The 1st unprincipled leadership conference.

While most of us in media were busy maximizing the benefits we could squeeze out of the “Tony Blair visit”, little did we realize that the people in Malacañang Palace shamelessly took advantage of diplomatic privilege and preyed upon the goodwill of Campaigns and Grey as well as of Tony Blair.

It turned out that when Malacañang was informed of the Tony Blair visit, some opportunistic elements inside the Palace decided to go beyond the traditional courtesy call or private lunch or dinner for the visiting dignitary or VIP. Instead they launched a full-blown event ahead of all the scheduled events, where they invited local VIPs, business leaders as well as the entire contingent involved in the soon to be revived peace negotiations with Muslim rebels.

The predatory and opportunistic behavior of people in Malacañang was a de facto sabotage of the 2nd Leadership Conference and the Smart Infinity dinner because a number of the business leaders personally invited by Manny Pangilinan chose to decline the invitation since they would be dining with Tony Blair ahead of all the paying guests to both the 2nd Leadership Conference as well as the Smart Infinity dinner.

I initially suspected that Malacañang may have helped in inviting Tony Blair to come to the Philippines, which would have given them some entitlement, but they did not. I was told that Campaigns and Grey did it on their own through an outfit called the Washington Speakers Bureau.

I also learned that none of the usual agencies that often dole out or “sponsor” events of special interests participated. Had they done so, it would be understandable that Malacañang would want their money’s worth. But there was no money given either. The only help that Malacañang visibly extended was the protection of the Presidential Security Group, which added more problems than the organizers wished.

This embarrassing conduct of the Executive department is made worse by the lament of the visiting dignitary who was scheduled and wanted to return to the Sofitel hotel in the CCP complex a few hours before the Leadership Conference because Blair had a very early morning when he made his first visit and speech at Ateneo which was on the other side of Metro Manila.

As it turned out Blair went from the Malacañang affair straight to the Leadership Conference, the subsequent cocktails and then the Smart Infinity Dinner. No rest and no break.

As I was told, Blair’s time at Ateneo was officially 45 minutes. At the Leadership conference the arrangement was an hour and the Smart infinity would have been two hours tops. So in total, Manny Pangilinan and associates capitalized $275,000 for their Corporate Social Responsibility and love of country. But what did Malacañang pay or give in return for the three to four hours with Blair, all the publicity and photo opportunity as well as injury they caused the organizers and real hosts of Tony Blair?

As one of the Brits reportedly put it, “you should have charged Malacañang for their three hours share!”

No thanks to Malacañang, Campaigns and Grey has been suspected of working in the interest of Malacañang because of the “Leader as a principled negotiator” angle. With no “Thank You’s” from Malacañang, the Arroyo administration took advantage of diplomatic privilege and courtesy and promoted themselves as well as their own agenda.

Perhaps we can help the organizers and the hosts in writing a book to recover some of their costs. I’m sure a lot of Political Science students will buy a book entitled: Unprincipled Leadership by example and without shame 2000-2009.

 Or as suggested in the title, they might consider hosting the 1st Unprincipled Leadership Conference which would break down all the attributes and upbringing that lead to the creation of unprincipled leaders and just what we can do to exterminate them!

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Speaking of leadership, I now have an idea what Jesus Christ must have felt as he mourned for Jerusalem. Just the other day I felt overwhelming emotion and found myself on the brink of tears thinking about our country and the upcoming elections. Even my wife was startled over this very rare form of anguish, but that was exactly how I felt realizing that it may soon come to a choice between good and evil.

We were talking about the many people who have expressed their intentions to run for President or Vice President or as legislators. Then we got to talking about the alternative choices being prodded such as Governor Ed Panlilio, Governor Grace Padaca and Bishop Eddie Villanueva. Then the name of Senator “Kiko” Pangilinan came up for Vice President.

It was at this point when I uttered, why don’t we convince all the decent people we know to simply run. People like Anthony Pangilinan, Gary Valenciano, Manny Pangilinan, Ruffy Biazon and anyone else who has integrity and cares for this nation!

I was no longer concerned about a political election but more for an “election for morals”. Maybe if we showed people the difference between what real moral leaders are all about, maybe if we simplify the matter to a choice between good and evil, perhaps by God’s grace we can wake up the Filipinos to say, “enough is enough!”

Maybe we don’t need to run for public office or campaign to be elected as politicians. Why not start a campaign now! Not an advocacy, not the usual political rallies but an honest to goodness election type campaign for people to “elect” or “vote” moral correctness, nationalism and integrity into their lives.

Let us all get out of our comfort zone, invest time and money, and simply launch our own campaign. If all the trapos are doing it, why not us?

For the longest time we have all shared the joke about the most popular candidate who we have never seen or heard but who we all know yet never wins. Every election we read his slogan: “Vote Wisely”.  

It’s a joke but it’s a joke we never forget. Perhaps if we take ourselves seriously, everybody else will.