The Public Management Development Program hosted the first Phronetic Leaders Joint Ba on 28 June 2022 in DAP Pasig. Some 30 high-ranking alumni from the four batches of the Phronetic Leadership Class (PLC) participated in the event.
A “Ba” in Japanese is a place or field where people participate, interact, and create new knowledge. People participating in a Ba share their subjective views, build “here and now” relationships of care, trust, and love (social capital), and try to create new meaning.
The event was prompted by a welcome message from DAP President and CEO Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan, Jr. He said that this activity is intended to bring them all to create “ba” for them to get to know and socialize with each other, and more importantly, build networks among themselves, while awaiting the new administration. Caronan expressed his confidence in the PLC graduates as they now possess the competencies of a phronetic or wise leader who knows how to navigate a volatile, complex, and uncertain environment. Lastly, he reminded them that PMDP is counting on them and their collective efforts in ensuring the government’s efficient and effective delivery of the highest level of public goods and services to the people.
Class presidents introduced their respective classmates who shared valuable lessons they have learned in PMDP. PLC batches 3 and 4, who only had an online observational study visit in Tokyo, Japan due to the pandemic, expressed their interest and hopes to go to the Graduate Institute of Policy Studies to meet their mentors, Dr. Hideki Kawada, Professor Ikujiro Nonaka, and other Japanese phronetic leaders.
Dr. Hideki Kawada and Professor Ikujiro Nonaka, in a video message, encouraged the PLC alumni to keep creating innovations for the Philippines and challenged them to unleash the country’s potential knowledge for a better future.
Meanwhile, NEDA Undersecretary Jose Miguel De La Rosa, National Government-Career Executive Service Program (NGCESDP) Steering Committee presiding officer, in his keynote speech motivated the participants to continue learning as he believes in lifelong education and use these learnings to serve the Filipino people better. Afterwhich, CESB Executive Director Marcy Ballesteros, a principal member of the NGCESDP Steering Committee, presented the NGCESDP Steering Committee Resolution No. 8 to De La Rosa in gratitude for his devoted service to the Program while Caronan handed over to him an artwork to remember his important work for the PMDP.
The event concluded with a toast to the Philippine Phronetic Leaders led by DAP Senior Vice President for Programs Magdalena L. Mendoza.
