“Greatness should be understood in terms of Greek tragedy: We are not speaking of perfect beings, or the “best President in the solar system,” but instead restless mortals who dedicate their lives to pursuing a cause bigger than themselves, no matter the sacrifices it entails.” (Richard Hydarian,”Mahathir: The last tital of Asia”, Horizons, Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 12, 2019).
-oOo-
Great, per Webster, means “much more than ordinary; above average; superior or showing nobility of mind or purpose”. It had been said also that “Nothing is great unless good.”
According to Shakespeare, “some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”. Greatness here refers to the second category and that of achieving greatness.
Greatness through pursuit of a noble cause with great risks. This opportunity for greatness seldom presents itself to an individual or institution. Thus, you should always be ready like a boy scout, so that once this opportunity knocks at your door, you are prepared to welcome and grab it.
Today, the opportunity for greatness is knocking at the Rotary’s door. It is in the form of a challenger for Rotary to extend full support in sponsoring a historic nationwide Summit On Solidarity (SOS). This kind of Summit where multi-sectoral leaders of the country will meet to formulate a much needed shared vision for the Philippines has never been attempted before. We will find out soon if Rotary will graciously accept the challenge. The probability is that Rotary will, according to former President of Rotary South Davao Norma I. Monfort. In her preliminary talk with some Rotary officials of different Rotary Clubs in Mindanao, their responses were encouraging “daw”.
Last May 18, the soft-launching of the Proposed Summit on Solidary undertaken at the Ateneo de Davao University was very successful. The Forum sponsored by Philippine Bats for Peace Foundation of Monfort family with a Theme “Unity in Diversity: A Step Towards National Transformation” started at 1:00 P.M. More or less 500 multi-sectoral leaders in Davao Region attended the Forum. Those who shared their thoughts during the Forum were:
1. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio represented by City Councilor Danny Dayanghirang gave the Welcome Address
2. Atty. Randolph Parcasio talked on the historical injustice to the Bangsamoro and Indigenous peoples.
3. Chief of Staff Ednar Dayanghirang shared his thoughts on “The Longest Insurgency in the Whole World.”
4. Prof. Adrian Tamayo talked on “Federalism”
5. Yours truly explained “Dream Philippines: The Missing Link”
6. Miss Norma I. Monfort talked on the coming “Summit on Solidarity”
Watch for the historic nationwide “Summit on Solidarity” (SOS) to be held in Davao City most probably in September this year. This is the Summit among all other Summits in our country. Miss Monfort described this SOS as “An emergency call for us Filipino to manifest our love and duty for our country”.
This will indeed reawaken our patriotism which we badly need.
-oOo-
Another opportunity for greatness is presenting itself to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to be a real transformative President in pursuing another noble cause bigger than himself and with greater risks.
This is the big challenge of undertaking an honest-to-goodness Constitutional Reform to transform our country by the adoption of truly INCLUSIVE political and economic systems in the Philippines that will truly liberate our people from the clutches of Filipino Imperialists and save our country from being broken up by the secession of Mindanao.
The present constitutional provisions embodied in our 1987 Charter to seriously revise them for the common good are “inutil”. Members of Congress will either be obstacles to real change and/or seeking change to further promote their own selfish interests. Constitutional convention wherein delegates will be elected will surely be dominated by candidates supported by Filipino imperialists and dynastic families influenced by heavy lobby money that could delay the charter revision process beyond the term of President Duterte. To resort then to Constituent Assembly or Constitutional Convention for an honest-to-goodness Constitutional Reform will be an exercise in futility to say the least.
On the other hand, the terrible consequences of a NO REAL CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM” during the Duterte administration cannot be over-emphasized. Obviously, only President Duterte with his political will and “tapang at malasakit”, spirit can save Federalism, the ideal and aspiration of our people for unity in diversity, Full Democracy, humane and just society, sustainable prosperity and lasting peace can be achieved.
This is the opportunity for greatness that knocks at Malacañang’s door nowadays.
-oOo-
To Rotary Mindanao and President Duterte, the saying of “NO RISK, NO GLORY” seems loud and clear.
