A 1 Business Leadership

Leadership subject at AGSB is an Ateneo advantage. It emphasizes leadership from within, authentic leadership. One of its pillars is love. This is odd in a cold steely corporate world. The others are heroism, ingenuity and self awareness. The goal of leadership is not only to develop oneself but to clone other leaders. Everybody has potential to be leader. What we do, even if we do not have followers influences/affects others. It is time to define Filipino leadership too

Friday, January 15, 2016

Reflection on Artikulo Uno and other hugot lines from the movie

'Quamplurimi et quam aptissimi" (As many as possible of the very best)

Rizal Philippines
January 15, 2016

During the team building with the MM Leadership Class, Artikulos were the themes for event, and whenever there were difficulties in decision, complaints, the team building masters would cite Artikulo Uno and there were laughter and amusement from the class whenever such would be the last resort of the masters.

At the start of the year, in our business organization this particular article is making the rounds in our branches. The challenges we have can be traced to lack of the 3 fold duties of an employee: obedience, diligence and loyalty. The first duty is that of obedience. Really if you are part of organization, it is your primary duty to follow the processes, the vision and mission of the company. There is no other choice.

For our nation, we really need a leader who would unite the various regions, (republics or nation provinces, clans) into one. We need a strong man, We need somebody who is conscious of this Artikulo and is willing to take risks to have this enforced. Where are we now? We cant seem to get our acts together: crimes, crazy traffic, graft and corruption at all levels, Why? We lack discipline. We lack obedience. Democracy while it is good for many freedom, licentious individuals has not been good for our nation. Democracy cant feed empty stomachs. Why do residents of a democratic country, observed Singaporeans, flock to Singapore, where discipline and autocracy rules (Lee Kuan Yew rules) But subscription to Artikulo Uno can only bring death and end of career for the leader.as it did to General Luna. That is why FVR, an x military (where discipline is paramount) did not go along the line of Artikulo Uno. It cant win him the Presidency or a political career.

That is why a candidate from Davao wins many admirers and followers from people who are tired and sick of disorder and chaos from democracy and freedom, too much of I dare say. How can we solve criminality and chaos if we subscribe to freedom and democracy - to protect the rights of the offender rather than of the victim. How can you stem the terrorism if you do not control the flow of who would be terrorist Thus Donald Trump made sense to many Americans who are afraid of terrorism spawned by the Middle East citizens. Such is not a problem in Japan who do not allow Muslim immigrants or give them citizens. Putin to Muslims - "There are no Shariah laws nor Muslim mosques in Russia. We can not provide them to you. So go back to your country where you have them" And many admire the balls of Putin with his leadership.

So with Xi Jin Ping. Who has clear vision of the China Dream - a strong united prosperous China. China will behave this way because of this guidance from their President. That is the only way he can unite a country with 50 million communist party members who have their own personal agenda,and 1.3 billion Chinese who have various ethnic origin, and who in the past were in constant war. Only Artikulo Uno will enable Xi to keep China together onwards towards more power and wealth.

May be only a strongman Muslim can unite Shi ites and Sunni Muslims to bring back peace to the Middle East. Perhaps only a rebirth of Mohammed can unite the two warring religious groups among the Muslims.

Going back to General Luna, these are some of the hugot lines that are related to our nation building and leadership:

From Modern Filipina -10 Hugot LInes

"1. Luna: “Negosyo o kalayaan?”

2. Luna: “Bayan o sarili, pumili ka!”

3. Joven: “Ganyan naman po ang mga Pilipino, palaging inuuna ang pamilya.”
Luna: “At ‘yan din ang sakit natin. Kaya nating magbuwis ng buhay para sa pamilya, pero para sa isang prinsipyong makabayan?”

4. Luna: “May mas malaki tayong kalaban sa mga Amerikano–ang ating sarili.”

5. Luna: “Malaking trabaho ang ipagkaisa ang bansang watak-watak, Joven.”

6. Luna: “Kalaban ang kalaban. Kalaban ang kakampi, nakakapagod.”

7. Luna: “Mas madali pang pagkasunduin ang langit at lupa kaysa dalawang Pilipino tungkol
sa kahit na anong bagay.”

8. Paco: “Handang magtapon ng dugo ang totoong makabayan. Hindi pagdurusa ang pagdaan sa napakatinding pasakit. Para kang tumanggap ng basbas, parang pag-ibig.”

9. Luna: “Ang taong may damdamin ay hindi alipin.”

10. Isabel: “Wala na tayong panahon sa mga bagay na hindi natin kayang panindigan.”

These hugot lines all hit close to home, especially since the political problems at that time are still apparent today. At the end, the film ultimately confronts our notion of nationalism: Who are we as a nation? Why do the same societal ills continue to plague us until now? What are we doing about it? It makes us ask the hard questions that we might be even afraid to answer. The good thing about it is that it has opened a venue to openly discuss these things and–and to eventually act on them."

Lines 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are indeed very relevant to nation building. Indeed, the 100 million + Filipinos cant seem to develop a sense of nation hood then, and even now. The enemies are ourselves (#4 and #6). It will take a lot of effort and leadership to get us to be united as one( #5 and 7) Do you agree?

The movie and the hugot lines call for our collective self awareness. I hope that comes soon for long term. Such togetherness and unity comes very rarely as in : the arrival of Pope Francis and after Typhoon Yolanda. Thereafter, we are again going on separate ways.

Who had Gen Luna killed?