I was given two coffee-table books last weekend. Now I know coffee-table books are self-serving, and tell only the story the authors want you to hear. But both have a good story to tell.
One you’d expect is from the Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI). But one you wouldn’t is from the military—the often reviled institution that gets more than its fair share of negative news. Well, here’s something positive. I’ve known many officers over the years; we share a lake—me on weekends and they 24/7.
A new colonel was assigned, Boyet Burgos, and he joined us for lunch on Sunday. He brought a book that celebrates 120 years of the Philippine Army—“Smart Soldiers of Change Winning For Peace.” It’s beautifully done, but what hits you is the pictures—not of fighting wars, but of helping people. Especially the youth.
A caption of a picture of school kids says: “Enabling Wellness in the Youth. Various youth-oriented outreach programs help teach the youth the value of physical fitness and mental well-being.” There’s a poignant picture of a group of seven-year-olds (I’m guessing) being taught “shapes.” The look of fascination on their faces is delightful. A picture I love is that of a child reaching up to hold the hand of a soldier twice his size as the soldiers teach the kids first aid. Then there’s one of an old man leaning on a cane, being attended to by a soldier-doctor.
They plant trees, build farm-to-market roads and—for this they’re well-known—help in rescue efforts. Many years ago the Management Association of the Philippines and I formed a foundation, A Life for Others, or Alfo. We were moved to do so by a front-page report in this newspaper on a soldier swept away by a huge wave as he pushed an elderly woman onto a bank after a typhoon. His body was found the next day, but the woman lived, as did 30 other people he had saved. Alfo helps the families of soldiers who die while rescuing civilians: They are given cash for identified projects to help them put their lives back together. We’ve helped 14 so far (donations to help us into the future are welcome).
But back to the book: There’s a lot on the Army, too, and doing what armies are supposed to do—except in the Philippines, it’s more about protecting against internal than external threats. One is impressed at how dedicated the Army seems to be, despite severely limited funds. It’s one of the most poorly equipped armies in Asia, yet it does well with what it has.
The book says Filipinos should be proud of their soldiers. I know. I felt it.
Then there’s George Ty, actively supported by Chito Sobrepeña, doing what many top corporations do: providing not just funds but also engaged support in helping the less fortunate. I’ve always liked the MBFI’s annual awards for outstanding Filipinos in various fields. Rewards are not only deserved recognition of the recipient, but also an encouragement to others to do their best. Services to communities improve.
The things the MBFI does are of practical import: drinking water and sanitation facilities in public elementary schools or a water tower and filtration system to bring potable water to 552 students in Northern Samar—something fundamental the government should provide but too often can’t. And another I liked: providing bicycles to make the kilometers-long walk to school no longer as exhausting (time-exhausting at that age, not the physically exhausting kind for us silver-haired guys). It provides scholarships for deserving students in science, technology, engineering and math, and the country needs them in mass numbers in this high-tech world.
Teaching the poor entrepreneurial skills in production, sales and marketing of handicrafts, food production and food preparation to bring self-reliance to a community have wide-ranging benefits. On this Chito might want to look into helping the wives of soldiers of the 202nd brigade in Caliraya, who make simple products but are not very good in marketing them. It’s a weakness you see everywhere, and one that the MBFI is ideally suited to address.
All my clients provide community support services of one kind or another; it’s now an integral part of a corporation’s CSR (corporate social responsibility). The impact goes well beyond the people helped. There’s far too little recognition given to what they do.
(It’s my birthday on June 3, hence this “good mood” column.)
Read my previous columns: www.wallacebusinessforum.com. Email: wallace_likeitis@wbf.ph