When 150 superstars stopped talking and begun listening

It was truly amazing, and very inspiring, to see the busiest young people in our country -- experts and leaders in their fields of specialization: business, art and culture, politics, media, education, environment, and almost every facet of human endeavor-- gather together for three days and two nights at Holiday Inn Clark, inside the controversy-ridden Mimosa Leisure Estate, in an affair which its organizers, led by Mar Roxas, called Philippine Forum: Convergence in the Millennium.

The cast at the Philippine Forum was made up of more than 150 superstars in various fields. From the world of business came, among others, Jaime Augusto and Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Alfonso Yuchengco III, Tessie Sy-Coson, Lance Gokongwei, Michael Tan, Gina Lopez, Tonyboy Cojuangco, Xavier Aboitiz, Robert Kuan, Luis Lorenzo Jr., Sherwin Gatchalian, Edmundo Gaisano, Enrique Razon, Joey Concepcion, Joselito DY Campos, Guido Delgado, Wilfred Uytengsu, Aurelio Montinola, Paul Cuyegkeng, and Cesar Purisima.

From politics and public service: Tommy Osmeña, Jessie Robredo, Neric Acosta, Josie de la Cruz, Francis Tolentino, Edu Manzano, Victor Agbayani, Jaime Galvez Tan, Cielito Habito, and Ofie Templo. And from the world of entertainment, arts and culture: Ryan Cayabyab, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Joey Ayala, Jim Paredes, Aga Muhlach, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Bart Guingona, and Vic del Rosario.

From the academe and education: Mario Taguiwalo, Allan Bernardo, Felipe Alfonso, Mayo Lopez, Jimmy Galvez Tan, Christina Lazaro-Yuson, Toby Monsod, Ambeth Ocampo, Emilia Boncodin, and Robert Suntay. From media: Jake Maderazo, Jarius Bondoc, Butch Jimenez, Feny Bautista, Rina Jimenez-David, Amando Doronila, Alex Magno, Rod Dula, Ducky Paredes, Jessica Soho, Korina Sanchez, Bobi Tiglao, Jessica Zafra, and Joey de los Reyes. And from cause-oriented NGOs and other groups: J.V. Ejercito, Doris Ho, Donna Gasgonia, Sr. Rosanne Mallilin, Eric Mallonga, Mike Luz, Butch Junia, Robert Suntay, and Francis Pangilinan.

The forum began last Thursday evening with provoking thoughts from Timothy Ong Teck Mong, chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council. What a good way to start the three-day sessions, with such a cerebral and well-articulated speech from one of Brunei's most-highly regarded businessmen, I told myself.

I was proud to be a Filipino when, immediately after Mr. Ong's talk, the young Filipino leaders and experts began to speak out their minds. Gems and quotable quotes, almost always spontaneously uttered, flowed out from their minds and hearts. Yes, I said to myself, the greatest wealth of the Filipino lies in his mind and in his heart. World-class, talaga!

What I found almost incredible, something that bodes well for our country's future, was the way the 2000 Forum participants comforted themselves. They were very disciplined, and they acted as though they were in class, like schoolchildren in a convent school. And these leaders and experts, from various sectors of society, listened -- yes, listened -- most of the time. They were there not to force others to accept their ideas, but mainly to listen, and to share. This is what building a nation is all about.

If only all other leaders in our country, especially those in the political field, learn how to listen, how to open their ears to the voices of the people, including the voices of the masa, and then how to share, then great things can happen in our country in this millennium. And we then, as a people, will survive. May all other leaders, including all those in the corridors of political power, learn, as those in the Philippine Forum did, to practice the virtue of listening, and sharing.

Let me report some activities of the Good Samaritan Foundation:

* Dorothy B. Barcenilla, who is now in Dallas, Texas, solicited US$80 for the Good Samaritan Foundation. The donors are Adult Basic Education Class, $20; Christine Juguilon, $15; Linda Grant, $5; Angelika Ramos, $5; Dorothy Barcenilla,$25; and Bruce Welsh, $10.

* Atty. Manuel D. Yngson Jr., who heads a highly-rated business and litigation law firm, turned over a cash donation of P5,000 when he saw me at the Garden Cafe of EDSA Shangri-La.

* CVY and Family of Bacolod City, sent over P20,000 (BPI 0009184).

* I turned over the amount of P5,000 to Fr. Guido Ditalo, a parish priest, for the construction of a convent for Barangay Nena Parish Church in Northern Samar.

* Couples Dexter and Sherilynn, together with their daughter Kathlyn, dropped by my office last Monday to hand over a wheelchair, several pairs of brand-new crutches, and several walkers, which they asked me to give away to indigent beneficiaries. They are truly a Christian family.

Wilson Y. Lee Flores, Palanca awardee for essay, is one literary figure I truly admire. His writings are really enriching, and his personality exudes warmth and friendship. And there is something very distinctive about Wilson. He says he is the richest person in the world, even richer than Bill Gates or the Sultan of Brunei. Why? Because he is blessed with the priceless gifts of what he calls his "best friends": his mother Mary Young Siu-Tin and his younger sister Marilou Flores So.

Many ordinary Filipinos may not know it, but Wilson's mother was nominated by a big majority of Asiaweek readers as "Asian of the Century". Mrs. Siu-Tin, an educator, was acclaimed a "symbol of the countless faces and unheralded Asian women who had been a positive force for humanity, compassion and progress in the region for the past 100 years."

I like what Wilson said about his mother. "She personified greatness of the 20th century Asian women, although she ruled no empires, built no economic miracles or launched no earthshaking revolutions. By her love, by gentleness, by sacrifice of self within the narrow circle of the home and within the confines of classrooms, she led a life that illuminated with nobility and godliness. She had left behind a bright and enduring beam of culture, of moral purpose and inspiration to people whose lives she enriched, and to a generation of students and young people she taught as teacher," Wilson said.

For the record, Mrs. Siu-Tin served in the schools all over Metro Manila, in Central Luzon, Bicol, Negros, the Ilocos and Visayas regions, and she taught literature, mathematics and Chinese history.

She loved books, literature and the arts -- and she loved teaching. When she died in 1991, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, New York Archbishop John Cardinal O'Connor and other leaders eulogized her life of humility, quiet heroism and selfless service to others.

Art A. Borjal's e-mail address:<[email protected] >