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Lacebal should move on and lead
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NEW YORK --- In an election, there are winners and losers. No one can dispute that universal fact, no matter how one attempts to twist it. It's like black and white; there is no gray matter in between.
And as an eyewitness to two elections this past week and last Tuesday, I can feel the joy and heartache that candidates experience in any situation. Just like when Nimia Lacebal won the presidency of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) last Saturday. Or like President George Bush's re-election on Nov. 2.
Triumphs bring not only joy but the uncertainty of the future as well. Unknown factors may mess up planned objectives. A loss can only strengthen one's character and resolve in life. That is, if one accepts that failures are building-blocks to success.
If one wins in an election, how does one lead to heal the divide that was there? How does a leader convince the community that unity is the first order of business? And would parties belonging to the other group readily accept to cooperate and collaborate? Or would it just compete to prove who's right and wrong? Would each group accept a compromise for the common good?
These questions were racing through my mind upon learning of the latest development in PIDCI. While it's true that Lacebal put her board to task immediately, it appears that it is business as usual again just like old times. Instead of having a united, solid working group, which Lacebal promised right after she was elected, that hope disappeared quickly like a whiff of air.
Apparently, it all started when Lacebal wanted certain individuals to be officers. Some people say she had expressed interest in having Lolita Compas serve as vice president and Sofia Abad as treasurer, two directors who were in her slate.
During the board meeting held on Wednesday, Nov. 3, Lacebal and her group got the surprise of their life. Their wish did not come true. Instead of Compas, Puertollano was elected vice president and Dr. Baby Bleza, treasurer.
In fact, someone voted for Abad as vice president, who was not even nominated for that post. To the disdain of Lacebal, this was a hilarious experience, especially at her first meeting where team building should have been the order of the day.
The incident spread like wild-fire and everyone wondered how it happened. As someone within the board asked, who was the conspirator behind this? This early, it appears that the trust element among themselves has diminished as Lacebal's group tries to investigate and assess the situation.
That unfortunately, is not a good sign. Are there groups or factions once again? PIDCI may have managed to do away with a celebration committee but this current development is presenting another problem.
Let's remember that in this year's PIDCI, Lacebal has supposedly eight directors that won from her slate, three from her competitor, and two independents. Lacebal could have easily gotten what she wanted but that didn't happen. Her pre-election team crumbled right after the elections and the balance of power may have tilted to the other side, a group suspected of plotting what transpired.
So, what's this? Are we in business as usual or are reforms being reintroduced subtlety? The trouble is, since this new term is starting out, it is difficult to determine which is which.
And even if this is supposedly a new team, even has-beens ? those who have served their purpose ? would still want to call the shots as if they were master tacticians and strategists. In reality, however, they are not helping out; their advice is feeding fuel to the fire.
Let this new team take its baby steps and learn from its mistakes. If every has-been puts his or her two-cents worth of opinion in everything, this is not a good start for Lacebal.
Lacebal must use her experience and wit, build her team, and learn to compromise. She should exercise leadership. Let's face it, losing her wishes for Compas and Abad is her first set-back. She can only look forward to the future, not the past. The past should serve as an experience.
Lacebal should move on and lead. That's leadership.
Send comments to rickyxpres@aol.com or visit Website at PinoyOnBoard.com.
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