“Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour.”
— English playwright John Heywood

I HOPE THERE WILL BE NO HOWL OF PROTEST from Dick Gordon who once dreamed to become President, with his Volunteers for a New Philippines, now that the administration of PBBM is brandishing a new brand of governance and leadership messaging campaign dubbed as “Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines).”

On Saturday, July 15, the PBBM administration divulged a new brand of governance and leadership campaign, “Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines),” in a bid to implement an “all-inclusive plan for economic and social transformation.”

Yes, there was a group named Volunteers for a New Philippines (VNP) composed of idealistic young men and women which was egging Gordon, then the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman, to run in the 1998 presidential elections.

For unknown reasons, however, Gordon backed out at the last minute in the filing of a certificate of candidacy.

Fast forward. Based on a memorandum circular signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on July 3, “Bagong Pilipinas” is characterized by a “principled, accountable and dependable government reinforced by unified institutions of society, whose common objective is to realize the goals and aspirations of every Filipino.”

Hoping against hope that this is not another copycat, I like the “Bagong Pilipinas” round logo depicting the Philippine flag where a yellow sun is seen partly wrapped by blue and red ribbons while the three stars are on top of it.

The circular further described the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign as “the overarching theme of the Administration’s brand of governance and leadership, which calls for a deep and fundamental transformation in all sectors of society and government, and fosters the State’s commitment towards the attainment of comprehensive policy reforms and full economic recovery.”

With this, PBBM’s marching order to all national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs), to adopt the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign in planning all their programs and activities; and use its logo in their letterheads, websites, official social media accounts, and other documents and instruments pertaining to flagship programs of the government.

As expected, the “orphans” of the late hardline Maoist leader in this archipelago are noisily criticizing the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign.

They are really pathetically left behind.
(ai/mnm)