A Filipino named Washington

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical storm “Ondoy” made it clear that this is the season for living patriots. Some of them have been around for some time, honored for their achievements but not enough for what truly matters at this time – love of country and people. One of them that I know does not even look or sound Filipino.

The name might suggest American influence and Chinese genes but his life is more Filipino than most who claim to be Juan de la Cruz. To friends, he is simply Wash. Many of them, of means and influence, were there on his 88th birthday last July 30 at the Shangri-La Makati marking his milestone with a gift of 88 homes for slum-dwellers in Camarin, Caloocan City. The emerging rainbow-colored community has been aptly renamed Washington SyCip GK village.

Members of the SyCip, Gorres and Velayo (SGV) family turned their affection for a beloved founder into caring for the less privileged. In a moving procession at the formal dinner, they each carried a symbolic mock-up home with a lighted candle that brightened up a whole stage to honor greatness in a man, slightly bent, but standing taller than anyone else in the hall that night. The moment was sacred. It was not only affection but also respect for a great Filipino who anchored success on integrity, discipline and hard work – fundamental values of a strong nation forgotten by a once proud people who have learned to accept poverty by tolerating corruption, hypocrisy and sloth.

Times are changing though, hopefully for the better – and soon.

That night, power and gold glittered, but the sterling qualities of a just and honest man shone brighter. I counted among the crowd presidential aspirants, business tai-pans and CEOs, lifestyle gurus and social trendsetters – many of them have become friends of the poor through Gawad Kalinga that has successfully bridged the social and power divide. Familiar faces I saw – including those decked in dazzling gowns and stones – looked kinder and more connected to the mood of the times for social relevance. It was not so much that they had changed, since such a process takes time, but for credible social icons like Wash to lead the way and for us ordinary folks to rejoice when it happens, not to question motives but to facilitate the connection. It is perhaps in connecting with the noble side of those who control wealth and power that we can finally unleash, without force or intimidation, vast resources that have historically been withheld from the poor that will make our country rise from poverty. It is for us to discover a peaceful path to change; for the rich and poor, state and market to see each other as friends and not enemies, to build together and not destroy each other. In solidarity, we can dream of a better and kinder world.

In developed countries, business calls philanthropy corporate social responsibility (CSR). In the Philippines, the challenge is to go beyond CSR and do nation-building. Captains of industry like Wash see this quite clearly.

Nation-building in a democratic setting is simply people-building. It is about helping the lowly to rise and to honor those at the top who provide the lifeline. Connecting the heart of the rich with the heart of the poor is not easy, not because they are less caring or generous, but simply because we come from a divisive culture that has not outgrown mistrust bred over the years. Bridging the trust gap, however, is the only way to a better life for all.

On a bright sunny morning last August, that was the scenario that played out like a dream. Together with SGV chairman Dave Balangue and managing partner Vic Noel, Wash descended with his gung-ho army of accountants and auditors to a slum in Caloocan rarely visited by outsiders, determined to fight poverty with the powerful Filipino weapons of kalinga (caring) and bayanihan (sharing). With the energy of a young warrior, Wash waded through a sea of smiling GK Mabuhay ladies in native attire and enthusiastic children of varying ages and stages of malnutrition, oblivious to the heat and size of the crowd. Bare-chested men with tattoos, proof of power in a predatory setting, kept their distance out of respect as nobility passed by. Walking side by side with him, I saw the face of a patriot, advanced in years but with the heart of a young Joshua, determined to journey with our people to our Promised Land, not afraid like David to face the giants of poverty and physical harm along the way.

But the area was safe because residents trusted those who came. The presence of hope that they can build, touch and see can turn criminals into peaceful citizens, ugly slums into beautiful communities. From our experience in over 2,000 communities, a hell-like place can be transformed into a piece of heaven by the miracle of solidarity. The magic of GK is in the power of presence, when partners do not just write out a check to fund houses but to build it together with the homeless who will live there.

Orchestrating this beautiful symphony of societal harmony are heroic caretakers, many of them my brothers and sisters from Couples for Christ, who walk their talk by loving country and neighbor beyond self. The best of them have joined me on this journey from the beginning, did not abandon the poor when the going got rough, and are still around today to see great men like Wash SyCip honor their everyday heroism with his trust and presence. It took a lot of trust for an institution like SGV, built on the highest level of accountability, to shell out millions of pesos to untrained community builders and to confidently enter once-forbidden territories in friendship with those they considered a threat in the past. Perhaps it was the consistent, transparent and upfront commitment to the poor without any hidden political or profit agenda that paved the way for this trust relationship to bloom. The sincerity of our ground volunteers is priceless to us and attracts great generosity from partners and supporters, here and abroad.

Philanthropy and investment in social development accord the highest value to integrity, particularly in our country where mistrust is high. Gaining the confidence of a man of impeccable integrity like Wash affirms our resolve to focus on nobility and stewardship rather than foster a fund-raising mentality. As Consulter, Wash is helping us blend compassion with accountability, generously providing us support from the SGV team in training our people nationwide on effective financial management.

We constantly remind ourselves that the best way to protect our cause that is disruptive of mindsets that perpetuate poverty is to surround it with men of integrity like Wash. I remember his words to me in an intimate conversation: “In these corrupt times, integrity is everything. I believe in your movement because of its integrity.”

Equally valuable to us is his moral support. He lends the power of his presence to our milestones when possible, as he does to many other causes he believes in, always assuring us that the work of ordinary Filipinos is extraordinary in his eyes. His greatness is in his humility to value the sacrifice of others.

He encourages people to be generous in caring. He was there at the golden anniversary of former SGV partner Jet Jeturian and his wife Myrna where gifts were earmarked for the poor, and supports the initiative of old friend Charito Melchor in her GK village in Baras, Rizal. Always generous, always encouraging others to do the same.

I personally treasure his friendship. Whether in private conversations in his office or in big functions where everyone wants his attention, I feel his personal affection and concern for me, like what he did on his birthday when I was called on stage. I stood motionless beside former President Joseph Estrada in front of people of fame and fortune, humbled and overwhelmed by the generous words and spirit of the honoree, but most of all, overjoyed for the poor whose lives will be better because of his kindness. In his eyes the heroes of the moment are the rising poor who will no longer accept poverty as their fate.

Through my lens I saw in Wash the face of the new Filipino – one who loves the Philippines passionately, honors her in words and actions, restores faith in her institutions, cares for her people and makes the weak and powerless strong by bestowing on them the legacy of their life-achievements and making them the biggest heir of what they have accumulated in this life. With more Filipinos like Wash, I believe God will look with favor upon us and on all our descendants.

We are all heirs of his generous spirit. This is the mark of his immortality. I saw this on my trip to Nepal with him and other Ramon Magsaysay awardees in 2006 where neither height nor cold affected his demeanor, always available to share ideas, always ready to inspire others. At the end of the trip, there was hardly any evidence of wear and tear in his movement, like an ageless time traveler, unlike many younger mortals like me. Is it in his unique DNA, or perhaps his detachment from life’s stress and fears – like the monks we met – despite his being actively involved in its affairs? I don’t know.

I just know that he is a special human being, a great Filipino and a precious friend. I also know that this country is better because of his presence, and that he will be around for some time until there are enough Filipinos with his integrity and generosity to gain the trust of the global community and make us the top choice of visitors and investors.

This will prepare us for the Asian age that is at our doorstep. Former colonies from the East are outgrowing a slave mentality and fueling their growth through hard work and self-reliance, letting go of traditional dependence on former western masters and markets. Our historic moment is here. We will rise as a nation if we match opportunity with credibility.

It is my wish that more Filipinos will name their children Washington… if they can guarantee that they will raise them to be honest and to love this country as much as Washington, a living patriot that I know.

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