Thank you Dick Romulo for your very kind words of introduction. Since you mentioned what your father told you about me when we were both members of the Interim Batasang Pambansa, with me representing the opposition party Pusyon Bisaya of Region VII, I must also tell all of you that I held in highest esteem Dick's father, General Carlos P. Romulo, former UN President and Ambassador. During the six years that we were together in the Interim Batasang Pambansa, the only item in the Annual Budget which I did not touch in my interpellations during deliberations was the budget for his Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Asia Society Chairperson Doris Magsaysay Ho; trustees and other officers of the Asia Society; Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala; His Excellency Ambassador Pearce of Australia; guests; ladies and gentlemen;
Good afternoon. First of all I thank the Asia Society for hosting this function, capped by a satisfying meal. I recall an article by historian Felipe Fernandez Armesto which described the role of food or banquet in international relations. Israel, for instance, offended an Arab general when the general was served two sausages at an official reception. The incident almost triggered an international conflict.
Fortunately, this afternoon we have only favorable sentiments; thanks to a delightful reception and, of course, the Asia Society's warm welcome.
In her letter of invitation, Ms. Sonia Ner, Asia Society's Executive Director, "ordered" me to speak about principled citizenship for those in business or the private sector. It is a timely and relevant topic indeed, and one that I am glad to speak about not because my Ramon Magsaysay Award fpr Government Service is for my "principled citizenship in profound service to democracy and the rule of law in the Philippines," but because only a principled citizenship can have a profound impact on society. Principled citizenship provides a true measure of one's love of country and fellowmen especially in times of great challenge and crisis, such as what we are experiencing today, in both domestic and global arenas.
There is much uncertainty across the country and throughout the globe. While we may not be able to alter world events, we can certainly assert improvements in our own country. These interesting times call for concerted action from all of us. What is required is action aimed not at self-preservation but at selflessness, with the goal of distributing gains to those who have less in life.
In recent years, governments across the globe have been looking to the business sector or the corporate world for guidance on how to better manage government affairs. Thus we now have corporate governance, a way of conducting state affairs with greater efficiency and less cost, the way most corporations are run.
Now, we in government once again look to the corporate world, this time not just for management principles but for concrete action.
The third Article of our Constitution is entitled the Bill of Rights, an enumeration of the entitlements of the people with regard to their relationship with the government. The third chapter of Japan's constitution is entitled Rights and Duties of the People. The difference is obvious; and one of the effects is the active role that private business has taken in Japanese governance. One example of this involvement, specifically in connection with the justice system of Japan, is the provision by private companies of employment opportunities to former convicts.
In the Philippines, we must understand that the people's duties are not specified in the present Constitution. However, it may be recalled that the 1973 Constitution had an Article V on Duties and Obligations of Citizens, which was one of the contributions of the Committee I chaired - the Committee with the longest name: Committee on Duties and Obligations of Citizens and Ethics of Public Officials. This Article is substantially reproduced in Article XI of the present Constitution, but the provisions on Duties abd Obligations were not, although I submitted in the Constitutional Commission of 1986 a resolution for their incorporation in the present Constitution. The principal reason for their non-incorporation was that it is implied that the rights of an individual impose upon him the correlative duty to exercise them responsibly and with due regard for the rights of others. Put in another way, one's freedom is not freedom from responsibility, but freedom with responsibility. In short, citizenship is not just enjoyment of rights but performance of correlative duties and obligations. Herein lies the concept of principled citizenship.
Principled citizenship should be understood to be nothing less than sacrifice for the greatest good. The cornerstone of sacrifice is love. As is usual with sacrifice, greater sacrifice is expected from those who can give more. For them, there is that temptation to give only what they do not need anymore. No sacrifice is involved in that for it is just throwing away the excess. The sacrifice lies in giving away what one still needs to touch the lives of others, to help those
in need. For the rich this may be extremely difficult to do because they have much excess to give or throw away. There is no reason for them to part away that which they need. I think it is fair to take judicial notice that those in business, like all, if not most of you, here can give more - meaning, a part of yourselves; hence much more then is expected from you.
Such sacrifice begins with the realization that the vast majority of Filipinos are helplessly trapped in poverty. The situation breeds aggravation for all. Surely, no business will survive without a market, and more often than not, the poorer masses have no means of spending for more than their day-to-day subsistence.
Next we must realize that government does not have all the means necessary to address the situation. Meanwhile, many private businesses have greater resources than most government agencies. They may even have more than the annual budget of the national government.
If you allow your conscience to act upon these two realizations, then you will doubtless conduct yourselves in accordance with principled citizenship. I am certain that no one here can stomach poverty in the midst of plenty, especially when such plenty is enjoyed only by a few.
In truth, principled citizenship is nothing more than Christian living. For those of a different persuasion, I am sure your faith prescribes similar responsibilities.
You will of course inquire about specifics. How indeed can we manifest principled citizenship? Simply paying taxes is one manifestation. Taxes are the lifeblood of government. One of our guests here present, Atty. Geronimo, an expert in taxation, can tell you so. All government activities, including initiatives to uplift the poor require taxes. Your conscientious, timely and accurate payment of taxes will energize government's activities.
Principled citizenship also requires involvement in government affairs - not to meddle or exact favors, mind you, but to be vigilant against abuses and to demand faithful service to the people. You must despise corruption and condemn all acts that squander public money and resources that are intended to improve the masses and the state of the nation. Also consider direct involvement by way of partnerships with government agencies. You may even consider being in politics; but I doubt if you would.
Let me digress a little on your principled citizenship insofar as the justice system is concerned. In this area, principled citizenship means avoidance of court litigations through faithful compliance with contractual obligations; resort to alternative modes of dispute resolutions; cooperation with the judicial processes to avoid delays in court proceedings; and active cooperation in the pursuit of the judicial reforms of Supreme Court. We have now in place an Action Program for Judicial reform, or APJR. The APJR has six components, namely, (1) Judicial Systems and Procedure; (2) Institutions Development; (3) Human Resource Development; (4) Institutional Integrity Development; (5) Access to Justice by the Poor; and (6) Reform Support Systems.
Of course, you must not rule out acts of philanthropy. I am encouraged with the creation of a vast number of foundations supporting various causes. That these foundations provide opportunities for reducing tax liabilities must be an incentive to the founders; but this only emphasizes society's need for such institutions.
I have been immersed in government service for the most part of my life. As such, my comprehension of the capabilities of the corporate world is somewhat limited. I call upon you here to stretch your imagination and explore your creativity to manifest principled citizenship. Corporate models of management have served to guide government. Now, you the heads of corporations and leaders in business, must again be models of citizenship by your acts of selflessness and, for lack of a better term, corporate sacrifice. At the Global Judges Symposium on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last 18-20 August, I proposed a new order: sustainable justice in the field of environmental law. Now I propose to you not just corporate sacrifice, but corporate justice, which you can share to all segments of society, in service to the people.
I look forward to the invigoration of government with your acts of principled citizenship. And I hope that we will all see the fruits of your acts very soon.
Thank you for your time and this opportunity to be with you.
God bless us all.
