Nicanor Perlas for President Volunteer Orientation Inspire Attendees
The two-day orientation of the volunteers for the upcoming campaign of President of the Philippines Nicanor "Nick" Perlas inspires the more than 50 volunteers of various ages present. July 4-5 marks the start of paving the way for a candidate which raises the eyebrows of many. The orientation put people in which most of them had actually met for the first time. There were artists, environmentalists, students, drivers, I.T. person, lawyers and more. It was a dynamism of thinking and principles that would consist the first batch of volunteers. Nick Perlas personally facilitated the orientation.It could be sensed from the moment one enters the venue what was going to happen that this one was going to be quite intriguing and unfamiliar. First, it was nothing like a comfortable function room with the views of trees outside, usual of other orientations. Instead, participants was greeted by a door with red lacy curtains, peeling paint, and not even air-conditioning. There was even a hanging ornament of red Christmas balls and mistletoe. So imagine the 50 or so people, coming to see if this was the Man, the Vision, the Message, and the Work for them. Will they even cross the threshold? Despite the red trimmings with a promise of two days pungent sweat, they stepped into the unknown. And they stayed. Grappling sweat and hunger (oh, there was food, but people would rather engage in animated conversations) with high-spirited, exuberant, almost fervid dialogues.
These were people from diverse backgrounds: the serene spirituals; fiery blogsters; apathetic guests that tagged along, dragged by friends to attend, or worse instructed by family or bosses; zealous writers and activists; creative artists and a fashion designer; curious students and astute educators; low key techies and intellectuals; dignified royalty; flamboyant masters of motivation; and me. People so diverse you would have thought the booming and high-pitched voices were about discordant issues, disputes and dissents. And yet, I have never seen a more convergent group, speaking the same language in different voices, and holding the same faith, the faith that this country will be reborn and that we finally held the key.
Perlas used the process called Emergent Dialogue which he says that he will also use the said process for the country. Then he explains how society is not only politics. It is politics, the economy, culture, with you immersed in it, and always within ecology and the spiritual. But he does not tell you, he draws it out from you, unfolding intelligence from each Manila Paper your group scribbled on. And you fully understand how he intends to do his work in resurrecting the country. He calls it Societal Threefolding (See Social Threefolding http://nicanorperlas.com/site/index.html), and you are always intricately connected to it (along with government and business.)
One will finally understand true democracy, a mere concept, always dangled, never given. And yet, it was done here. A leader who does not impose his vision or his plan, with no DEAD-set rules. Yes he is brilliant, as brilliant as having a supercomputer lodged inside his head.
"If there was one thing that enlivened us, it was the overwhelming realization that systems and structures are really in the end, made up of people. Individuals determine the institutions that emerge, that in turn develop into problems or aspirations. Individuals who can chose between lingering in disgust while in apathy and inaction, or taking hold of their destiny, and living out their potential for greatness. We are sparks of the Divine (God, the Source, Infinite Intelligence, Allah, the Universe or whatever name you may call the power greater than you) and we were not born to languish in darkness. So, the fervor came from being roused from sleep and awakening to a certainty that we can realize the vision of 2010. As Nick said: “It is going to be a revolution of hearts of minds.” You cannot stop the conflagration of free, creative, radiant individuals, armored with their highest selves. It starts with a spark ignited by a few fervent individuals, awakening a few more, and setting out a blaze that will illuminate the country," Paula, a volunteer for Nicanor Perlas and works with his legal team recalls.
This article is written based on the article entitled BURN BABY BURN by Paula Aberasturi
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