Giuliani’s 6 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders

Ex New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani Visits Manila

I was privileged to watch the Binay Foundation’s Leadership in Crisis conference with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani as guest speaker.

I wasn’t as interested in the introductory speech by Oscar Lopez as much as I was in watching Giuliani speak. A thirty-something Sex and the City fan (I am, after all, a girl in the 21st century), I was ready to listen to his stories about New York and how he overcame the 9/11 situation.

I was quite disappointed to hear what seemed to me like a digested Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Guiliani gave six tips:

1. Have a sense of GOAL.

2. Be an OPTIMIST.

3. Have COURAGE.

4. Build a good TEAM.

5. COMMUNICATE.

6. Have a SENSE OF HUMOR.

These are nuggets of wisdom that Stephen Covey has in his books and that La Sallites are indoctrinated in before every schoolyear (if you’re a student leader or officer of an org).

Fortunately, he did share briefly about the 9/11 experience. He says that although he sent his team home the night of the tragedy to get some sleep and be ready for the events the following day, he went to Ground Zero that night and stayed there another two hours til maybe 3 in the morning. He couldn’t sleep. He also shared how he handled the media; that he was just honest with them although he did not announce the number of casualties immediately, telling the public they would not be able to handle it. Fortunately, he didn’t, because the initial number of deaths reported to him was 12,000 when it fact it was much less at around 3,000.

Cheche Lazaro moderated/hosted the show and asked the participants’ questions for us. The questions asked before lunch (I left at noon and didn’t finish the conference) did not discuss Philippine politics at all; I was waiting for Lazaro to read a question on Giuliani’s suggestion to help us solve our current crises: on the economy and even morally. I only read the answer in the papers today: that on Philippine politics, Giuliani suggested that we should choose a leader we can trust.

That’s a very good answer but politics is deeper and trickier than it appears. His answer only scratched the surface of the problem. It’s textbook and does not take into consideration the wiliness of Philippine politicians.

One thing to note here is the class divide. In Philippine politics, the leader that the AB Upper C trust is not the same leader that the lower C DE trust. AB would trust Mar Roxas, Manny Villar. CDE would trust Noli de Castro, Joseph Estrada.

Classic case in point: 1998. AB trusted JDV. But the majority chose to trust Joseph Estrada. Estrada could never be trusted by the upper and middle class. They hated him, reviled him, made fun of him. Meanwhile, the exact opposite can be said of the lower class: they love him and practically worship him.

So Giuliani’s message is incomplete in that along with the trust should come respect. American politics portrays this when a defeated candidate in the presidential nomination respects the decision of the majority. Giuliani himself graciously exited from the presidential race and is now being a sport and showing full support for Mc Cain. Same with Hillary to Obama. That never happens in this country. When de Villa lost to JDV, he started his own party. Same with Lacson.

The reason why trust and respect must come hand in hand is that when the few make their voices louder than the majority, the national direction moves toward the objectives of the few instead of the objectives of the majority. The concerns of the few are prioritized over the concerns of the majority. Then the majority becomes miserable because the few insisted on their way, instead of respecting the decision of the lot.

But that’s Philippine politics for you. It’s my way or the highway. What can we do? We can only pray for a leader who will cut across classes and lead us to our deliverance. That or move abroad. Contradicts Giulani’s second tip but it’s the truth.

ERAP REAX TO SONA; INTERVIEW WITH DZBB

ERAP: VAT EMERGING TO BE A NATIONAL SHAME

07/29/2008 | 09:03 AM 

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo may view it as the country’s salvation but her predecessor, former President Joseph Estrada, views the value-added tax (VAT) as an emerging national shame because of its effect on the poor.

In an interview on dzBB radio, Estrada on Tuesday said that only because of its negative effect on poor Filipinos, VAT should be removed, or at least be suspended especially during these times when the prices of basic commodities are high.

“Yan ang nagpapahiya sa ating kababayan. Hanggang sa mga mahirap, nadadama yan, lahat na binibili ng mahihirap napapatungan ng VAT (That is turning out to be a national shame for us. Even the poor are affected because practically all things you buy are covered by VAT),” Estrada
said.

Estrada also scored the Arroyo administration for boasting about some P86 billion in VAT collections, when it failed to plug loopholes that led to a loss of P141 billion due to smuggling.

President Arroyo, in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, had defended the VAT from critics calling for its repeal, saying it had been used to shore up the country’s financial independence, increase government investments in infrastructure, and ensure enough funds for anti-poverty programs.

In the interview, Estrada gave President Arroyo a failing grade for her SONA, which he dismissed as “karamihan niyan scripted (mostly scripted).” Estrada also said the success stories narrated at the SONA did not give an accurate picture of the nation.

“Yun lang siguro nagtagumpay, e ang libo-libo sa probinsya puro gutom (Only they succeeded, but their thousands of provincemates still go hungry),” Estrada said.

From a range of 0 to 100 with 100 being the most satisfactory mark, Estrada gave President Arroyo a grade of “30″ for her SONA, adding the people had already spoken through surveys giving her a low satisfaction rating.

“Sa 100 maswerte nang makakuha sya ng mga 30 (If I were to grade her from 0 to 100, she’d be lucky to get a 30),” Estrada said. 

Meanwhile, United Opposition president and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, chided President Arroyo for trying to trigger a class war by defending VAT.

Binay, in a statement posted on the Makati City website, also said the administration cannot deny the expanded VAT contributed to the oil price increase.

He was referring to President Arroyo’s claim that VAT is good for the poor and bad for the rich, and suspending it will only benefit affluent Filipinos. - GMANews.TV

Anticipating the SONA

How do you lead a people who have lost their trust in you?

(Or did she even have the trust of the Filipino people to begin with? She grabbed power from a trusting Estrada in 2001 and cheated in the elections of 2004. So she was arguably never a “duly elected” president. … But that’s another story …)

1. Tell them you’re worth something.

GMA is trying very hard to prove that her administration has achievements. Just today she has a full page ad headlined, “Fighting Poverty Through Housing”. It shows her walking alongside the people-popular Noli de Castro.

Two weeks ago there was another full page – no, make that two full pages – ad headlined, “Ramdam ang Kaunlaran”, itemizing the “achievements” of GMA since 2001, underneath each SONA promise.

And the past few days she has had the media following her checking up on projects to portray a “working president”.

1. Blame it on the rain.

“It’s not my fault” is a line we will definitely hear from GMA today. She will blame the world economy for the rising food and oil prices. Ermita said that Mrs. Arroyo would point out in her SONA that the current oil and food crises are worse than the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

1. Tell the Filipinos to help themselves.

Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez today said that the “president wants to show that each of us Filipinos can become beacons of hope and heroism for our families, communities, the entire country. … Each Filipino is capable of heroic acts, no matter our station in life.”

What is wrong with this?

1. It’s insensitive to gloat while people are getting hungrier.
2. It’s unfair to point fingers when corruption and wrong prioritization are the real causes of today’s increased poverty.
3. Now is not the time to speak like John Kennedy (ask not what your country can do for you …) It is not incumbent upon the people, aching from the price hikes and some even suffering severe hunger, to help the government address the crises. It is incumbent upon the government to find a way to alleviate the plight of the suffering citizens today.

What would be better?

What the Filipino people have been asking for all this time: tell us the truth. Give us the real state of the nation. Be the hero by admitting your mistakes and let cabinet members tell all on the allegations of corruption. Real nation building can start from there.

ERAP NOT ATTENDING SONA – Links

SUNSTAR

Saturday, July 26, 2008
Estrada won’t attend Arroyo’s Sona

FORMER President Joseph Estrada said he will not attend the State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the House of Representatives on Monday.

According to Margaux Salcedo, the former leader will not attend the Sona despite receiving a formal invitation from Congress because he does not want to waste his time listening to the “fairy tale” story of the economy.

Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo

The former President was ousted from his post by a popular uprising in 2001 which catapulted then Vice President Arroyo to the presidency.

Estrada was arrested and detained for a plunder charge. He was convicted in September last year but was pardoned by Mrs. Arroyo a month later.

Salcedo stressed that rather than to listen to Arroyo, Estrada will just listen to the truths from the Filipino masses.

“The truth of severe hunger, the truth of worsening poverty, the truth of rising inflation, the truth of a worse economy, and the truth that no less than the World Bank has assessed the Philippines to be the most corrupt country in East Asia,” she said.

She added that Estrada believes that proclamations of “progress and sound economic fundamentals” would be like rubbing salt on the wounds of the poor who are the ones hurting from the real state of the nation today.

Even the President’s economic adviser, Albay Governor Joey Salceda, admitted that the Arroyo government is still wanting in fulfilling Mrs. Arroyo’s 2007 Sona.

But Salceda said the Arroyo administration has also done much to uplift the lives of ordinary Filipinos over the past seven years.

Several senators, including Panfilo Lacson, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Joker Arroyo, said they were not interested in showing up for Mrs. Arroyo’s eighth Sona.

Five congressmen – partly-list Representatives Saturnino Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna; Liza Masa and Luzviminda Ilagan of Gabriela; and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis – also said they would not attend the same event.

Earlier, a survey conducted from July 1 to 14 by pollster firm Pulse Asia said there is “much skepticism as regards the truthfulness” of President Arroyo’s Sonas.

Among those aware (60 percent) of the Sona, “a big plurality (46 percent) nationwide believe these Sonas had not been truthful, with another almost equally large number (41 percent) being undecided as regards their truthfulness.”

Mindanao had the highest percentage of people who did not believe in Arroyo’s Sonas with a slight majority of 53 percent saying her Sonas were not truthful.

Urban Visayas registered the highest percentage of people who believed that Arroyo’s Sonas were truthful with 21 percent. (AH/Sunnex)

GMA NEWS

ERAP, LIKE OTHERS, WILL NOT ATTEND GMA’S SONA

07/24/2008 | 08:34 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Joseph Estrada will not attend President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address in Congress on Monday although he has already received his formal invitation from Congress, a press statement said Thursday night.

The statement came after four senators – Senate Pro tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr, Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Joker Arroyo – said they were not interested in showing up for Mrs Arroyo’s 8th SONA.

Five congressmen – partly-list Representatives Saturnino Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna; Liza Masa and Luzviminda Ilagan of Gabriela; and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis – have also said earlier that they would not attend the same event.

“There is no personal reason behind Estrada’s decision not to attend as he has already said time and again that he has already forgiven those responsible for his ouster in 2001. He simply believes that it would be a waste of time to go to Congress only to listen to the fairy tale story of the economy from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” the statement, issued by Estrada’s spokesperson Margaux Salcedo, said.

Estrada, in the same statement, said that he believes that what is more important is listening to the “truths” being told by the Filipino masses rather than listening to the “lies of President Arroyo.”

The former president was ousted from his post by a popular uprising in 2001 which catapulted then Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to power.

Estrada was arrested and detained even as he faced plunder charges filed against him.

Estrada was convicted for plunder in September 2007 but was pardoned by Mrs Arroyo on Oct. 25, 2007.

He walked out of his detention cell a day later.

On Thursday, Estrada said in his statement that he would want to listen to the people’s “truths.”

He identified these as the truth of severe hunger, the truth of worsening poverty, the truth of rising inflation, the truth of a worse economy, and the truth that no less than the World Bank has assessed the Philippines to be the most corrupt country in East Asia.

Listening to Arroyo’s “proclamations of progress and sound economic fundamentals would be like rubbing salt on the wounds of the poor who are the ones who are hurting from the real state of the nation today,” he added. – GMANews.TV

GMA NEWS (2)

ERAP SAYS NO TIME FOR GMA’S FAIRY TALES

07/26/2008 | 09:34 AM

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Joseph Estrada turned down an invitation of the House of Representatives to attend President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

In a statement, Estrada said it will a waste of time for himself to go to Congress and listen to the “fairy tales” of Arroyo.

“It would be a waste of time to go to Congress only to listen to the fairy tale story of the economy from Mrs. Arroyo. I believe that what is more important than listening to her lies is to listen from the truth that the Filipino masses are now suffering from hunger, the truth that there is worsening poverty in our country today,” Estrada said.

Estrada said the Arroyo administration must admit the fact that there is “rising inflation, worse economy in the country today.”

Arroyo must also admit that corruption in government has worsened under her watch, with no less than the World Bank tagging the country as the most corrupt country in East Asia.

“Any proclamation of progress and sound economic fundamentals would be like rubbing salt on the wounds of the poor who are the ones hurting from the real state of the nation today,” said Estrada, who was ousted in a popular uprising in 2001 following his aborted impeachment over allegations that he siphoned off tobacco tax revenues and accepted illegal gambling money.

Estrada was subsequently charged with plunder and detained under the administration of Arroyo, who succeeded him as president. Last year, the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court found him guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

Arroyo, however, granted Estrada full pardon soon after the verdict, citing the need for unity and national reconciliation. Estrada has maintained his innocence and that he was a victim of a conspiracy among the elite, including church leaders, generals and big business, with Arroyo as a willing accomplice. - GMANews.TV

INQUIRER

Estrada to miss SONA, won’t listen to Arroyo ‘fairy tale’
By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:20:00 07/25/2008
MANILA, Philippines — Former president Joseph Estrada will not attend President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address on Monday, saying he does not want to waste his time to listen to a “fairy tale story.”

Estrada has received an invitation from Congress to attend the event.

Estrada believes that any proclamation of sound economy will be like “rubbing salt on the wounds of the poor.”

“He believes that more important than listening to the lies of President Arroyo is listening to the truths from the Filipino masses: the truth of severe hunger, the truth of worsening poverty, the truth of rising inflation, the truth of a worse economy, and the truth that no less than the World Bank has assessed the Philippines to be the most corrupt country in East Asia,” Salcedo said.

“He simply believes that it would be a waste of time to go to Congress only to listen to the fairy tale story of the economy from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” said Estrada through his spokesperson Margaux Salcedo.

MANILA JOURNAL

PHILIPPINE STAR

ERAP NOT ATTENDING SONA

ERAP NOT ATTENDING SONA

Former President Joseph Estrada will not attend the State of the Nation Address in Congress on Monday, July 28, although he has already received his formal invitation from Congress. There is no personal reason behind Estrada’s decision not to attend as he has already said time and again that he has already forgiven those responsible for his ouster in 2001. He simply believes that it would be a waste of time to go to Congress only to listen to the fairy tale story of the economy from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He believes that more important than listening to the lies of President Arroyo is listening to the truths from the Filipino masses: the truth of severe hunger, the truth of worsening poverty, the truth of rising inflation, the truth of a worse economy, and the truth that no less than the World Bank has assessed the Philippines to be the most corrupt country in East Asia. Estrada believes that any proclamations of progress and sound economic fundamentals would be like rubbing salt on the wounds of the poor who are the ones who are hurting from the real state of the nation today.

ERAP DISTRIBUTES RELIEF GOODS IN NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

Former President Joseph Estrada today, Friday, 18 July 2008, made a trip to Negros Occidental to distribute relief goods to victims of Typhoon Frank.

His first stop was at the Cadiz City covered gym where he distributed 1,500 relief bags each filled with 3 kilos of rice, noodles, cans of sardines and milk. He was assisted by Mayor Salvador Escalante. The former president then proceeded to the M. Escalante Elementary School where almost a thousand school kits were distributed to students of the said school.

The next stop was at Sagay City. At Brgy. Vito, where residents of Brgy Molacaboc, reportedly one of the hardest hit by Typhoon Frank in Negros Occidental, also gathered, victims received almost a thousand relief bags. At the same time, students of the Andres Bonifacio Elementary School received almost 1,000 school kits.

Estrada also stopped at the Old Sagay Museo Pambata where almost a thousand residents from the shoreline baranggays gathered to receive relief goods as well, with the assistance of Mayor Freddie Maranon.

Estrada’s last stop was at Manapla, where the relief goods were distributed with the assistance of Mayor Manolet Escalante.

This is the fourth city that Estrada has visited since the country was hit by Typhoon Frank. He has also distributed relief goods to Iloilo, Aklan and Romblon. “This is only our response to the mayors who have personally called on me for help. We need to stop politics for the moment and just focus on helping each other. So we’re just doing everything we can to help those who were hardest hit by Typhoon Frank.”

Estrada also reiterated his call to the top one hundred corporations in the country to likewise raise funds to help buy construction materials, medicine and food for those afflicted by Typhoon Frank. “I am appealing to the country’s top corporations to act on their corporate social responsibility and help raise funds to assist victims of Typhoon Frank,” Estrada said.

Asked what his message was to the government, Estrada replied, “I am not here to propose long term or even short term solutions. That is the government’s job. I am a private citizen. I am only here to help in any way I can as Citizen Erap. And I will continue to help the masses who need me as much as I can in my private capacity.”

Estrada was accompanied on this trip by former Senate President Ernesto Maceda and Makati Mayor Jojo Binay, who donated the rice.

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