Leadership by Example

If he had his way, John K.C. Ng would rather work in the shadow of his more prominent colleagues. Early last year, however, he was thrust into the high-profile leadership of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII) with the untimely demise of its president Benjamin Chua. As head of the FFCCCII, Ng’s task is not just to ensure that the Chinese-Filipino or Chinoy’s interests are protected, but to bring the community closer to mainstream Filipino society.

Although the Chinoys comprise a powerful economic bloc, the old perception that they are merely reluctant milking cows of politicians and corrupt government officials still persists. And that while they are passive, insensitive observers of the ups and downs of Philippine business, they are the first to pack up when the roller-coaster ride gets too rough.

"We want to get away from those stereotypes of the Chinese-Filipino," stresses Ng. "Look, we are as much Filipinos as anybody else in this land. What I want to do is for the Chinese-Filipino community to go further into the mainstream and to harness the potential of the community to go into community building."

Tall order indeed. But so far, Ng has proven to be adept at tapping the resources of the organization. There is so much that can be done, considering the sheer size of the FFCCCII, the largest ethnic-based organization in the country with a nationwide network of close to 170 chambers of commerce, trade and business associations, 70 of which are in Metro Manila.

Ng says there is a now more aggressive and conscious effort to slowly change the way most Filipinos think about the Chinese-Filipinos in their midst. Thus, the FFCCCII’s programs and projects focus on cultivating, promoting and enhancing Filipino and Chinese relations.

Toward this end, Ng spends time appealing to the FFCCCII members to support his pet project: Operation Barrio Schools. This is the federation’s long-term banner project, which donates two-classroom buildings in areas where classrooms are needed. To date, a total of 2,500 school buildings have been turned over to the Department of Education, and at least 350 more units will be built this year. Of these, 150 were requested by President Arroyo for Regions III, IV, and Iligan, while 14 will be constructed for the Mangyan tribal community in Oriental Mindoro. Recently, the federation signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of National Defense for the military’s engineering brigades to construct the school buildings in conflict-ridden areas like parts of Mindanao where civilian construction firms are unable to do the work.

"...the decision of Senate President Franklin Drilon to turn over P100 million of his Countrywide Development Fund to the federation for the construction of 571 classrooms is a clear acceptance by government of the status of the federation not only as the leading organization in the Filipino-Chinese community, but also as a key private sector group in Philippine society," Ng says with justfiable pride.

Aside from the construction of schoolhouses, the FFCCCII distributes textbooks to schools nationwide and is a partner of the Connect-Ed.ph Program, a private sector initiative that provides computers and internet access to public shools.

Ng is cognizant of the need for Chinoys and "our kapwa Filipino" to work hand-in-hand. He stresses that the deteriorating peace and order, smuggling and the kidnappings that usually target wealthy Chinese-Filipinos are all rooted in poverty.

"We are facing a difficult challenge," he notes. "Our country may have weathered the worst period of the global slowdown but our problems are not yet over." All sectors should therefore strive to create a business climate where entrepreneurship can thrive, and for government to focus more on working towards economic recovery instead of wasting time politicking.

"We have to focus our energies on working towards economic recovery and poverty alleviation. We have to increase direct investments, sustain and rehabilitate our businesses, preserve existing jobs and create new ones in both our cities and rural areas. This is the only way to win our fight against poverty," says Ng.

One of FFCCCII’s key projects, the Buy Pinoy Movement, seeks to boost the local economy by urging consumers to patronize Pinoy goods and services and to develop local industries to be more globally competitive.

The FFCCCII also started a hybrid rice program and established vegetable demonstration farms to promote food self-sufficiency. It also set up the Institute for Business and Economic Research which provides research inputs that aid in decision making, and in articulating the position of the federation in national issues. This signals the FFCCCII’s intention to play a more pro-active role in the policy making process.

Ng points out that all these good intentions can not be accomplished solely by a group like the FFCCCII. While the public has grown cynical about government, Ng says it is still government that can effectively mobilize people to link arms and move together in finding solutions to society’s ills.

"If only our government officials will rule with an iron fist instead of spending a lot of time and resources politicking. One of the reasons why some sound policies never take off is because the top consideration is always if these will ever translate into more votes for those running for public office," rues Ng.

An effective leadership should be one where the chief lives by example. "It can’t all be lip service," says federation executive director Joaquin Sy, noting that Ng does more than just appeal to his FFCCCII constituents to raise funds.

"If he is invited to functions and is asked to make speeches, he makes sure that the organizers agree to sponsor the construction of a school building. Or when there are fund raisers, he sets the trend by pledging a minimum of P200,000. This then becomes the benchmark which members adhere to," reveals Sy.

"We want our efforts to snowball, that’s why it’s an honor to be leading the federation," the soft-spoken Ng says. "It’s both a service and a sacrifice. To be a director, you not only give money but you also have to devote time."

Ng disabuses the notion that the Fil-Chinese are an indifferent lot, who couldn’t care less if the economy turns around or not. "That is farthest from the truth," he insists. "We want the economy and the peace and order situation to improve. If these things happen, businesses will grow and there will be more employment."

Despite the uncertainty of the times, Ng insists that Chinese-Filipinos will continue investing and will stay put in the country. "The Chinese-Filipinos are not planning to leave or stash their money elsewhere if that can be helped because we have lived all our lives here. We would feel strange living in China for one; it is foreign to us," says Ng, whose term ends in March (he is re-electable for another term). He hopes that the younger generation of Chinoys will make the commitment to ensure the community is better integrated into the country’s economic and cultural mainstream.

"I want the younger ones to think beyond family," he muses. "That’s how I was when I was younger: my obligation was toward my family and my immediate community. But when I grew older, making business grow became secondary to what is more important; doing business is a social obligation."