Remarks by Chargé d'Affaires Joseph
Mussomeli
before the Rotary Club of Cebu, February 5, 2004
(Remarks as Prepared for Delivery)
President Lozada, Presidents of the various clubs, Rotarians, guests,
ladies and gentleman, maayong hapon kaninyong tanan.
It is a pleasure to be here with you this afternoon.
This is the second time for me to address a large group of businesspeople
and community leaders here in Cebu. The first time was just after
I arrived in the Philippines and I was invited to speak in front of
the American Chamber. That was a year and a half ago. I cannot believe
I have squandered the last year and half not visiting Cebu. What a
waste. Cebu is such a welcome change from the busy and congested city
of Manila. And having any excuse to escape my imprisonment at the
US Embassy is appreciated. Now that the Ambassador is gone for a few
months I will have to find more excuses for getting to Cebu.
I would like to spend a few minutes with you this afternoon talking
about a subject that is crucial, especially since your elections are
less than four months away. And that subject has to do with your future
leaders. No, I’m not going to endorse any particular candidate.
That would be a quick way to be sent back to Washington. The United
States cannot support any candidate, even ones that have been strong,
reliable allies to us for the last three years. We must remain neutral
and simply support the democratic process. But I can talk more generally
about the qualities and characteristics that leaders should have.
Last week, I delivered remarks at a seminar for 37 of the brightest
young professionals in Filipino society today. For two days, these
young leaders debated and discussed “Citizen Participation in
the Electoral Process: Not Just A Vote." At the end of the weekend,
the participants renewed their commitment to serve their country,
to not yield to cynicism, and to build a stronger civil society, one
person at a time. I can’t think of a more positive activity
to ensure the future of Philippine society and its leaders.
When we say future leaders we mean it in its broadest, most inclusive
sense: leaders in government, in the private sector, in non-profit
organizations, in education, and in media. Leaders are needed in every
walk of life - and at all levels - for a society to thrive and develop.
Good political leaders alone are not enough to ensure good governance.
Bad political leaders alone are not enough to ruin a society if that
society has a cadre of good leaders in other areas, from its churches
to its business to its schools.
Before this tour, my wife and I were last in the Philippines 18 years
ago. We were here during the last years of the Marcos presidency and
witnessed the incredible dedication of the Filipino people as they
embarked upon a new course. In a way the Philippine revolution of
1986 seemed to usher in a new age of democratic transition throughout
the world. Indeed, the last 18 years have witnessed the emergence
of nearly 60 new, democratically elected governments. But many of
them are fragile, plagued by corruption and entrenched elites.
Democratic processes are important, but the processes alone are not
enough. I must confess that when we left 18 years ago we believed
that the Philippines was on the threshold of great things. In many
ways the Philippines has come a long way from where it was 18 years
ago: the malls, the theaters, the new skyscrapers--but in other ways
it remains on that same threshold. Still waiting for the greatness
that is its right.
There are a lot of theories as to what has gone wrong. People cite
corruption, inefficiency, and incompetence. Or the long, debilitating
colonial period under Spain or the shorter, but still unhelpful colonial
period under the Americans. But none of these reasons-or excuses-satisfy
me. I have lived in many countries in my 23 year career in the Foreign
Service and I have met no people smarter, better educated, more industrious
and more talented than the Filipino people. So why does the Philippines
remain on that same threshold 18 years after the overthrow of the
Marcos dictatorship?
One possible reason is the notion of citizenship and the long, difficult
process required of any society trying to develop a culture of civic
responsibility.
The United States government understands that its support is needed
to help newer democracies develop a civic culture. For example, assistance
to the Philippine government during the early years of the restored
democracy strengthened civil society and revitalized the country’s
legislative and judicial systems. This sense of civic involvement
helped empower the Philippines to survive a series of attempted coups
and the divisive corruption scandal that culminated in Edsa II.
But we also realize that the processes of democracy in and of themselves
are not enough. We need to explore the role of the citizen in ensuring
good governance. When we assess those countries that have made the
transition from authoritarianism to democracy, civic empowerment seems
to hold the key to success. Civic responsibility creates an atmosphere
that ensures the healthy functioning of state institutions that combat
corruption, uphold the rule of law and defend a free media.
People often wonder how the Roman Republic lasted so many centuries,
and many foolishly conclude it was the Roman armies that ensured Rome’s
longevity. But they are wrong. It wasn’t the armies, the wealth,
or even the laws of Rome that preserved the Republic for so long.
What really ensured Rome’s success was one quality, the ancient
virtue the Romans called “civitas.” Civitas. A devotion
to their society that transcended even their deep devotion to their
families. No one loved their sons and daughters more than the Romans,
no one loved gold more than the Romans, no one loved a good business
deal more than a Roman. But few Romans would sacrifice the welfare
of their country to help their family, or to increase their own wealth,
or to improve their own status. Civitas. Civic responsibility, the
crucial key to a stable, prosperous nation.
Where communities are strongly engaged, people tend to have better
health, better schools, higher economic productivity, less crime and
more responsive government. One famous social scientist uses a concept
he terms “social capital” to explain this phenomenon.
He poses two hypothetical situations to illustrate the force of social
capital. In combating street crime, if a city mayor had the choice
of having 10% more police on the streets or 10% of all neighbors knowing
each other’s first names, she should choose the first-name strategy
as a more effective way of fighting crime. Or if a school board, in
its plan to raise student performance, had to choose between 10% more
teachers, or having 10% of the parents engaged in their children’s
education, it would realize that greater parental involvement achieves
better results. This is not to denigrate police or teachers. It is
only to say that social capital is a powerful tool for accomplishing
objectives crucial to the social development of communities. And this
development will be guaranteed with future leaders who believe that
good governance, a willingness to put the interests of the community
ahead of one’s own interests and the interests of one’s
family and friends, is the path Philippine society can and must take.
One small example of how we are helping develop this crucial civic
involvement is right here in Cebu. The U.S. Agency for International
Development has partnered with the Gerry Roxas Foundation’s
Barangay Justice Service System to establish out of court mediation
systems in 20 barangays in Cebu City and several more in the province.
In Barangay Suba in Cebu City alone, the Barangay Captain resolves
two to three hundred community disputes a month, turning those that
can’t be personally resolved over to a local three-person panel
for mediation. Actions such as these have resolved about 90 percent
of 1,500 cases, cutting in half the backlog of cases coming to local
courts in just two years. What is even more noteworthy is that the
Barangay Justice Service System has mobilized 1,150 community volunteers
as Barangay Justice Advocates, who are promoting the success of their
mediation services as a model for the national justice system. So
you can see that right here in Cebu, you have a powerful example of
the impact of citizen involvement and the ripple effect it creates
at the national level.
This social environment - one that fosters stability, rule of law,
and corporate responsibility - is increasingly important to investors,
especially American and other foreign firms that are interested in
investing in the Philippines. You already have a solid group of companies
that have chosen Cebu for their operations.
But if Cebu wants to capture new foreign investment, you have to
build a reputation as a great place to do business and provide a predictable
business environment. The regional competition for investment is strong,
so you have to be stronger. Your success will depend greatly on how
well you take care of the companies that have already chosen Cebu
for their activities, whether they are foreign investors or Philippine
investors.
If potential new investors see that companies in Cebu are plagued
by local problems and worries, then they will invest their capital
and resources in some other country -- someplace where they can focus
on doing business, not on local distractions.
Because, you see, capital is a coward. It only goes (1) where it
is safe, (2) where it is welcome, and (3) where it is profitable.
You have to ensure that Cebu provides that kind of environment, and
you have to prove it by your actions, not just your words.
Let me end with a now distant but haunting memory of my last stay
in the Philippines. This story was told to me right after the “snap”
election of 1986, but before Marcos was actually overthrown. The Filipino
friend who told it to me swore it was the truth, but since Filipinos
love a good story, perhaps it is just a story and one that has been
repeated many times to many of you. Nonetheless, it is a story that
strikes a chord with me even now after 18 years. I met my friend for
coffee some time in mid-February 1986 and he told me how angry he
was to find out that one of his best friends had decided to leave
the Philippines to visit the United States. My friend asked, how can
you leave your country now when we are fighting against Marcos? His
friend replied, laughingly, “ Oh come on, I’ll be back
after things quiet down here. Right now I just want to relax and go
visit the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.”
Angry, my friend then answered: “You may be going to visit the
Land of the Free, but you are leaving the Home of the Brave.”
And, of course, we know that bravery is not enough, and it is not
sufficient. It needs that strong commitment to society, that civitas.
But this is how I will always think of the Filipino people. The brave.
The determined. Those that never give up. And those who are destined
to become great leaders for your country’s sake. I wish you
success in your many civic programs and know that the Rotary ideal
of serving the community will bring success to your country. Mabuhay.
