Sir, submitting my speech for tomorrow. I'm not good in public speaking. I hope and pray I could deliver it well (with the help of San Miguel --< a cousin? a friend. Hahaha>
Thanks,
Leader Jose
They say that good and effective leaders have sense of humor... like Miriam Defensor who always starts her speech with her pick -up lines...And so I would like to start my speech with these...Ang mga kwentong tsinelas...!
My speech today is related with Tsinelas...it's called the "TSINELAS Leadership". It's a brand of the late DILG Cabinet Secretary Jesse Robredo.... If we remember, Robredo died on a plane crash in Masbate last August 18 of 2012. The concept of Tsinelas Leadership was conceived after the death of Robredo. It was actually conceptualized by former Energy Secretary Rene Almendras and introduced during his Eulogy at the wake of Secretary Robredo. He coined it "Tsinelas Leadership" because tsinelas , t-shirt and shorts were Robredo's signature attire , who had been known to show up for work and wade the flooded streets of Naga in slippers, ready to get his feet wet...
Tsinelas Leadership appeals to me most because it is a leadership concept that is Uniquely Filipino... and my style of leadership closely resembles that of Tsinelas Leadership. Tsinelas Leadership, as defined by Sec Almendras, is a pragmatic and more demonstrative version of servant leadership. For better understanding, allow me to present its important features as cited by Sec. Almendras...
First characteristic according to Almendras is that "Tsinelas leadership" is about the willingness na lumusob sa baha; to be willing to go where you normally do not go—to the most remote areas just to be with the most disadvantaged people. For me this means that we should be willing to go extra mile in our work responsibilities. "No job is too small to be taken up by a leader." But going extra mile should not be limited in our job responsibilities but in our service for other people as well. Service not for the sake of rewards and recognition, but a genuine service...service that comes from the heart not that counts for the vote... HOW FAR ARE WE WILLING TO GO TO SERVE?
A second characteristic of tsinelas leadership is breaking down the barriers between us and the people we serve. Leaders must be acceptable and accessible to those they serve like the late secretary Robredo. And this is where the difference between a manager and leader lies. The manager always focuses on systems and structures while the leader focuses more on people.
Third point... wearing slippers is the most casual form. Being casual is being warm. And we leaders must be casual with the people we serve ..willing to listen, hear, and empathize with them.
Next, tsinelas leadership is about back to basics—base-level transformation. Robredo believed that good leadership and governance structures in the barangays will naturally result in good leadership and governance structures in the whole republic. . Although our scope as a leader is not as wide as that of Sec Robredo, we still have the power to make a difference in the lives of others and in our country in our own little ways. And if we, all of us in this room, put all our collective efforts, and inspires other to do the same, change in our country can be a reality. BUT CHANGE, AGAIN, MUST START WITHIN OURSELVES FIRST.
Last characteristics, as pointed by Sec, Almendras, "Tsinelas leadership" is about working on the basics—no frills, something as uncomplicated and casual as the tsinelas but with a very, very clear vision. Our road to self-awareness allowed us to define and align our vision at the very core of our selves. In the process, we began to understand why we serve, the purity of our intentions to be a leader to others.
These characteristics is Sec. Jesse Robredo's legacy to all of us. He was an epitome of the Lord's servant-leadership. We may have lost a great Public Servant who could have been a great president of our Nation, but we should not lose faith, hope, and love in our country and our fellow human being that he had. The best way to celebrate his life is to emulate it.... Our challenge now is to step up to the standard that have been set by Sec Robredo and I hope we woud be worthy enough to wear the "tsinelas".
May this author mention about what Peter Towsend, the former chief of Avis wrote about leaders He quoted from the battle of Dien Bien Phu (in reference to Vietnamese soldiers under Gen Nguyen Von Giap, the only non Caucasian who ever defeated the French and American armies) " No fluttering flags, no secretaries, no marching band, the colonels wearing ordinary uniform, eating the same food as regulars, but DAMMIT. VICTORY VICTORY
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