will become a reality. There is a need to explore the comparative advantage mode of economic relationship which is built on “A situation where the opportunity costs (costs in terms of other goods given up) of making a commodity are lower for one country than another” (Velasquez, 2006), This means that free trade and specialization will boost economic output and everyone in the region can share in this increased output.
Opportunity No. 2 Advancing Asian Conflict Management AEC Blueprint Pillar 2: Competitive Economic Region (Foundation for Competition policy consumer, Protection intellectual property rights, Infrastructure development and Development of energy and mineral and mineral cooperation) is 67.7% accomplishment.
The Asian Development Bank reports that “ASEAN members prefer to run disputes through the WTO rather than ASEAN’s Enhanced dispute Settlement Mechanism (EDSM), the mechanism must be strengthened while dispelling perceptions that its decisions are not rules-based.” (ADB, 2013). In 2004 ASEAN Protocol on EDSM and in 1996 the ASEAN Protocol on Dispute Settlement Mechanism was established patterned after the WTO Understanding on Dispute Settlement. It is recommended by Hsu (2013) that the traditional ASEAN non-confrontational way of settling disputes has allowed rare intra-ASEAN disputes to be amicably settled without formal panel hearings.
I think there is a need to highlight the important of the Asian Face. In the Philippines, the face is the window of the inner self [kalooban] of the Filipino. What happens to that face is felt deeply within the spirit. Thus, saving face is very important, avoiding losing face is a common practice, and the Filipino smile puts on a happy face to express joy, but sometimes to hide fear and anxiety.
The face negotiation theory of Stella Ting-Toomey (2005) indicates that culture is the root-base of conflict resolution. According to her, our self-image, or “face”, is at risk in conflict and our culture is attached to the way we deal with this issue and communicate. In the process, it can result to: 1. Emotional expression of personal feelings in order to deal with and control conflict, 2. Third party help in order to resolve conflicts, and 3. Passive aggressive reaction to conflict in a roundabout way, placing blame indirectly (Ting-Toomey, Oetzel, and Yee-Jung, 2001).
Our Asian inner sensitivity manifested by the (Asian face) and our endearing human relations or relational quotient (rQ, Carucci and Passimore, 2002) will also be highlighted as we pursue harmonious rather than confrontational conflict resolution in removing economic, social, and political barriers. Our Asian cultural DNA rooted in our spiritual traditions will likewise be a source of resilient business ethical relationship that will balance the overwhelming economic demand for production, consumerism, and materialism.
As regional leaders we also gain insights into the cultural values within the ASEAN and reexamine our existing practices. David Livermore’s (2010) cultural intelligence suggest looking in our Economic system (Capitalist vs socialist), Family system (Kinship vs nuclear family), Religious system (Mystical vs rational belief), Governance and legal system (Formal and informal), Educational system (Formal and informal), and Artistic system (Clear vs. fluid).
Based on Roman Krznaric’s (2012) Power of Outrospection, I surmise that ASEAN integration must exercise global and regional empathy for effective conflict resolution. As we join the global community [not only for economic trade], we need solidarity through global empathy (Krznaric, 2012; Taylor, 2010; Rifkin (2010).
Opportunity No. 3 Superstructuring organizations and institutions The four pillars of the AEC maybe subsumed under the umbrella of a superstructure. There is a framework that would result to a new system and new structure that would facilitate the fulfillment of our dream of an AEC in 2020. To superstruct means: [T]o build new structures that extend our reach, expand our capacity, and go beyond the limits of today’s institutions. It means to bridge, to traverse boundaries, not just of organizations, communities, or nations, but also of scale itself. It also means finding new kinds of value in new kinds of social production and new forms of social connectedness. In fact, superstructing is all about building a new level of sociability into our economic lives – and into all our projects, from securing food and shelter to governing ourselves. (McGonigal and Vian, 2009).
Micro and Macro Scale Collaboration According to McGonigal and Vian (2009), the heart of superstructing is “collaborating across scales, from the micro to the massive. Superstructing is not just about big; it’s also about very small contributions by many individuals that add up to something big. We can apply practical strategies to the millions of interactions that make ecology sustainable. We can work small to create big effects. And we can leverage massive platforms to create very targeted value in select places in the ecology.” The Institute for the Future cites five key areas for consideration: “1. The Appleseed Ecology which proposes ‘simfarms’ structures for securing food, repurposing wastes, and crating new forms of exchange. 2. The Natural Currency Ecology which re-envisions our capital systems as tied, not to gold or GDP or other commodities, but to environmental measures, linking sociability to sustainability. 3. The Community Works Ecology which advocates that large scale problems do not require large scale solutions; it means creating superstructures for replicating local solutions across large-scale systems. 4. The Open Fab Initiative Ecology starts a node for linking small-scale fabrications and practices to solving problems of distressed communities – creating a new local material and economic realities. 5. Quantum Governance Ecology is building a desire to create a new post-Newtonian model of governance that will help citizens make sense of the world – bridging across realities” (Superstruct Handbook, 2009).
In closing, the question I ask then is: can we steer our economic community towards a moral economic community that truly cares for every member of civil society in the ASEAN region? The answer: The Institute of the Future has a superstructuring game. I highly recommended we play it to have a foothold on the superstructure we call the ASEAN Economic Community which we are starting now. We want to operationalize the four pillars that contain 17 core elements and 176 priority actions by 2020.
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On March 18, 2014 I delivered a keynote address at the International Social Work Day forum organized by Dean Emeritus Nenita Cura of the Philippine School of Work of PWU and national president Eva Ponce de Leon of the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc., coordinated by Nancy Pareno, and hosted by Dr. Girlie Amarillo. While the forum highlighted the theme, “Economic and Social Crises: The Social Work Response,” I chose to speak on “Socio-economic problems, Social development solutions.
Social and economic problems
Eva Ponce de Leon reminded the social workers that their task is “to promote equality and equity, enable people to living life sustainably, build participation, facilitate caring communities, and respect diversity by connecting people.” In short, deal with “the social and economic” problems that are inseparable. She said, “Kung saan ang isa [social] nandun din ang isa {economic].” She echoed what Rosabeth Kanter observed 15 years ago In Harvard Business Review (1999) who said that “social problems are economic problems.” That early, she challenged business to do corporate social innovation, not just philanthropic CSR.
At the forum, I mentioned that the trend in business is to move from philanthropic CSR to sustainable corporate social initiatives (CSI) which empower the beneficiaries through community-based programs. I named three enterprises that interpreted “charity” and “poverty” in the light of social responsibility and Catholic social teachings: Kabayan Bank in Batangas, San Dionisio Credit Cooperative Inc. (SDCCUI) in Paranaque, and Mother Laura Gertrude Seland Foundation, Inc. (MLGSFI) in Bulacan and Cavite.
Kabayan Bangko
I shared with the social workers the concept of economy of communion as practiced by Kabayan Bangko. I first encountered this new economics from a DLSU MBA strategic management paper and at the Catholic Social Teachings conference held at De La Salle University on February 20, 2014. Tess Ganzon of Kabayan Bangko explained the practice of economy of communion.
She said, “Beyond the personal transformation of the entrepreneur, in the economy of communion, the enterprise itself discovers it has a vocation as well – of serving as laboratory where from its life and experiences the theory of EOC is further developed.” She further stated that Economy of Communion is based on the culture of giving; it is an antidote to poverty based on the principle of abundance in Luke 6: 36: “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down and shaken together, running over, will be put on your lap.”
Kabayan Bayan business prosperity and abundance is proven by the fact that today it has P1 Billion in resources with 300 employees in 18 branches in Batangas.
San Dionisio Cooperative
At the PWU forum, Director Felipe Perida, Jr. gave a briefing on the success of SDCCUI. The cooperative was organized on July 28, 1961 by the twenty eight (28) founding members with P 380.00 as starting capital. They were mentored by Fr. Gaston Duchesneau with the help of St. Andrew Asst. Parish Priest, Fr. Francis Wittizelae.
He said that the success of SDCCUI can be traced to one word: Values. Values drive their growth performance by: 1. Adhering to the philosophy and principles of cooperativism, 2. Transparent conduct of officers and management, 3. Practicing the spirit of volunteerism, and 4. Doing boittom-up program engagements.
After five decades of operation, the SDCCUI has 16,000 members with a total asset of P1.2 billion. It provides BEEF (business, employment, education and food) opportunities among its members. Its housing projects include the Mother of Perpetual Help Village in La Huerta, Coop Village in Sucat, and Teoville in BF Sucat.
Mother Laura Gertrude Seland Foundation, Inc.
Amidst tears and laughter, Carmelita Bagariz, community leader of MLGSFI, narrated the struggle of the poor housewives. As a leader her indomitable spirit and physical energy must have been translated into doing a viral campaign for housewives to use their once idle to do basahan production among 15 families in Bulacan.
According to social worker Alice Molina, Beth Melmida other community leaders MLGSFI in Bulihan, Silang, Cavite also organized some 30 families to likewise do basahan production. The Bulacan and Cavite households over a period of three years sold P6 million of basahan.
To the consternation of the social workers and community leaders of MLGSFI the Bureau of Internal Revenue is slapping them with business tax. Bagariz is studying the option to create a corporation, so that a separate business institution can then donate the profit to the foundation beneficiaries. Felipe Perida, Jr. of SDCCUI suggested that they establish a cooperative, as proven by their more than four decades of financial stability.
DSWD Tatsulo
Looming in the shadow of doubt and disappointment over Philippine governance, the forum featured the NCR DSWD management of the Tatsulo approach to poverty alleviation presented by Team Joshua Barrameda, Ronon Mata, Marie Anne Malquerido, Jane Rioveros and Amado G. Suarez.
It was a relief to listen to them explain in detail the DSWD’s three core poverty-reduction programs — the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) and the Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) sustainable livelihood.
The team was able to answer the bias of the audience against the effort of DSWD and in general against the government in the delivery of social services. The bias was due to a lack of public information on the what and the how of the Tatsulo implementation at the national, regional, municipal and barangay level. What is not known is that the DSWD poverty alleviation framework specificities linkages with civic, religious, NGO and business sectors. On the part of DSWD it seeks out cooperation and coordination the other sectors but we wonder why the response from these is very negligible.
Conclusion
The celebration of International Social Work Day brought together the business, civil society, and government sectors to discuss their respective programs for the poor. The DSWD team mentioned the need for synergizing with civil society and business. Kabayan Bangko, SCCUI and MLGSFI attest to the power of the Catholic social teachings that drive small business enterprises to practice non-traditional economic principle. In the process, Weberian bureaucracy and Newtonian governance ought to change some of the regulatory rules in dealing with these micro social enterprises.
