Meekness is not laziness. It is not lack of backbone. It is not just tolerance. It is not false gentleness. Mourning is not confined to mourning one’s loss. It is as much as grieving for others – to hunger and thirst for justice and righteousness, for their sake.
A group of ladies was so moved that even before the Lenten retreat ended they started gearing up – to invite the candidates in the presidential election (and their running mates) to a recollection on the Beatitudes.
If we’re blessed, if the country is blessed, why are we where we are? Have we been receptive of our gift of blessedness? Then where is the fruit? In the lesson of the fig tree we are warned: not to repeat history, that those who were led to the ‘promised land’ could loss it because they were like the fig tree . . . that did not bear fruit!
So where is the fruit? Where is the water in our taps? Where is the light that we’re supposed to get at the flick of the switch? Where is the rice, the coffee, the sugar? Where are the jobs?
But there are the new roads – and who are winning the contracts on these new roads? Are they world-class contractors that can teach us 21st century technology?
The ladies should probably, after inviting the politicians, invite industry too – to a recollection on the Beatitudes with the Bishop. It takes two to tango. Where is the fruit of our economic output – with the few? But even our few aren’t world-class? We don’t develop world-class enterprises – because competitiveness is not what’s driving their businesses? Is it all about influence peddling – i.e., focus on the local market, win kudos for ‘love of country’ and then seal the deal via influence? There are honest-to-goodness enterprises but the reality is 10% own 80% of our wealth – thus the 10% could just be unwittingly scratching each other’s back or why we’re perpetuating a hierarchical culture?
It is heartening that San Miguel may sell more of their beer holdings to Kirin; with the latter looking at pushing growth in Southeast Asia. If San Miguel’s vision is to be a broad-based investor like Warren Buffett (as opposed to striving for competitive advantage in every business they operate like a GE), then that is a good first step – partnering with entities that have a greater potential to attain competitive advantage. Competitive advantage is what world-class enterprises focus on, in order to sustain their businesses, not influence peddling!
It is encouraging that Nestlé is developing state-of-the-art coffee-raising technology in Davao; and they will work with local farmers as partners. In an earlier blog article, the writer talked about Nestlé’s investment in R&D, that they’re investing twice the industry norm. Enterprises like them are ideal partners – because of their capability to assist us override the learning curve: from the basics of agriculture all the way up to higher valued-added branded packaged goods, thus attain competitiveness. (Note: the writer is not connected with either San Miguel or Nestlé.)
Who else should the ladies rope in to listen to the Bishop and reflect on the Beatitudes . . . so that as a country we would seek and bear the fruit of our blessedness?
A group of ladies was so moved that even before the Lenten retreat ended they started gearing up – to invite the candidates in the presidential election (and their running mates) to a recollection on the Beatitudes.
If we’re blessed, if the country is blessed, why are we where we are? Have we been receptive of our gift of blessedness? Then where is the fruit? In the lesson of the fig tree we are warned: not to repeat history, that those who were led to the ‘promised land’ could loss it because they were like the fig tree . . . that did not bear fruit!
So where is the fruit? Where is the water in our taps? Where is the light that we’re supposed to get at the flick of the switch? Where is the rice, the coffee, the sugar? Where are the jobs?
But there are the new roads – and who are winning the contracts on these new roads? Are they world-class contractors that can teach us 21st century technology?
The ladies should probably, after inviting the politicians, invite industry too – to a recollection on the Beatitudes with the Bishop. It takes two to tango. Where is the fruit of our economic output – with the few? But even our few aren’t world-class? We don’t develop world-class enterprises – because competitiveness is not what’s driving their businesses? Is it all about influence peddling – i.e., focus on the local market, win kudos for ‘love of country’ and then seal the deal via influence? There are honest-to-goodness enterprises but the reality is 10% own 80% of our wealth – thus the 10% could just be unwittingly scratching each other’s back or why we’re perpetuating a hierarchical culture?
It is heartening that San Miguel may sell more of their beer holdings to Kirin; with the latter looking at pushing growth in Southeast Asia. If San Miguel’s vision is to be a broad-based investor like Warren Buffett (as opposed to striving for competitive advantage in every business they operate like a GE), then that is a good first step – partnering with entities that have a greater potential to attain competitive advantage. Competitive advantage is what world-class enterprises focus on, in order to sustain their businesses, not influence peddling!
It is encouraging that Nestlé is developing state-of-the-art coffee-raising technology in Davao; and they will work with local farmers as partners. In an earlier blog article, the writer talked about Nestlé’s investment in R&D, that they’re investing twice the industry norm. Enterprises like them are ideal partners – because of their capability to assist us override the learning curve: from the basics of agriculture all the way up to higher valued-added branded packaged goods, thus attain competitiveness. (Note: the writer is not connected with either San Miguel or Nestlé.)
Who else should the ladies rope in to listen to the Bishop and reflect on the Beatitudes . . . so that as a country we would seek and bear the fruit of our blessedness?
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