A Leader Without Advocacy, Like A Night Without Stars
It has been said that a leader without advocacy is like a night without stars. Indeed, whether one is a barangay captain, a mayor, a governor, an environmentalist, or a cooperative leader—true leadership demands fighting for what is right, what is true, and what is just. With a strong advocacy, no challenge is insurmountable, especially when you stand with the people and for the people. As the ancient saying goes: Vox Populi, Vox Dei—the voice of the people is the voice of God.
This truth resonated powerfully three decades ago at an International Conference of Non-Government Organizations, Environmentalists, and Cooperatives in Paris, France. Following the conference, 5,000 participants took to the streets, chanting “El Pueblo Unido, Jamás Será Vencido!” And in unison, delegates from English-speaking nations responded, “The people united can never be defeated!” Overhead, a military helicopter hovered—perhaps mistaking a peaceful call for justice as a threat to the status quo.
I am reminded of the inspiring unity among Filipinos today—from farmers and fisherfolk to Indigenous Peoples, laborers, OFWs, government employees, youth, senior citizens, police, military, former NPA combatants, MILF, MNLF, and even the differently abled. What binds them together is a shared resolve: to harness their collective strength through cooperativism to defeat the greatest enemy of our time—dehumanizing poverty.
These Filipinos are the modern-day freedom fighters—not against colonial masters, but against inequality, injustice, and exclusion. With over 20 million members nationwide, cooperatives now form a micro-economy that is: Members-owned: No one shall be left behind.
Value-based and purpose-driven: Rooted in love and service, beyond personal gain.
Sustainable: Socially inclusive and ecologically responsible.
What sets cooperatives apart is their mission—not to maximize profit, but to serve. Recognizing their vital role, the State has even relaxed one of its core powers—taxation—because cooperatives exist to uplift the poor and free them from the vicious cycle of poverty.
Cooperativism is a social justice tool. It levels the playing field, gives every Filipino a chance to fulfill their potential, and breaks the chains of a colonial legacy that stripped people of their identity, dignity, and power. How beautiful it is to see poor farmers unite, pool their resources, and reclaim their dignity through cooperatives. For too long, they toiled under the sun while others reaped the rewards. But now, empowered through collective action, they are freeing themselves from loan sharks, compradors, and modern-day landlords.
How inspiring it is to witness marginalized sectors claim their rightful place in development. Look at our Indigenous Peoples—once displaced by powerful loggers who plundered forests with no regard for future generations. Today, through cooperativism, they are rising to defend their ancestral lands and assert their rights. Is the enrichment of the elite worth the dispossession of the poor? It must not be. And the most peaceful yet powerful response is through cooperativism.
In 2019, as Undersecretary and Chairperson of the Cooperative Development Authority, I recall President Rodrigo Duterte giving a direct order in Malacañang: organize all 17 million Indigenous Peoples into cooperatives within their ancestral domains. In response, we issued a nationwide directive and signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to make this a reality.
Yet, the struggle continues. Development aggression and unjust intrusions persist. We must remain united with our Indigenous brothers and sisters to end their displacement. When the 17 million Indigenous Peoples rise in unity, they can truly declare: The people united can never be defeated. Cooperativism has indeed matured in a land often plagued by corruption, poverty, apathy, and greed. But in the face of these, cooperatives now stand as a counter-culture—promoting participation, democratic control, and social justice. They are returning power to where it truly belongs: to the people.
Let it be known: THE PEOPLE UNITED CAN NEVER BE DEFEATED! MABUHAY ANG KOOPERATIBA!
