Leadership style

“A leader must first understand, and then decide, and act. He must be articulate; he must be able to express himself in clear and simple language.” — Montgomery of Alamein

FOR intriguing and dissimilar circumstances, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the President and CEO that we have been waiting for in which succeeding presidents will have no choice but to follow and enhance on the paradigm that he shall have left behind.

As Field Marshall the Viscount Montgomery again wrote, “Just as the raging of the seas creates a swell which throws up things to the surface, so the man of character and vision comes to the surface in a crisis.”

Thus, it is mystifying how an unknown backwater politician comes surging from the outside lane to the presidency of the Philippines and win.

In contrast to the humble beginnings of President “Digong” Duterte, some of the well known Asian leaders in contemporary times were destined, poised, and prepared to be leaders of their nations sooner than later.

To name a few, there was Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore – double first at the University of Cambridge, UK – who bravely seceded Singapore from Malaysia, and steered the island republic to First World status.

There was Malaysian Prime Minister Mohamad Mahathir – a doctor of medicine whose patriotic and critical book, “Malay Dilemma” was once banned in Malaysia – who was the architect of Malaysian economic development.

Then, there were the leaders with military background that led their countries to prosperity and development, such as, (1) South Korean President, Gen. Park Chung Hee, who is considered the father of Korean industrialization, and the world’s sixth largest economy. (2) Indonesian President, Gen. Suharto, who led Indonesia from backwater underdevelopment to industrial development.

(3) Philippine President, Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, West Point, accomplished a real, tangible and sustainable economic prosperity in six short years.

(4) Then, there is the Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam led by His Highness, Hassamal Bolkiah, who is not only from Sandhurst Mili- tary Academy, UK, and an absolute monarchy, whose tiny principality floats on a sea of oil, and is one of the richest men in the world.

In a dissimilar way, these are the distinguished personalities and leaders that preceded President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on the Asian stage.

Notwithstanding these precedents, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, with less glittering credentials, has nonetheless the Montgomerysm virtues and qualities of great leadership.

While most leaders inevitably become less accessible and more distant to their constituents, including President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and his so-called “bosses,” President Duterte, with his socialistic and humble background, has totally surrendered himself to the people, and has immersed himself to the protection and welfare of the people and masses which make Duterte, as cited and compared above, stand apart from the rest as seen by his sincerity, integrity and forthrightness.

That is, those who have listened to the SoNA will appreciate the enormity of the problems and challenges.

When all is said and done, as compared and cited above, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte stands tall and committed to the welfare of the people that makes him one of a kind.

You be the judge.