FORTUNATO T. DE LA PEÑA
Genetics shape who we are, but more significantly, by what we experience in our family. We have just celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family, and we can draw inspiration from them. From the little written in Scripture, we see that The Holy Family, aside from obeying God’s wishes and words, lived following certain fundamentals of life: hard and honest work, simple living within means, and love and respect for each other.
My family has been a blessing. It is where I learned much of what and how it is to be a good son, brother, father, neighbor, co-worker, and citizen without too many words, but from what I have seen by their example.
I guess government employees at that time – my father worked as a public servant, a postmaster – were very close to poverty line income, so we learned how to live within our means. We were, however, fortunate to earn better grades in school than our classmates, and among us siblings, we knew we had to make good use of our talents not only for our good but also for the good of others.
I started schooling early, so I finished early. After earning my BS in Chemical Engineering at 19, I thought I should do what my batch-mates were doing – applying for the best-paying job. In the late 60s, maybe even now, the best-paying jobs were with the oil companies, so I followed that track. But something was telling me that it was probably not the best way to use what I learned – what talents I have.
God has a way of pointing to us what His plans are for us. And we learn this through prayer – prayer for discernment – to make the best decisions for ourselves. Graduating from college was the point in my life when I had to do an honest self-assessment. I then felt I would be happier by serving others. One has to know what they value most. Among possible choices like becoming rich and powerful or popular, there is also that choice of feeling fulfilled that you have contributed by serving others.
So at 23, I took a different track. My Alma Mater invited me to teach while finishing my Master’s Degree. That is how I discerned where I could best use my talents and skills and at the same time feel happy and fulfilled. I taught at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Engineering for 43 years. Between those years, I was seconded as a public servant to the Department of Science and Technology.
I saw the hand of God in all these. I have never applied for a job after my first employment in an oil company. They would call for me, thereafter, and when I knew there was a purpose for me, I went. God uses people as conduits to tell us what He plans for us. Call it faith or trust.
I was called to be a public servant other than an engineering teacher through the Department of Science and Technology, later upgraded as a full Cabinet department known as DOST. I served the government intermittently because I was only on secondment from the University of the Philippines: for two years under President Ferdinand Marcos, two years under President Cory Aquino, ten years under President Gloria Arroyo, and four years under President Benigno Aquino III. I retired from government service when I reached 65 in 2014.
In 2016, however, when Rodrigo Duterte became President, my name was suggested by a friend, who I worked for during our early UP days, to be appointed as Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology. Again I had to discern what God’s plan was. I consulted my family. My wife told me not to accept any more government work. But my children said to take it if I thought I had the ability. Again, the Lord clearly showed his path for me.
I have to use whatever talents I receive in the service of others. I adopted the tagline Science For The People when I accepted the job as Secretary. It means we need to use science and technology to pursue inclusive and sustainable development – reduce inequality in all areas at all levels, among regions, provinces, municipalities, communities, and families. The DOST programs and resources had to be carefully redirected and allocated to achieve our objective of serving the people. It was not difficult to get the support of people within our organization.
Interestingly, the management philosophy we followed is consistent with some teachings from Scripture.
Proper work and management delegation is inspired by
Mark 6:7 – “He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.”
We learn participative decision-making in
Matthew 18:19 – “Truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”
The HUMILITY needed by servant leaders is reflected in
Luke 14:11 – “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted”
and
Matthew 23: 11-12 -“The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Like the lessons learned from family, we can best know the essential things to remember and practice in a government agency or organization through the examples shown by servant leaders.
It is relevant to mention that there are many good and able people in our midst who could be exemplary servant leaders in the public sector. However, many of them tend to shy away from that call. I pray that they will choose to share their talents and kindliness in serving the public. I know that it entails a lot of sacrifices, but it is also both rewarding and gratifying.
