The Heavens Open
Like many other Americans who watched the peaceful revolution in the Philippines in 1986 on CNN, I was spellbound. When "People Power" was born, many of us felt a mysterious hope for rest of the world. Watching a housewife like Cory Aquino become a President was truly inspiring. Her courageous invitation for Americans to help her fragile country touched my heart. Before I knew it, I was on a journey that changed my life.
When I arrived in 1987, the Philippines was a magical place. Everyone was eager to share their moment in history. Each taxi ride became a fascinating history lesson. Profiles in courage and determination, patience and faith against insurmountable odds were everywhere.
For almost 20 years, Filipinos had painfully watched as President Marcos sold their country's soul to the highest bidder. But when Ninoy Aquino, their imprisoned hero, was assassinated, they'd had enough. Prominent Filipino women started questioning their values, talking with their friends and gathering facts about the corruption, greed and deception their country was drowning in. Slowly, they banned together, gained strength in numbers and chipped away at the status quo. In the process, they risked their personal security and comforts; their marriages, their families and even their lives. Then they encouraged their influential husbands to use their business powers to stop Marcos. Every day for three years, they prayed for a more hopeful future. In February, 1986 their prayers were answered.
At first, it looked like the Philippine Revolution would be a bloodbath. Soldiers, guns and tanks were everywhere. Marcos cut off all communication with the outside world. The people were terrified, but a local radio announcer coaxed to join together in Manila's streets. For one day, these frightened souls were transformed into a mighty army.
Teenagers put their bodies in front of tanks, befriended the soldiers and placed flowers in their guns. Singing, "All we are saying, is give peace a chance," they rekindled the spirit of the 60's, showing how to make love, not war -- slowly, gently.
For nearly a year, I worked night and day alongside these Filipinos, learning their secrets,
One of my greatest teachers was Marietta Goco. A tall, strong woman, from a privileged family, she had a generous spirit, a clever mind and a deep commitment making the system work for those less fortunate. She used her political savvy to build bridges between poor villagers and global funders.
Marietta took me under her wing and welcomed me into her world. Each day we'd meet with those who were planning the country's future. We traveled together to some of the 7,000 Philippine islands--listening to business, government and community leaders as well as farmers, educators and laborers. Each night, we would share the lessons we were learning with each other.
One of the toughest lessons was the cost of ignoring the problem. Twenty years of Marco's
greed had left the country in shambles. UNICEF's report on malnutrition in the Philippines
had first awakened the international community to the country's crisis. These global
funders were shocked, thinking that their millions had been improving life for the poor. Their refusal to continue funding the deceptive Marcos dictatorship helped topple it. But the horrendous $28 million debt was strangling any hope for the future of the Filipinos. The gap between the haves and the have nots had grown to an impassable chasm. Almost half of all Filipino families were destitute. Unless they resolved this inequity, it was clear that their new found peace would be short-lived.
People were euphoric about bringing down Marcos, but they were angry with the destruction
left behind. Many were excited by the opportunity to rebuild their country's democracy,
but feared an unknown future. Some were in despair, questioning if the Revolution had been
worth it. While they had once been united against a common enemy, some were lost without
one. But as we listened to these people, we heard a common refrain: they all wanted a
better life for their children. They longed to keep alive the transformative spirit of the
peaceful revolution. Most important, they wanted peace--for more than just a day, for a lifetime.
One night, Marietta awoke as if from a deep sleep. "My father used to tell me about
Bayanihan, one of our traditional Filipino values," she told me. "To help me understand,
he used to tell me stories about people who worked together for the common good. These
people were called, Bayani, a hero, for our country. What made them special is they had
a willingness to think of others instead of themselves, to perform a kind of selfless
service." She ended her story by saying that, "My father told me that Bayanihan gave
people the courage to face their fears, stand up for their convictions and make choices
that bettered their family, community and the world."
As Marietta reflected on her father's words, she said, "Over the years, we've forgotten
about the importance of working together for the common good. If we're ever going to
create lasting peace in the Philippines, we'd better remind our people --and teach our
children-- about Bayanihan-," she said.
Marietta's story resonated deeply inside me. I realized this was the special secret I'd been
searching for, the unspoken reason for my journey to the Philippines. When I returned home
to America a few weeks later, it was with a sense of purpose--and a commitment to awaken
this value in our country. Over the next ten years, the Philippine Revolution inspired
others to find peaceful ways to create freedom in Poland, Russia, South Africa and the
Berlin Wall. These Filipinos had taught the world a powerful lesson.
After Cory Aquino's close friend and ally, Fidel Ramos, was elected president, he asked
Marietta to help create his Philippine 2000 vision. As a military man and a West Point
graduate, he knew the key to long-lasting peace was that all people have a stake in it. In
1995, he asked Marietta to develop a plan to bring the disenchanted into the mainstream. And
he gave her a goal: to decrease poverty by 10% in five years.
Marietta accepted her new role in shaping her country's future with passion and
determination. She decided to use Filipino values like Bayanihan to rally her
countrymen to make this goal to eradicate poverty their own. She designed a re-education
program to help people remember their God-given talents, honor their capacity to realize
their own visions and encourage them to give back, to be a Bayani. Each person then
created a personalized plan for how they would meet their own basic needs and help rebuild
their country. Some started with simple steps like quit smoking, learn how to read or
be a better father. Others made larger goals -- to help their neighbors, care for their
community or run for local government. Together, they came to see that when each person
gave a little of themselves, it made a difference for everyone.
At first, it wasn't easy. As Marietta's deputy, Chukie, remembers, "Over the last 20 years,
people had forgotten the basic goodness of Filipinos. It took time for them to trust again
and to believe in her. But after awhile, Marietta's sincerity touched people's hearts. It
was like coming home. She helped you remember your own goodness."
In just five years, this values-oriented program touched the lives of an amazing six million
people, reaching their 10% goal. It became the heart of the Philippines' social and economic
recovery. On his last day of office, President Ramos expressed his gratitude by awarding
Marietta with the order of the Golden Heart, similar to being knighted in Britain.
"Marietta's leadership opened the door to a whole new world of opportunities," Chukie says. It's
not always easy to be with her. She's super energetic and she never gives up. She doesn't
allow you to choose the easiest way, nor does she allow conflicts to fester. But sometimes,
when you don't think you can keep up, she lifts you up again and again."
Unfortunately, these hard earned gains were lost in 1999 under the corrupt President Joseph
Estrada. And then in January, 2001 the Filipinos organized themselves to oust the regime. People
Power II renewed their spirits and their resolve to work together for the common good. Under
the new leadership of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, they are working together to regain
the lost momentum.
Marietta is now working with the poorest Filipinos through the Sambayanihan Foundation's
micro-enterprise initiatives. "Our country's security initiative must include military
as well as human and ecological security," she explains. "If we are to be successful, the
heart of our anti- terrorism strategy must be an anti- poverty program - so people have
basic human needs - and hope for their future."
Marietta continues to open people's eyes to what can happen when we empower people to
change their lives. As a true Bayani Marietta muses, "It's not that I want to do this:
I just can't do anything but this. It becomes a choiceless choice... a calling. And
once you make the decision, the heavens open."
Bayanihan, it's the goodness in every Filipino.
Bayanihan, each one helping each other.
Bayanihan, let's learn to give and take.
Bayanihan, this is the hope for our country.
If you would like to learn more about this Bayanihan spirit and the Sambayanihan
Foundation, email Marietta Goco at Marietta@yahoo.com
Storyteller Jim Parades
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