The Philippine Online Chronicles

Alex Lacson is one of the senatorial candidates that really touched my heart when he shared with us his experiences and his love for our beloved country, the Philippines.  He is the author of 12 Little Things You Can Do For Your Country, published in 2005 and endorsed by people such as the late president Cory Aquino, Eugenia Duran Apostol (Chair, Worldwide People Power), Ruben M. Tanseco, S. J., as well as Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Lacson gave us a copy of the book during a press conference.  I must say every Filipino should have one. I suggest you go to any bookstore and buy one now. We can all do our part to help make our country a better place. Lacson believes so, and I believe so too.

I asked the humble senatorial candidate about his book and what he can tell us about it.  He stood up and started sharing how he started writing the book, what inspired him and how the book influenced other people and institutions.

"Actually if you noticed..you have there, the flyer, my slogan is no longer bagong pinoy, bagong pag-asa.  We changed that already, this is an old tarpaulin.  Nilagay na namin dyan ay 'bagong storya.'  So, ang kinuha na namin na slogan, ng campaign slogan is bagong storya," he said.

"And why 'bagong storya' kinuha naming campaign slogan?  In fact, people have become curious of that.  Bakit bagong istorya? Because actually we want to bring out the new story of the Filipino, like the new story of our people. The story of The Filipino who has faith in the Filipino. 'Yung naniniwala sa Filipino, 'yung naniniwala sa kakayahang Filipino. 'Yung tingin niya sa bawat Filpino, ay parang kapatid. Muslim ka man, Kristyano ka man, na naniniwala na kaya natin.  That's why bagong istorya siya."

"Why the book? Ito po 'yung book, the message of this book is really very simple -- that we are the builders of our own greatness, that we write our own stories to people. That if you want the Filipino people to become great, If you want the Filipino to become respectable, if you want the Filipino to be a world-class citizen in the eyes of the world, then we have to do something about it.  So, ibig sabihin, itong 12 little things, every Filipino can do, these are small acts of patriotism, small acts of heroism, that every Filipino can do to help our country.  I really believe kahit mahirap na Filipino may magagawa siya sa bansa natin.  Mayaman ka man, nasa ibang bansa ka man, may magagawa ka pa rin."

"That's why in the past four years I have been also invited to speak in several communities abroad because they want to do something to help our country.  The essence is really that, small acts of heroism, small acts of patriotism for our country.  And it has really connected with our people.  In the past 4 years, every year, umabot na ng 200 speaking engagements ko because of this book, walang press release, walang promotion, on our own lang talga.  Ang ibig sabihin, they love this country and they want to do something.  So nakita nila, 12 little things, kaya ko rin ito. ginagawa rin nila, minomodify nila.  12 little things ginagawa nila 15 little things teachers, 12 little things teachers can do to help our country. Sa Ateneo, 12 little things every Atenean can do to help Ateneo in our country. Mali lang ng konti dun dahil nauna yung Ateneo.  La Salle also came out with something like that, St. Paul also came out with something like that, and even Siliman [University]."

"It's the little things. Little things. It's about small acts but great faith. Great faith that with the little things we do we just have to believe that the big change will come.  Because essentially all the change that we see in the world, in history, they all start with small changes."

"Di ba, 'yung landslide, bago siya naging landslide it's a snowball -- nagsnosnowball siya, maliit, naggagather siya, nagpipick up siya ng other things, palaki ng palaki [until it becomes a landslide].  All change really begins small.. all the big change that we need in our country really have to start small somewhere to create the big change we're looking for you just have to have faith."

"In fact, if you recall, there was that famous book by Malcom Gladwell, The Tipping Point.  Actually I was reading that book while I was writing this book (12 Little Things).  I was reading that.  And from cover to cover the story of Tipping Point is a  story of small changes, how the small changes results into big changes."

"There was one story there, I think it was in America. A group of doctors they were trying to find a way to raise the awareness level of the members of the community kung saan mataas ang diabetes. Ang ginawa ng mga doctors, nagbigay sila ng seminar.  Ang dami um-attend.  But how come nag offer na sila, and after the seminar, they told the attendees to go to the hospital and they were told that they would be given free medicine.  But after the seminar, less than 20 percent of those who attended, went to the hospital."

"And the doctors said, kung worried sila about yung level of diabetes, how is it konti lang pumunta sa hospital?"

"They conducted again a seminar but this time around, they  provided a map na paano pumunta dun sa hospital.  So, when they provided a map, nakita 'yung mga audience, ah ito pala how to get to the hospital.  Instead of 20 percent of the attendees attending, this time around, more than 80 percent went to the hospital.  Why? because of the map. That little detail of the map, made a big difference."

"So little things, little things."

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A heartwarming cause

The event was about two hours long. There were many questions about a lot of things, about issues that our country has, what he's going to do about those situations, etc.  I'm very positive that most if not all were convinced that we need Alex Lacson in the senate, that we need someone like him to serve the country.

You can feel his love for the country. You can also see his family's support for his cause. It's very heartwarming. I hope after reading the book, we all realize that change also comes from within. We have to have our own share for a better nation.

Alex Lacson and his book is a simple yet very powerful book that I suggest everyone read. Truly great things happen from simple gestures, and it's the little things we do in our everyday lives that can add up.

Little things go a long way

The following 12 little things, when put in the context of each and every Filipino having the discipline and motivation to do each one, are both eye opening as well life changing as a Filipino.

1. Follow traffic rules.  Follow the law.
2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt
3. Don't buy smuggled goods.  Buy Filipino.  Buy local.
4. When you talk to others, especially foreginers, speak positively about us and our country.
5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman, and soldier.
6. Do not litter.  Dispose your garbage properly.  Segregate.  Recycle.  Conserve.
7. Support your church.
8. During elections, do your solemn duty.
9. Pay your employees well.
10. Pay your taxes.
11. Adopte a scholar or a poor child.
12. Be a good parent.  Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

Alex starts out the book with a most simple request -- that we follow traffic rules.  As with everything in this book, it is based on the principle of building upon individual successes to bring out the greater goal of nation building.  It is by following the traffic rules, a most basic of requests, without monetary loss to any of us, that we can start our journey to being good citizens.  If we follow the most basic of laws, what more of the difficult and challenging ones.  Thus, Alex challenges us to start with the basic and build upon each one.

It will not only condition our national consciousness of respecting our fellow Filipinos in traffic, but it will bring better safety in transportation.  It can also be a way to bring about a better perspective of the nation in the eyes of foreigners.

It is by starting with obeying traffic rules that Alex Lacson, in this book sets out the basic trend and theme of this book, his own personal message: "Bayani ang bawat Pilipino. We are the heroes we need."

Be a taxpayer

And who would have thought that just by asking for an official receipt, we would be doing our part in being good citizens? By taking great national issues such as national debt and lack of government funding for things like education and health care, and asking how we can contribute to the solution, we are put in the mindset of a good Filipino.

For example, if we all asked for official receipts, then the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) would be able to collect more in taxes since without receipts, some business owners or sellers will simply pocket the taxes owed to the government. Tax collection is indeed an issue and accounts to many billlions of pesos of lost government funds for use in many things like paying back our debt, as well as funding many important initiatives like education.  We do not know it, but by this simple little act we can help the government by increasing tax collection, reducing foreign debt, and even strengthening the value of the peso. Amazing!

Again as with the case of following traffic rules and asking for official receipts, not buying smuggled goods and actually buying Filipino goods and services, are acts that can help build our nation. Alex asks us, since buying purely local goods is both impractical and not wise on an economic standpoint, to stick to a 50/50 principle.  Buy 50 percent foreign goods, 50 percent local goods.  This way we are also contributing to local industries, and helping bring and create jobs within the Philippines.

Within reach

We been trained since colonial times to think that we are an inferior people, but Alex reminds us that we are a great nation, with a capacity for even more glory. By keeping a positive outlook, emphasizing the good things, we can also contribute to a better nation, and by extension we ourselves act like good citizens.  The simple act of being positive with our own culture, people, and nation is an act that we can do without monetary loss.  It is again a habit that we can pursue, that of having faith in ourselves, in our talents, and in our own capacity to be a great nation.

We also should respect our traffic officers, policemen, and soldiers.  It is by doing so that we lift them up and motivate them to do a better job.  Alex also tells us one way we can show our respect -- by not offering bribes.  As Alex says, to offer them bribes is to condition them that it is also part of their job. Bribery is one of the simplest forms of corruption. We complain about the billions of pesos that go into officials' pockets without looking at our own actions.

Going far with waste management

Do not litter.  That is a simple, yet sometimes seldom act of good citizenship that occurs.  And yet, this is also another example of simple acts, done individually, can contribute to so much when put collectively. We spend a lot on waste management, and when we think about the problems of the environment, then suddenly it becomes clear that if we do our part in proper garbage disposal, and even segregating our garbage, as well as recycling our waste, the little things we do can go really far.  On a national scale, this translates to a lot in terms of actual money saved, not to mention not buying more goods but reusing a lot of things helps save our very own environment too.

Give back what you can

Support your church.  Try to give back what you can.  A lot of the social services that the church undertakes are vital.  And when we give back, even if just 1 percent of what we make, we can do so much in helping out.  Gawad Kalinga for example is an organization of the Church that deems to create housing for the poorest of the poor, and initiatives like these are actually things that we can be helping in when we remember to support our church.

And since it is election time, the eighth little thing actually becomes a really big thing.  We should vote, do our part in choosing honest leaders filled with integrity.  Because, as Alex says, honesty is what makes a leader, more than anything, it is honesty that leads to integrity.  And it is ultimately integrity that can make people follow a common goal, a common vision.

Paying your employees well is also an act of great thanks to those who work for you.  By paying our employees well, we not only change the lives of our employees for the better, but by extension, we help out their families, and their children.  With good pay, we help raise the living standards of many families.  By providing a better pay, we can help with the education of the children, and thus we should also be reminded that indeed they are our future.  So, it is not only an act of compassion, but also an act that will build our nation by lifting the living standards of many families.   Paying your taxes is actually related also to asking for official receipts.  Because tax collection is not efficient in our country, by paying our taxes, we are giving the government the much needed support in the many projects and initiatives that they must pursue.  By paying our taxes we can contribute to the lessening of the national budget deficit, lessening of our debt, and the increase of funds for education, social services, and many more.

This is a very personal decision, two choices we can make, adopting a scholar, or adopting a poor child.  The more challenging and requiring of sacrifice and great faith is that of adopting a poor child and inviting him/her into your own home.  But just imagine if more Filipino children were given a chance at a better life, this is one great way and quickest way we can bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.  Many Filipino children live very hard lives, without proper nutrition, education, and with a lack of family support and love.

But we can also, without adopting fully a child into our homes, also be able to contribute the future of a child.  By sponsoring a child's education, whether it is within your family, extended family, or even within your community, we are able to give a child a chance at a better future.  By motiving that child to succeed in his/her education, by sponsoring his/her education we have given just one more child a chance to also give back to our nation.  And if more Filipinos did this, no doubt, the increase in the education of our children would be seen.

And lastly, be a good parent.  Because the family is the basic and most fundamental structure of society, the greatest thing we can do for society is help raise children that obey the law and that will love our nation.  We must start with ourselves, our family, and by building from there, if we all do this, we can in turn be a great nation.

This is what Alex Lacson's book is all about, it is about getting that ball rolling, doing the little things individually can really add up to great things collectively.  By having faith in our nation and our people, and working to be better citizens, the change we seek must start with ourselves, one step at a time, one little change at a time.

Photos and video by author. Some Rights Reserved