My fellow citizens and co-agents for change,
The organizers and participants in this Good Governance Summit hold a singularly unique position of being part of a brain trust that would help chart how to reshape Philippine society in a manner that would promote the common good. We are all on the same page. Getting leaders of different persuasions into one assembly is a major challenge. That you are all here today is a tribute to your openness and capacity for change. We -- you and I -- all share the strategic and exciting role of being change agents.
The use of the term good governance in our country is of recent vintage. It was only about three years ago that global Filipinos, in collaboration with onshore Filipinos with a homogeneous global mindset, started introducing the concept of good governance. Today, civic-minded groups rally around good governance. Even politicians pay lip service to it. Some profess the desire for a "Saul to Paul" conversion and transformation.
The concept is widely encompassing. In the Philippine context, united, just and peaceful governance should establish a strong and prosperous nation -- anchored on grassroots economic empowerment, strengthened by an effective political system where accountability and the rule of law prevail, and nourished by a system where Filipinos proactively and responsibly participate in the mainstream political life.
Freeing the political markets to eliminate or neutralize political monopolies and cartels would encourage gifted, pro-society and upright aspirants to emerge in the political landscape. And what is the role of the general citizenry in bringing about this envisioned change? The answer lies in encouraging faithful citizenship in key modalities for change.
The activities of organizations represented in this Summit cover key areas of involvement by the citizenry, including, among others: 1) voter registration, especially among the youth and global Filipinos; 2) country governance values, principles, policies and programs; 3) leadership qualities, vetting of candidates and enhancement of the clout of the politically marginalized parts of society; 4) public fora and debates; and 5) promoting competition in the political markets to bring the best, brightest and most honest to public service.
One can take comfort in the fact that most elements in civil society have attained a sense of unity of purpose. That element of unity focuses on the common goal of promoting good governance as a means of reaching out for the greatest good of the greatest number.
We encourage all the Summit participants, as well as those outside the Summit รข€“ laity and clergy alike -- to be involved in the activity modes that would help bring about change. Only then can we collectively hope to see our country join the community of progressive nations of the world.
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo
Ateneo Professional Schools, Veritas Hall, Rockwell, Makati City
April 29, 2006, 1:30-5:30 PM
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