Freedom of expression, a non-rule

We happen to be an insignificant minority shareholder of a very small rural bank in a fifth class town in Southern Leyte. In spite of our meager capital base, we also carefully monitor and evaluate the interplay of free market forces while we continue to serve the financial requirements of farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs not only in our municipality but in the adjoining towns as well.

I talk of this rural bank with unmitigated pride because, while we work in the shadows of the big financial institutions in that area, we have been chosen, again, the best bank in the region by the Land bank of the Philippines. Lo and behold, in a fitting ceremony recently held in Manila, some of the board members proudly accepted the plaque to symbolize our achievement.

While waiting for the ceremonies to begin, an official of the sponsoring bank asked me how such a small bank, like ours, could survive the jungle of heavy monetary players and better yet, beat large financial institutions in a competition for excellence. He was especially curious over the fact that we have done it four times the last five years I have been on its chair. Really, the gentleman disarmed me with such an unexpected question that it was my initial impulse to douse his seeming intrusion with a quick and impersonal repartee like "what do you care?" But, because I could see behind the glint of his eyes that he was sincerely trying to unravel the mystery that our firm was (is), in an announced effort to share our experience with the others in the industry, I had to take my stock, the best I could, for the rather impromptu situation.

In my search for a factual answer, I could only find the diligence of our corporate directors and the work ethics of our employees as "the" explanation. Specifically, every board meeting that we hold is an explosion of ideas. Directors explore their imaginations and when they attend each session, they are prepared with suggestions to make the bank serve our community in many imaginative ways than others, in our business, would prefer to undertake.

Freedom of expression is, without doubt, our key. Far from essaying the irrelevant constitutional dimensions of this quote, I mean that, in our board, no one lords over the discussion as if he is the sole fountain of brilliant ideas. Instead, we treat one another with a fair sense of equality and profound respect. After all, prescinding from the lucid words of Desiderata that even the dull and the ignorant have their own stories to tell, much more may be expected from others better endowed.

What works for a small corporation can, with more reason, be effective for large entities such as Cebu City. If freedom of expression is our key in running that small bank, so it must be for our city. While the latter is a government unit, its effective and successful management depends on the contribution of our elected leaders. 

Unfortunately, the relations of their honors, Congressman Antonio V. Cuenco of the South District and Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña demonstrate what we have heard for a long time. Freedom of expression is a non-rule in our city. It is not enjoyed among our leaders from the city councilors, to the vice mayor and even to the representatives, in so far as our mayor is concerned. Like robots that talk and walk in the way they are programmed, our city leaders seem to have lost the capacity make a stand that does not carry the sentiment of our mayor. More accurately, they refuse to spouse a radical idea in the fear that they may just be publicly ridiculed.

Look around. There are many things to do to make our city better than what it is at present. I am sure our leaders have seen what needed to be addressed but fear that their position does not conform to the thought process of the mayor prevents them from bringing these to the table of discussion.

So, what happens is that they wait for the mayor. Considering that Mayor Osmeña is preoccupied with finding ways to pay the huge debt he incurred for the South Real Properties, (and save his face) his vision for the city is somewhat blurred. It is a sad spectacle but it is real.

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