‘The way to make the future bright is to try to map it out the best you can, and then plan as best you can for the various probabilities!’
LAST Friday, the Center for Philippine Futuristics Studies and Management, Inc. elected a new set of Trustees and officers as a first step in reviving and revitalizing the organization.
I was one of those elected to be a trustee and an officer. But more on that later.
The Futuristics Center was originally the Philippines Futuristics Society, founded in 1981 on the initiative of Don Enrique Zobel (EZ) and the Filipinas Foundation (what is now the Ayala Foundation). In its heyday, it engaged in extensive research on various aspects of life in the Philippines, and as a result produced a number of scholarly publications and even short films.
I came to know of Futuristics when I started working for EZ in 1988 and in the process met a number of patriotic Filipinos drawn together by the desire to discuss and debate, plot and project future scenarios for our country.
In the aftermath of EDSA 1986, the Futuristics was the host of a traditional pre-election analysis and forecast by veteran political observers such as the late Antonio “TonyGat” Gatmaitan. These were well-attended events held usually at the AIM, and TonyGat never failed to deliver a sterling performance of an analysis of election scenarios.
In 1994, when I and a handful of UP, La Salle and Ateneo student leaders working together as PILIPINAS 2020 organized the Alvin Toffler lecture in Manila, the Futuristics Society was a supporter. A few years later, returning the favor, I was able to get Coca-Cola Philippines to become a principal supporter of the Society, for a five-year period.
A small group discussion started by Dennis Zamora (President and CEO of Nickel Asia Corporation) with two other friends a month ago made me realize that now is an excellent time to revive the Society, under its new name and structure. I broached the idea to veteran journalist Guillermo H.A. Santos, Futuristics vice chairman, who in turn alerted former Finance Secretary and Futuristics chairman Roberto de Ocampo.
This is what led to the election of a new Board of Trustees, with Secretary de Ocampo and Gil Santos re-elected chair and vice chair, respectively. Also elected as trustees were Antonio Kalaw Jr., Ma Constantine Yunchengco-Gonzales, Chester B. Cabalza, Dennis Zamora and me.
In turn, the trustees elected a new set of officers with me as president, Antonio Kalaw Jr. as vice president, Atty. Ryan Jornada as secretary and Ma. Constantine Gonzales as treasurer. (Lesson learned: Open your mouth and get ready to be “rewarded” with work!)
Among its immediate activities, the Center intends to revive the traditional “election scenario mapping” next month as its initial online offering to the general public, taking into consideration the health protocols as a result of the current pandemic.
It also will open associate membership to students and encourage them to think about what they want their future to look like.
Think about it: shouldn’t that be the starting point for any voter in deciding who to vote for in any elections?
The way to make the future bright is to try to map it out the best you can, and then plan as best you can for the various probabilities!
We have our work cut out for us, but I am not complaining!
