Newton Armann D.

Trazo
BS EE 1 - 9

October 2, 1968

THE WAY TO CHANGE

By: Ferdinand E. Marcos

President of the Philippines

Leadership By Preachment

The alternative to leadership by example is, of course, leadership by preachment.

It is an alternative that, not being entirely without charm or appeal, has lured many men and
many governments.

Human history, indeed, would be incomplete, and less instructive, if it did not
include the large and small tragedies that have grown out of this alternative. Thus, in describing
the various movements and upheavals in human society before the first World War, the historian
Barbara Tuchman has outlined precisely that failing of leadership that led to the collapse of
nations and regimes.

Self-Important Leaders

A common characteristics of the leaderships I have cited is their enormous

capacity for self-adulation. Their phenomenal sense of self-importance was their only mandate
for leadership. It was inevitable, as history has shown, that society would repudate them before
long. This kind of leadership producing nothing for the common good, is self-destroying.

By definition it is incapable of providing an example of conduct that would

redound to the public benefit.

The Other Leadership

It is the leadership, on the other hand, that regards itself as the instrument of the
public good which is able to lead by example. It is, necessarily an unselfish, self-abnegating
leadership.
Fortunately, this leadership can flourish and be meaningful only in an atmosphere of freedom.
The sense of responsibility which freedom generates is an indispensable element of sound and
productive leadership.

With this sense of responsibility, a leader can in good conscience lead the way to
innovation and progress.

Quality of Philippine Leadership

For this reason, a creative and persuasive leadership in this country is doubly
difficult, but also, when it succeeds, doubly rewarding in terms of the public welfare. For, as the
first democracy in Asia, we have a duty to prove by example the worth of the democratic life.

No matter what the difficulties are, therefore, I have always insisted that the
national leadership under my administration shall engage the interest as well as the active
support of the citizenry through the only means possible in a democracy—through partnership
between government and people through continuous dialogue between the leaders and the
followers,

The People’s Role

The government claims no credit for these national traits; I claim no personal
credit for them, for it was merely the role of the leader in government to reactivate them for the
tasks at hand. And, as befits a free and progressive society, even this has been possible only with
the support and encouragement of leaders like you in the Jaycee organization. The people,
however, have been the principal instrument for change.

With this mutual cooperation between the national leadership and the population, and the
intermediate leadership especially in the private sector, such as the Jaycee, I have great
confidence that we shall reach the objectives we have set for government and our people.

Source: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1968/10/02/speech-of-president-marcos-the-way-to-
change-october-2-1968/