CATALYSTS OF CHANGE:  An Open Dialogue with the Legendary Leaders of Asia 2

Session 2: Former Philippines President Fidel Ramos

February 1, 2008

 

 

Former President of the Republic of the Philippines Fidel V. Ramos engaged in a discussion with young leaders from 12 countries in the Asia Pacific region for the second session of “Catalysts of Change: An Open Dialogue with the Legendary Leaders of Asia”.

Speaking via videoconference from the GDLN affiliate in Manila, the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Mr. Ramos fielded questions for over 2 hours with humor, sharing anecdotes and wisdom on issues ranging from empowering young people, resolving insurgencies to the future direction of ASEAN.

Of the legendary leaders of Asia, Ramos commented, “They have the gratitude of the people because the record shows they were able to reduce poverty, and they are still doing their best to help. This is the attitude that I have taken as well”. “We may be ex-Prime Minister, ex-President ….but we may be more attractive because now we are ex-rated” he joked.

The Informal Touch

To start off the session, Ramos reflected on his time in office from 1992 – 1998 in an interview by World Bank East Asia and Pacific Communications Manager, Peter Stephens. A time of transition for the Philippines, Ramos spoke of his use of informal institutions to forge a national consensus. “I looked at the situation as one big Filipino family, and asked all leaders regardless of political persuasion to join and give us their input, their proposal for solving our problems”, he explained.

The informal approach also helped Ramos make the most of his relationship with development agencies, embassies, military and public officials alike, after he converted part of Malacanian Palace into a meeting place. Known to actively attend events in person, “I may be acting like an ordinary man in the street, but the president has to be both, the man in the street and the man in Malacanian”.

“Buzz Words” for the Young

While in office, Ramos became famous for his use of acronyms to promote policy. He attributed this to his middle class upbringing, going to public schools and picking up ideas from the street, as well as his military experience, where buzz words helped prompt reaction to unexpected situations

“Let me give you a few that may be of use to young leaders”, he said, and quickly ticked off a few of his favorites, including the “Five D’s” of governance; Devolution, Decentralization, Deregulation, Democratization and Development, and “UST” ; Unity of purpose, Solidarity in values, and Teamwork in nation-building.

Following the interview, Ramos engaged in an intensive question and answer session with participants from all 12 countries spanning 2 hours. Questions were also received by e-mail.

Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor

Many of the questions echoed problems that participants face in their own countries today; On reducing the gap between rich and poor, Ramos stressed the importance of empowerment – giving ordinary people and children access to quality education, preparation for a job beyond formal schooling, and mobility in access to the market.

Ramos also spoke passionately about his own views on the future direction of ASEAN. “One vision, one identity, one community is not enough” he said, proposing that ultimately, ASEAN must aim to become one union adopting majority voting. “Otherwise, ASEAN may be relegated into the status of a debating club”

21st Century Values: Accommodation and Patience

Throughout the session, Ramos often spoke with a persuasiveness that comes only from experience, reflecting his career in the military and as a civil engineer.

As an early proponent of anti-corruption measures, Ramos noted that corruption was a disincentive for investment, and talked about his efforts to decentralize the ombudsman in the Philippines to the regions. “Local vigilance is also important” he said, pointing to the effectiveness of NGOs working to monitor the progress of public works. “In the Philippines, it is easy to get away with building roads without a drainage system. The finished road looks nice, but when the rains come, it deteriorates. I know because I’m a civil engineer”

Asked to share lessons learned on settling insurgencies based on efforts to forge peace in Mindanao, “If our approach is separation, isolation and exclusion, that is not the world of the 21st century anymore”. Ramos emphasized accommodation, patience, more patience and accommodation as key. “Military force will not solve an insurgency. A civilian component, meaning community development, will”.

Ramos also touched on the Philippines today, expressing a strong desire for regime change without the involvement of the military and police: “The Filipino people have proved that through people power, we run the risk of civil war. I don’t want to go through that experience again”

——————————

Organized by the World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region, the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) Asia Pacific and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), “Catalysts of Change” is a unique program which offers emerging young leaders in Asia an opportunity to learn from their seniors – a generation of leaders who laid the foundation for the region’s extraordinary growth. Sessions will be held throughout 2008 featuring inspiring leaders renowned for their contribution to the development of their country and the region. Video recordings of all sessions will be made available on this website.

——————————

See the video and feature story on Session 1 held December 20/21, 2007: An Overview featuring ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong and World Bank East Asia Pacific Regional Vice President Jim Adams.

 

Partner(s)

ASEAN; World Bank, East Asia and Pacific
——————————

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see CATALYSTS OF CHANGE: An Open Dialogue with the Legendary Leaders of Asia OVERVIEW

Contact Form

Your Name:

Your Email:

Organization:

Location (City, Country):

Subject:

Message: