Wish I were, wish I might of the incoming president

At first tickled, amazed and incredulous about the character of presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte, world leaders, politicians, business tycoons, once political enemies, and celebrities are now congratulating the Davao city mayor for his landslide election to the top Philippine government post. Doubting Thomases have made an about face, and are now expressing their willingness to cooperate with him as the country’s top governor.

Those of us who had chosen other candidates to fill up the plum post in the May 9 elections, can only pray and hope for things to become better upon the changing of the guards. Amazing how taxi drivers, market vendors, labanderas, sweet sweepers and informal settlers express the same bunch of wishes: kill drug dealers and kidnappers, wipe out corruption, jobs, food, money, housing, medicines and free hospitalization and education for children.

Such aspirations for nirvana are not limited to the hoi polio. The ones privileged with good education and some logistics, hope to find in the new leader and his appointees commitment to banishing drug dealers; prioritizing of freedom of information, easing up of the devilish traffic jams, gender equality, full implementation of the reproductive health law, expansion of infrastructure projects to bridge the islands, establishment of business enterprises in the rural areas, employment opportunities for OFWs, lowering of prices of commodities, lower taxes. And bridging the gap between the haves and have nots. But a dominant wish is the leader’s observance of the laws of the land.

The success of the maverick leader’s leadership depends on his choices for his Cabinet members, for people to help make him run things wisely and sincerely.

Already, the incoming president has made known a number of people who will help get that to happen: Sonny Dominguez for the finance portfolio, Art Tugade for Trade and Industry, Sal Panelo for spokesman and press secretary, Jun Yasay for transitional foreign affairs secretary, Jess Dureza as presidential adviser on the peace process; Mark Villar for public works and Gilbert “Gibo’’ Teodoro for defense.

Presumptive President Duterte’s choice for House Speaker is his kabaro Davao del Norte’s 1st District Congressman Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez. A lawmaker for several terms representing his district who also served in the first Cabinet of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He served as DOTC secretary from January 2001 to July 5, 2002, and concurrently, as ex-officio board chairman of the Manila International Airport Authority, Civil Aeronautics Board, Light Rail Transit Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, Cebu Port Authority, and the Philippine Aerospace Development Corp.

Alvarez completed his bachelor of laws at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1983 his A.B. in political science from Far Eastern University in 1978 with an A.B. in political science. He finished high school at the Ateneo de Davao in 1974.

Alvarez began his career in the public service when he became the senior technical assistant and liaison officer for Region XI at the office of Sen. Wigberto E. Tañada in the Philippine Senate from 1987 to 1992.

Alvarez was a practicing lawyer from 1984 to 1986. He is a partner in the P.D. Alvarez Law Office, which holds office at Unit 902, One Corporate Plaza, 845 Arnaiz Ave. Legaspi Village, Makati City.

He has been the president of Leon & Brand International Inc. based in Makati City from 2005 to the present.

* * * The Future Bridging Leaders Program (FBLP) of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in partnership with TeaM Energy Foundation Inc. (TEFI) is a unique undertaking that aims to develop young and talented leaders with the capacity to effect positive societal change.

The first batch of graduates who completed the course on May 16 underwent a 10-month youth leadership development program that includes collaborative workshops tackling the three core processes of bridging leadership and intensive personal leadership mentoring.

The 24 fellows, aged 18- 26, were chosen based on their leadership track record and distinct ownership of social issues. They were given the opportunity to interact and work with AIM professors, industry coaches and mentors. Throughout the program, they were tasked to work on concrete change projects to address identified gaps in their communities. As part of their graduation requirements, they were divided into six groups, each tasked to develop change projects that would positively impact the lives of communities.

One such example of a change project was undertaken in the municipality of Palimbang, a second class municipality in Sultan Kudarat. Access to education and employment remains a challenge for the youth of Palimbang. Studying is not a top priority to most young people, as they would rather work in the fields or in coastal areas.

The group developed an alternative learning system for the students and youth farmers towards a social enterprise on organic farming. The Organic Farming School will be a seasonal school for youth farmers to provide an alternative learning venue and to capacitate them to learn about social enterprise development.

The establishment of a social enterprise model for the school as a way to increase their income and to make production more systematic culminated the efforts of this group. Last Feb. 14, the group engaged the youth of Palimbang by conducting a consultation workshop. This data is extremely beneficial to the group as they make steps towards launching their project.

Another group established a communitybased intervention to equip impoverished Filipinos with the knowledge and skills to become entrepreneurs and start up their own businesses. Designed to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit, the program is composed of three phases, namely, business modeling; market testing; and product evaluation. This program seeks to empower poor communities. It is establishing a network of stakeholders who are committed to bring about positive and sustainable change in their respective communities. The first phase of the program was launched last Feb. 27 when the group conducted a short program for the youth of Barangay Pio, Porac, Pampanga.

“It is with great pride that we present the first batch of graduates of the FBLP. We are confident that these young and dynamic leaders will be valuable assets in moving our country forward,” said Roderick de Castro, TEFI executive director during the graduation ceremony.

This private sector- led initiative shows that one need not be in government in order to serve the nation and uplift the lives of marginalized Filipinos.