INTERVIEW InterviewVIEW INTER Defi ning Leadership An Interview with His Excellency Fidel V. Ramos, Former President, Republic of the Philippines Another strength is the talented Filipino I put great value on duty first, which people who have been trained and educated means that if you handle your assigned duty along the lines that the U.S. recommended in well, no matter whether you have a very low the early years. So we have assimilated an in- rank or the highest one, then you are con- ternational, educated culture, unlike some other tributing to the accomplishment of a mission, countries that are really just getting into the whether it is small in scope or very high global family of nations for the fi rst time. once you reach the level of the country as We have 100 million people in the a whole. H. E. Fidel V. Ramos Philippines – almost 11 million of whom are Aside from that, you must also be able to now deployed abroad because of the lack of collect, unite, and mobilize your workers – in EDITORS’ NOTE Fidel Valdez Ramos was the 12th jobs at home. But what also stands out is our the case of a national leader, your citizenry – to President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. spirit and our willingness to serve anywhere accomplish a common vision. Prior to his election as President, Ramos served there is a need of some kind, and that should be I have boiled down my own style, with in the Cabinet of President Corazon Aquino, seen as a special talent which I tried to inspire fi rst as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the in this world of the 21st our staff and our peo- Philippines (AFP), Chief of Integrated National century. ple in the Philippines. Police, and later on, as Secretary of National Lastly, I can say Personally, I feel it’s Defense from 1986 to 1991. Ramos has received safely that we are a We are close allies important that we be numerous honors and he is the only Filipino to country endowed with a caring, sharing, and receive an honorary British Knighthood from healthy blessing of God’s daring for others in the United Kingdom, the Knight Grand Cross natural resources. We of the U.S. because order to achieve the of the Order of St Michael and St George, be- don’t have that many potential of our be- stowed on him by Queen Elizabeth II in 1995. diamond or gold mines, of our alliance in loved country. If you Ramos received his secondary education at the but if you’re looking at mention this concept Centro Escolar University in Manila. He grad- 7,000 moderate islands in to Filipinos working uated from the United States Military Academy the middle of the ocean, defending freedom abroad, it resonates with a Bachelor of Science and the University of you’re looking at 7,000 with them. Illinois with a master’s degree in civil engineer- staging and logistics areas and democracy, from On a team or na- ing. He also holds a master’s degree in National where you can put up all tional basis, I use three Security Administration from the National kinds of bases and sys- buzz words that relate Defense College of the Philippines and a mas- tems for the purpose of World War II until to each other and also ter’s degree in Business Administration from the expanding your business. to one’s personal val- Ateneo de Manila University. If we were a land- now, and that is ues: unity, which re- locked country, we would lates to the citizenry What role does the Philippines play in the have no such advantage, and the nation; solidar- global economy today? but we are the world’s what globalization ity; and values. There are two important factors to con- second largest archipel- What are the sider: one is the strategic central geographic ago after Indonesia. is all about. Filipino values, cus- position of the Philippines – in the middle of You were able to toms, and traditions? the two greatest oceans of commerce, the South get a lot done while First of all, love of China Sea and the Pacifi c Ocean – in the world in offi ce, but there are God; then love of of the 21st century. We’re the northernmost of many governments country; and then, love the ASEAN countries and are, therefore, clos- around the world of which that cannot of people. This is why we love our neighbors. est to the biggest market in the world, which be said. How were you so successful and We are very focused on helping each other. is China. able to achieve so much? Unity of purpose. What is the purpose? We Beyond just location, we happen to be the It’s not really for me to analyze the leader- all want a better future that is peaceful and gives only country that has had long exposure to the ship styles much less the leadership qualities of everyone the opportunity to realize or achieve leading power of the world, the U.S. We are other people in other countries in other times. his or her full potential without any outside dis- close allies of the U.S. because of our alliance in But let me mention some general or common turbances. This is unity of purpose. defending freedom and democracy, from World characteristics of leaders who have been suc- I have added one more element to it that War II until now, and that is what globalization cessful in raising their respective nations or resonates with Filipino citizens: love of the en- is all about: respecting the rule of law and the even corporations from a lower level to a vironment. Our sustainability on earth depends rules of commerce, and being transparent. That much higher position: such is the story of the on protecting, conserving, and enhancing the is the way we both are. Philippines. environment. VOLUME 36, NUMBER 4 POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2013 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. LEADERS 195 This set of values, after all is said and done, must be put into practice. So I have outlined a fi ve-word system of good governance and all fi ve words begin with the letter “D”: The fi rst is Devolution – as a cor- porate, national or local leader, do you try to grab all the powers that there are in the community or society? You shouldn’t. You should devolve what In government, one should needs to get done to the lowest possible level at which it can be completed successfully. hope to succeed better than your In Christian demographic and political phi- losophy followed by most countries in Europe starting with Germany, this is called subsidiar- predecessor, who will be there to ity. But in the Philippines, it has long been a standard practice. One should devolve not only responsibil- support you, and that your ity by saying, for instance, “Mr. Mayor, you do this or do that.” Instead, you must give him the successor succeeds more real authority to execute the mission you are as- signing him. He must be able to tell the police commissioner, I have been ordered to improve than you. our town and, as one of my agencies, you must help me. The police commissioner must have the authority to back that mayor. Aside from that, the logistics that go with the responsibility must be given to the lower government. The next word is Decentralization. It used to be that our government’s power, authority, and logistics were all centralized in Manila. Now allow for this, but only as long as there were the regulators of every industry, big or small. they are distributed to as many other centers as basic elements in the neighborhood like natural That function should be brought as far down as is feasible. How is this possible? I got Congress resources, a labor pool that is skilled, an educa- possible to the lowest level of agency that can to pass what is now known as the Philippine tion center – like a private or public university handle it competently. Economic Zone Authority Law, where a spe- or college from which the local people could Early in my administration, we deregulated cial economic center gets perks and benefi ts on gain some technical skills – and perhaps, most telecommunications; transportation, shipping taxes and fees because it’s putting up money to important, a good local government. and aviation; insurance and banking; and even- create the special economic zone. When those elements are present, you can tually, small and medium industries. We pushed I simplified all of that because I didn’t create your special economic zone or special those industries to create opportunities for want every foreigner with a Filipino connection economic cluster. I decentralized authority for themselves by providing them with issue credit. to automatically get a franchise or to be able this to the Chairman of the Board of Governors The fourth D is Democratization of oppor- to invest, practice, develop, etc. I decentral- of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. tunity. Even if you’re small, compared to some ized it by having a Philippine Economic Zone The third “D” is Deregulation, which re- large corporation, that entity or that person, Authority created under the law, which would ally works. Federal government should not be must be given equal opportunity. The last D is Development of a sustainable kind. It must not be development that is just about short-term growth – that doesn’t work and it’s how you use up all of your natural resources within one Presidential term of six years.