Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Great Speeches: “Revisiting the Role of the Academe in National Discipline”

Dr. Nancy L. Elerina, Director, Social Research Center, UST;

Dr. Federico Macaranas, Executive Director of AIM;

Friends, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen; a pleasant morning to you all.

I AM PLEASED—AND HONOURED—to be invited to speak before your symposium on “Revisiting the Role of the Academe in National Discipline.” I know I am in the midst of erudite people who value the pursuit of higher education as a calling, not only to improve themselves, likewise to make things happen in the country.

First of all, I would like to thank UST for doing a good job in producing world class and well-disciplined graduates. I am optimistic for the future because I see a new spirit of dynamism and a new generation of leaders rising in the country, evoking hope for the future.

Definitely, your topic is very timely and relevant to our society today.

The importance of national discipline to the success of our endeavors towards national development cannot be overemphasized.

I share with you the observation that there is indeed an alarming decrease in national discipline, especially among the youth. The youth today are faced with so many distractions like cellular phones, computer games, play station, internet, proliferation of pirated DVDs, MP3 players, and so on and so forth. I see everywhere many students who, instead of reading their lessons and discussing their home works, listen to music instead through their earphone, even while conversing with each other. Some even play the music so loud that you could hear the music from their earphones. Most alarming in all these is the distribution of pornography in all forms from VCDs, DVDs, cellphones, and even lighters, which has been done with impunity.

These are but a few of the problems that corrode the values of the young.

I also noticed that mediocrity among many has been the name of the game. Instead of vying for excellence and instilling discipline in developing the value of hard work, many are contented with “pwede na yan” attitude.

But the youth cannot be blamed for all these. Media plays a big role on how the youth views society. How can we imbibe in the youth the value of discipline and excellence when they see in television that even the vilest of criminals can get away with their crime, can get rich, can get the fanciest cars, and even get the support of the people at the same time?

It is indeed true that technology, while it has its noble purposes, has also its downside. And I am sad that it is the youth that has been mired in this quicksand of vices.

Even the Philippine social contract—the unwritten agreement between state and citizen that sets down their relative rights and duties—even this social contract is weakening, because many public institutions no longer work for the common good.

The social contract, as we know, is the cornerstone of the public and private partnership.

In its simplest form, the social contract exchanges people’s obedience for good governance.

People submit willingly to government only if those in authority govern them fairly, intelligently and efficiently.

To renew—and to strengthen—this social contract, we must do no less than foment a moral revolution in our public life.

We must cleanse our politics of its corruption— our economy of its cronyism and its inefficiency—and national society of its material poverty and its spiritual anxieties.

I see three basic problems as confronting our nation.

Politically, the key problem is corruption.

Economically, it is slow and highly uneven growth.

And, socially, it is mass poverty passed down from
generation to generation.

BREAKING UP THE LOGJAM OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION

UNDOUBTEDLY, corruption is our key political failing.

The brazenness with which people of influence violate official norms of conduct is the greatest source of ordinary people’s despair over our public life.
Yet—in the very words of a disillusioned public prosecutor—corruption is a “high-reward, low-risk” offence.

Not only must Government stop corruption— particularly in the most vulnerable Cabinet departments, procurement agencies, and public corporations.

It must also stamp out big-time smuggling, influence-peddling, and tax evasion.

Apparently the smuggling of petroleum alone, by the shipload through Subic port, costs Government a revenue loss of P3 billion yearly.



We should always remember that no life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated and disciplined. Remember that discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.

In business, no enterprise, no businessman, can ever hope to succeed if he has no sense of focus. This is the same for the employees. The increasing complexity of society today requires that employees be ambidextrous, that they be capable of doing two or three things at the same time and be good and excel at it. They are required to be calm under pressure. This can only be possible if a person is focused and well disciplined.

A well-disciplined employee is a very important asset to a company. Those who have the values of honor, discipline and excellence are the ones who usually rise to the top and become leaders, the movers and shakers of society.

A worker’s enthusiasm and discipline translates to better work performance, which in turn translates to more productivity. And this means growth for the company. This is why PCCI has never wavered in its advocacy of creating more jobs and creation of more humane and favorable working environment for workers and employees. Indeed employees are the foundation from which every business enterprise stands. They are every businessman’s partners in success.

We in the business community need your enthusiasm, your discipline, your idealism are needed to bring in new energy and determination to the increasing workforce.

I share the goals you seek for our economy and for our country. In a country of the young- as most of us are- young people can be a decisive- even a revolutionary force. Those among you who want to dream big and conquer the world need to be focused and know what you really want as early as today.

That idealism, that sense of sacrifice- that sense of discipline among our youth- we should channel to a creative purpose; to make the economy grow, to promote social equity and build a culture of partnership and cooperation among our people.

Due to the culture of divisiveness which seem to have permeated our society in the past year, we in the PCCI submitted to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo a resolution calling for national unity and sobriety and for all leaders of the country, both in government and private sector enterprises, to move forward and focus efforts in instituting key economic reforms for the national interest.

This year, we plan to put submit to the President a resolution urging the national government to integrate Values Education into all school curriculum.

In closing, let us remember what the great Mahatma Gandhi said that the things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice.

Lastly let us also not forget what Edmund Hillary, the first man to conquer Mount Everest, said, "You can never conquer the mountain. You can only conquer yourself."

Thank you and mabuhay po tayong lahat.

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