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Concept Paper . 09 November 2002

The project is a series of public fora to be conducted all over the country, to systematically cultivate a culture of informed, critical participation in political process at the local and national levels.

Operationally, the project is designed to

·    encourage as many Filipinos as possible to articulate the leadership qualities in harmony with their aspirations, but also, simultaneously, to--

·    provoke all participants in the fora to question and refine their own ideas about leadership, in relation to vast social changes the country is experiencing

·    generate insights and ideas towards addressing the flaws in the electoral process and in the selection of both elective and appointive officials

·    assess the willingness and readiness of the participants to organize a mechanism (e.g., people's movement, alternative political party) to manage and sustain the process of thinking about and realizing enlightened leadership

·    identify leaders who embody the new terms of reference that will be articulated in the fora


Unique project features. The fora will be conducted:

·    in the languages in which the participants are most articulate, hence--

·    with a sensitivity to cultural and social contexts, so that discussion formats will adapt to each local condition (See sections describing formats, below)

·    in ways that ensure that the participants exercise ownership over the
project and its results

·    with a balance of local and global--and historical and contemporary--
    perspectives

·    with a combination of workshop and presentation techniques drawn from theater and the arts, the corporate world, the social sciences, and civil society

·    with the underlying idea that political leadership is only one of many forms of enlightened leadership needed by the country

·    with the added benefit of creating a database on leadership and attendant issues, which may be made available for analysis and dissemination by all advocacy groups working on the renewal of the quality of leadership in the Philippines

Program form and substance The fora or "conventions" will be undertaken in one day and will flow according to a template, to wit:

·    Opening and Introduction: Alay [plenary]

Objective: To immediately establish the urgency of the matters to be taken up, the seriousness of purpose required of all, but also the sense of delight in the coming together of different Filipinos

Content: Forum objectives; and introduction of participants by group or sector

Format: Prior to the spoken introduction, the forum commencement will be a performance, or poem reading, or ritual, or prayer (depending on the place and participants)


·    Session 1: Pagtingin sa Pinanggalingan [plenary]

Double-Objectives: a) To provide a "map" that situates Philippine problems in history--and in regional and global contexts; b) To elicit the participants' hierarchy of Philippine problems

Content: Both the "map" and the structured discussion will range across the country's economic, social, political, ecological, cultural and spiritual problems.

Two-tiered Format: a) Presentation of the short film "Anino" (or another equally moving film on the situation in the Philippines), supplemented by a Powerpoint presentation of the "map;" b) Group discussion to identify the participants' top three issues at both national and local levels that leaders must address

·   Session 2: Lider at Larangan [plenary]

Double-Objectives: a) To present different forms of leadership in relation to specific socio-cultural contexts in the Philippines and the world; and b) To draw from the participants their understanding of the relationship between political leadership and Philippine society

Content: Cultural and socio-economic perspectives on the relationship of political leadership and society in the Philippines and the world--with some emphasis on extraordinary leaders and their unusual responses to major social shifts or upheavals

Two-tiered Format: a) Video presentation entitled "Lider at Larangan" (15 minutes); b) Group discussion focused on the question: What are the obstacles that prevent Filipino political leaders from ethically, creatively, and efficiently realizing their social contract with their followers?


·   Session 3: Kaganapan [4 - 5 mixed break-out groups]

Objective: To precisely articulate the leadership qualities that will be equal to the complexities of Philippine problems and ambitions

Content: Focus on desired leadership qualities--the new terms of reference for leadership--based on the previous discussions on leadership and society, on the challenges to enlightened leadership, and on the hierarchy of Philippine problems

Two-stage Format: Via (theater) role-playing and/or games, the groups will: a) Set a common vision or goal by evaluating the vision statements that have thus far been surfaced; b) Match leadership qualities to this vision, ranking the qualities according to importance, per their evaluation. The participants will also agree on a set of principles that a leader must espouse in order to become effective. The participants may name potential leaders if they so wish.


Session 4: Pag-aalagą [4 - 5 mixed workshop groups]

Objective: To determine strategies and mechanisms that will ensure that the right leaders are identified, elected/appointed, and protected from corrupt systems and practices

Two-part Content: Focus on: a) Process, mechanism and support system for ensuring that potentially enlightened leaders will run and can win, or be selected to appropriate offices by appointing authorities; and b) New (or refined old) ideas for ensuring that the electorate votes and votes wisely, that their votes will be counted, that the elected officials practice servant leadership and win over the culture of corruption

Format: Workshop with special focus on community-specific situations


Session 5: Pagdating sa Dulo [plenary]

Objective: To draw up a strategy to translate into action and pursue the recommendations of the workshops
Content: Focus on organization and action: to ensure that the efforts and outputs of the participants will lead to the realization of stated goals.

Format: Synthesis workshop to generate a list of do-able priority actions that the participants may undertake on their own, in pursuit of their aspirations and recommendations.

Last updated January 07, 2003 05:35 PM
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