PETER LA. JULIAN
THE QUALITIES OF A LEADER
F. Sionil Jose, the most translated Filipino author, is an Ilokano, who traces his roots to Cabugao town in Ilocos Sur. He attends writers' conferences and seminars for young and old Ilokano mannurat. A fixture in these affairs, he writes in English only and regrets he could'nt write in our language. But he identifies himself with Ilokano writers, saying he is proud to be an Ilokano and describe us as the most industrious ethnolinguistric tribe in the country along with Cebuanos and Batanguenos.
In his column in the Philippine Star dated May 5, 2014, Jose challenges the Moros (which include Tausogs--the laziest tribe, he said, along with Warays) to visit the Ilokos. He did not state the reason for the visit. But the blogger understands that if the visitors find economic development in the region this is traced to various causes specifically the kind of leadership wields by the leader.
In said article, Jose said that the Bangsamoro leader has to work harder to realize the objectives of Bangsamoro now that it has been given the opportunity to rule itself as a independent entity within the Republic. What are the qualities of a good leader? Jose enumerated some of these qualities when he said thus:
"What, really, is a leader? What are his qualities? Integrity is one of them; honesty in his dealings with his fellowmen; but most of all honesty with himself, his capacity to recognize the "objective reality" not just about himself but, most of all about the people he has to lead, to know what's wrong with them, for as a leader, he must be a change agent, capable of convincing his people for the better."
