In June 2010, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is poised to become the next president of the Philippines. Many Filipinos at home and abroad are rejoicing after a relatively bloodless election and many are pinning their hopes on Noynoy to ‘save’ the Philippines. SO NOW WHAT?

The next Philippine president is starting out with such a bad hand that he has to solve the country’s economic woes, overwhelming poverty, grave social issues and rampant corruption, all at the same time. Good luck! Not much will change unless we Filipinos at home and abroad do something about it. That’s right. We should take personal responsibility and take action.  Change will only happen with grassroots community leadership and involvement.

(from left to right) Fr. Greg Banaga, Dale Asis and Fr. Nonong Fajardo of Adamson University last February 2010

I am inspired by the message of Fr. Nonong Fajardo of Adamson University of community, grassroots leadership.  A leader doesn’t have be an Aquino, a Marcos or fill in the blank of your favorite name among the 150 or so Filipino oligarchs.  Authentic, community leaders are among us.  Real democracy is NOT a spectator sport. You just don’t elect your favorite candidate, sit back and relax.

I believe real, systemic change could only happen when all of us, in the diaspora and at home, take action and become involved and demonstrate grassroots community leadership.  I’ll highlight two examples of real, community leaders that I’ve recently met and I would ‘elect’ them any time:

Tess Domdom (standing far left) presenting at a gathering of Filipino community leaders in Hong Kong last February 2010

1. Meet Tess Domdom of Hong Kong, formerly of Catarman, Samar, Philippines. Tess works as a caregiver in Hongkong and last February 2010 she recruited over 30 community leaders to meet with me and rally them to donate and give to a project back in their hometowns in the Philippines. Tess is currently saving her money and working with other caregivers in Hong Kong to facilitate a medical mission in her hometown in Catarman, Samar. Tess gets involved, takes action and in my definition, a true, community leader. I will ‘elect’ her anytime and she gets my vote.

Minnie Villanueva (standing far left) with other Filipina community leaders in Israel meeting with Dale Asis (standing far right) last October 2009

2. Meet Minnie Villanueva of Israel, formerly of the Mountain Provinces, Philippines. Minnie also works as caregiver in Israel and with other Filipina leaders she put together a series of grassroots fund raising events in Tel Aviv. She and her group raised over $1,000 US dollars from their meager salaries to build a community health fund in order to provide for emergencies for Filipino workers there and to also help back home in the Philippines. Minnie gets involved, takes action and in my definition, a true, community leader. I will also ‘elect’ her and she gets my vote.

I’m sure that there are many examples like Tess and Minnie who exemplify grassroots, community leadership and are trying to make a difference in the diaspora or back home in the Philippines.  I believe Fr. Nonong is on to something as he continues to nurture grassroots leadership in the Philippines. Real, systemic change will only happen with grassroots community leadership and involvement.