An Awesome Project
In the next few weeks, you will hear about a project that I am helping build, along with 5 other inspiring and energetic individuals who are experts in their respective fields.
The project has something to do with being AWESOME in this day and age; and it stands for what we hope to become, a team dedicated at helping individuals and organizations become awesome at what they do.
Economies around the globe are being threatened NOT by a lack of resources but by a lack of creative imagination.
Traditional businesses are dying. New models are emerging. And the terrain is constantly changing.
More than 150 years ago, Charles Darwin stated this: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives; nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change."
No time in history has it ever been more relevant than today.
To give you a clue, here’s my proposed role:
Fire Starter Jay.
Why I joined the government last year
I have seen so many changes over the last 2 years. Over the next few weeks, I will be outlining key lessons learned and my experiences starting from becoming part of the campaign in late 2009 to early 2010 and in my stint as the first (being a new unit) New Media Head under the Presidential Communications Operations Office from July 2010 to July 2011.
In late 2009, I resigned my job and volunteered to campaign for Atty. Alex Lacson, who was running for Senator under the team of now President Noynoy Aquino. He is one of my living heroes. He wrote the book entitled "12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country," which promotes the principles of good citizenship. Good citizenship is all about Filipinos helping fellow Filipinos, and in the process building a nation. His book invites all of us to become active participants in nation-building and to become part of the solutions to our country's problems.
A little background
All of us want to make a difference in the world; especially for me who grew up in Mindanao, in Cotabato City in particular, I have always wanted to feel how it is to be in the nation's capital and influence things. And so my journey to Manila began.
I went to college in Davao City and I was fortunate enough to be offered a job in Laguna after I graduated. I was in the private sector for a period of 5 years before deciding I wanted an unconventional career, one that I will be shaping and developing on my own, with help from a few friends. I have always believed that life is what you make of it - close to the saying if life hands you lemons, make a lemonade.
In the middle of 2006, I was fortunate enough to meet Atty. Alex Lacson, who happened to read something I wrote that was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. We met in a coffee shop and talked about our aspirations and dreams for the country. We kept in touch for the next few years and in 2007, when his name was floated as a possible Senatorial candidate, I immediately offered to be part of the volunteers for his campaign. Fortunately, he did not run then. This period allowed me to continue working for an international bank and later on to a fast-moving consumer goods company where I honed my inter-personal, networking, marketing, negotiation and selling skills. Skills that I later learned were quite invaluable.
When Alex Lacson decided to run for the Senate in late 2009, I immediately resigned from my job and offered to help him in his New Media campaign. President Obama's campaign in 2008 already showed us that Social Media now plays a role in elections and though the Philippines lags the US in terms of Internet penetration, there are now 30 million average Internet users per month in the country (a substantial percentage of Filipino voters). And so in December 2009, I joined the small band of volunteers that was to be the Alex Lacson for Senator Movement.
Look who's at the background, taken during Rock the Vote Concert May 2, 2010
It was an enriching campaign (will tell you more in a separate article). I learned a lot of lessons and met a lot of people. I met a lot of wonderful people during the campaign - people who were very passionate in helping build Our Dream Philippines, a country we can all be proud of.
Alex Lacson finished with over 5 million votes. A remarkable feat but it was not enough to land him in the top 12.
In late July 2010, when I was already preparing to go back to the private sector, I was invited to head the New Media unit which was to be created under a new Office of the Press Secretary (now called Presidential Communications Operations Office or PCOO for short). I hesitated at first because I knew working in government would be challenging but I also knew I would probably regret not trying. And so I joined the government in late July 2010 and officially started August 1, 2010; responsible for the Office of the President's official website (http://www.president.gov.ph) and official presence on social networking channels such as Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/presidentnoy) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/presidentnoy), among others.
Launching of www.president.gov.ph last August 16, 2010
It was an opportunity to make a difference for the country and to help introduce the concept of New Media in Public Service/Governance to government agencies (insert ---> footnote in history as the first New Media Head). It has allowed me to touch base with so many people in government and gain insights into how our government works and also how we can help the government.
Over the next few weeks, I will be outlining lessons I've learned and hopefully from the perspective of a former insider, you can also learn why we all need to help each other in building the Philippines we all dream of.
The ‘Little’ Fund
Last October 30, 2010, I had the great opportunity to discuss the role of New Media in Nation-Building to almost 100 bloggers from all over Mindanao for the 4th Mindanao Blogging Summit. Little did I know then that I was about to become part of the solution to one problem in Zamboanga City.
During the sidelines of the summit, I met with some of our campaign volunteers in the city and one volunteer, Juljimar Gonzales, told me of a story that during the presidential campaign last 2010 their group came across a group of children who were swimming just to be able to go to school. The story really moved me. I have heard of stories about elementary students having to walk 4, 5 or even 8 kilometers daily just to be able to go to school. But have never heard of children braving the waters just to go to school.
I couldn’t sleep that night. The next day, I went back to Manila and I felt the need to post the story as an update on my Facebook status. I know the story will move people but I didn’t realize it will open their pockets. My good friend, Marketing guru, Josiah Go, saw my status update and immediately started an online fundraising campaign among his friends (myself included). I was surprised and I excitedly re-posted his call for donations. In less than 7 days, the Zamboanga Funds for Little Kids (as the fundraising campaign came to be known) raised almost Php70,000. During this period, I asked Anton Lim, an active supporter of the President in Zamboanga City, to check the story.
In the middle of November 2010, I called up Anton if we can already look for a boat. We had a hard time finding the right boat for the children so we decided to build it. Anton, in behalf of the Tzu Chi Foundation, agreed to accept the funds we have raised and also raise additional funds from local donors.
It was a difficult journey though. At first, we couldn’t find any boat-maker. We found one but he lived in a far-away community; until finally Anton Lim through Kagawad Jesse Jamolod found a boat-maker (Abraham Mawadi) who came from the Layag-Layag community itself in Baranggay Talon-Talon in Zamboanga City where the children lived. I thought the boat-building would start already but again we hit another challenge – finding the log to be used.
Fortunately, DENR was listening and CENRO IX donated the logs to the project through Tito Gadon. In January 2011, the boat-building started.
And last Sunday, March 27, 2011, I joined Tzu Chi Zamboanga during the turn-over of the boat in Layag-Layag, Brgy. Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City. It took us 5 months to finish the project but nothing can be compared to the joy you feel in your heart when you realize you’ve helped make a difference in people’s lives, no matter how small. I slept well that night – it was as if I saw God smiled back at me.
My job includes receiving most of the email messages addressed to the Office of the President and monitoring the public discussions on the President’s Facebook Page and there are many times I feel so burdened with the country’s problems and I realize that I cannot possibly help all of them.
And that’s when I realize, after doing this project, that the role of New Media in Nation-Building is really to empower people not only with tools and information but more importantly with stories that inspire them to act on the problems they are facing themselves.
The boat we turned over was christened ‘Bagong Pag-asa’ (New Hope) – it is a symbol of change as we have a new President, a new government. But more importantly, it is also a symbol of people power in action. People helping other people solve their problems. Nation-Building is truly about ordinary people helping other ordinary people.
You can be part of the solutions to the problems our country is facing.
And I know you also have dreams for the country. I believe it is time we extend the meaning of People Power, one that not only changes governments and leaders, but one that also truly empowers our people – a people power that calls on every Filipino to become an active nation-builder.
I am sharing this story now because it is my belief that you can start your own versions of The ‘Little’ Fund among your family members, among your relatives, among your friends and among your colleagues to start creating solutions in the communities where you live or work.
I believe we can build our Dream Philippines even just by sharing our time, resources and know-how.
I believe this is at the core of the President’s Public-Private Partnerships, if you can see beyond the technicalities, PPP is nation-building at its core, where everyone is holding each other’s hand – no different from the dots forming a circle. PPP is ‘Bayanihan’ – people helping their neighbors.
It is my fervent hope that this story has touched you in one way or another and that you won’t stop at just reading this – I hope you will tell yourself ‘I am part of the solution’ everyday and that you will start your own version of The ‘Little’ Fund today.
You can view a video of the March 27 boat turn-over and visit to Layag-Layag here.
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I am forever grateful to all the people who helped make this happen:
- Sec. Sonny Coloma and the Presidential Communications Operations Office – for allowing me to attend the 4th Mindanao Blogging Summit;
- Josiah Go – for acting on my Facebook status update (I would never doubt the power of a ‘click’ again);
- OP New Media Team – Mitch Alvarez, Shella Raet and Regan Santos (who helped design the project’s logo);
- Our Wonderful Donors: Manuel Wong, Joshua & Marilyn Go, Howell Cu, Josiah & Chiqui Go, Rosanna Llenado, Lerma Advincula, Maximo Joaquin, Butch Jimenez, Jerry Caritan, Cindy Trinidad, Danessa Lu, Juju, Chase, Tricia and Calel Gosingtian – for sharing their blessings and taking the time to help out;
- Anton Lim – for being a gracious host and for being sport enough to run errands for the Zamboanga Funds for Little Kids and really putting everything together;
- Tito Gadon (of DENR Region 9) – for donating the logs which were used to build the boat;
- Jesse Jamolod – for helping Doc Anton find the boat-maker;
- Abraham Mawadi – for building the boat;
- Tzu Chi Zamboanga – for helping out make the country a better place and supporting the Zamboanga Funds for Little Kids (I have learned so much from your teachings);
- Col. Pascual (of Task Force Zamboanga) – for providing the security during the turn-over of the boat last March 27;
- Alex Lacson and my Kabayanihan family – for launching this Cultural Revolution calling on every Filipino to become part of the solution (united, there is truly little we cannot do);
- The nameless kids who swim to school – YOU ARE THE TRUE HEROES IN MY BOOK!
You can participate in the Zamboanga Funds for Little Kids project by going to https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_165167500182101&ap=1.
Other articles about this project can be found at:
1. A life-changing facebook wall post by Michael Vincent Cajulao (re-posted in the website of the Presidential Communications Operations Office)
2. The Good Samaritans by Ubert Cruz
3. A facebook wall post that changed the lives of 200 kids in Zamboanga by Noemi Dado
4. When a Facebook wall post makes social impact by Cocoy Dayao
5. The New Media in Nation Building and the Little Fund at GoodNewsPilipinas.com
6. Christians and Buddhists raised funds and built Muslim kids a boat by Jay Jaboneta (on WhenInManila.com)
7. Zamboanga Fund For Little Kids and Pens of Hope Foundation by Karen Ang
8. Using the Internet for genuine social change by Rico Mossesgeld
9. Raising Little Funds by Ria Jose
10. Yellow Boat of Hope by PTV-4 Philippines (re-posted in DNA in Manila)
11. New Media in Nation-Building and the Little Fund by Zamboanga Today
12. Social media's impact on charitable fundraising: Does it work? by USA Today Kindness Blog
13. Watch the Discussion on the new Facebook Groups by Facebook Live (where I appeared)
14. Facebook highlights Zamboanga Funds for Little Kids project by Best of Facebook Stories
15. Students no longer 'swim' to school, thanks to Facebook by ABS-CBN Bandila Program
16. Layag-Layag’s ‘SCHOOL BOAT’ by the Manila Times
17. Donated motorboat means children in Philippine mangrove village no longer must swim to school by Jim Gomez, Associated Press, Canadian Press
18. Donated motorboat means children in Philippine mangrove village no longer must swim to school by Daily Reporter, Greenfield, Indiana (Jim Gomez, Associated Press)
19. Kids in Philippine village swim to school no more by Herald Online (Jim Gomez, Associated Press)
20. Donated motorboat means children in Philippine mangrove village no longer swim to school by Newser (Associated Press)
21. Kids in Philippine village swim to school no more by Mercury News (Jim Gomez, Associated Press)
22. Thanks to Facebook, Kids Don't Have to Swim to Class by Newser (Associated Press)
23. Kids in Philippine village swim to school no more by Boston Globe (Jim Gomez, Associated Press)
24. Blogger Jay Jaboneta Raises Money So Kids In Philippine Village Don't Have To Swim To School by Huffington Post (Jim Gomez, Associated Press)
25. Kids in Philippine village swim to school no more by Seattle Times (Associated Press)
Here is the story illustrated:
Get to know me
Jay is currently the Head for New Media under the Presidential Communications Operations Office of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
Jay Jaboneta is a hungry man. He eats at least a 100 books a year, loves chocolate and sometimes can't live without coffee. He is working and has worked for organizations as diverse as the Philippine Government, Procter & Gamble, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. (including Metrobank Card Corporation), and Diethelm Keller SiberHegner (DKSH).
He has worked as a sales manager managing over 70 people, managed category management and retail operations for a range of brands for a national supermarket chain, and as a portfolio manager got cardholders to spend more. He has in many instances, climbed insurmountable “mountains.”
In his past life, he has graduated on top of his class, has built an entire organization of young entrepreneurs from scratch in his university, and was born again after “drowning.”
As much as Jay loves to read, he also loves to write. His main goal in life is to stay hungry, stay foolish (Steve Jobs, 2005 Stanford Graduation Speech). Learning comes as much (if not more) from mistakes and failures than from victories and successes.
He believes in God and practices Zen Catholicism – his own brand of Catholicism. He believes life is a complicated phenomenal mystery and that it can never be explained in totality.
Jay loves to help people, companies, non-profits and brands breathe life into their brand story. He believes remarkable people and organizations deserve the attention of the world.
