MAR ROXAS: The Sum of his Actions

Opponents and critics of Mar Roxas in politics and in media viciously, at times
maliciously, characterize him as lacking in empathy for the people, devoid of a
connection to the masses.
Empathy is good but action is better. - Rakesh Malhotra
In my opinion and close observation, Mar Roxas, at his core, is more of a doer, a thinker,
a strategist, a man of action, of few words.
Like singing, which he does badly, hes not that eloquent in expressing his emotions and
feelings into words.
But he has that singular ability to visualize a problem, a challenge, to take it apart piece
by piece, to see what's missing, whats needed, where the pieces belong, like a puzzle in
his head, then put it back together again, essentially the same, but completely different.
Mars connection to, and empathy with, the people lives in his actions, not his words. He
doesnt talk about it, he acts it out, every single day. He knows little else because thats
how his parents raised him. The weight of his fathers and his grandfathers legacy often
weighs heavy on his heart and spirit.
Between 1997 and 2000, the countrys economy had gone down the tubes. Business was
down and with it, employment and national morale. Then Mar saw how the BPO
industry could change the game and address unemployment. We can do this, he
thought. Mar worked hard to translate the picture in his vision into reality.
He took what was already there, modified the PEZA law to allow it to apply to separate
floors of buildings to accommodate BPO investments, coupled it with the innate traits
and abilities of Filipinos to be brilliant, engaging, hospitable, easy to train, teachable,
humble, loyal, kind and honorable, traits that he himself carries and therefore recognized
in his own race, and wove it into the BPO formula. He then took this product and
aggressively sold it to the world. The rest is history.

Today, over a million Filipinos are actively employed and that number is projected to
grow to a million and a half by middle of 2016, perhaps more. In 2014 the BPO business
brought in $18.75 Billion into the economy. In the same year, OFW remittances reached
$24 Billion. OFW inflows helped keep the peso stable despite volatile financial market
conditions.
The BPO sectors prospects, however, are much brighter. BPO revenues are expected to
grow by at least 15 percent, according to the BSP, while OFW remittances would grow
by 6 percent, at most, in 2015. The BPO has given the country another leg to stand on,
insulating it from the Chinese stock market meltdown. Industry estimates show that by
2016, BPOs would earn $25 billion annually, and would overtake OFW remittances.
Did Mar ambition for the financial rewards the BPO industry would attain?
NO.
Despite knowing the great financial gains in the BPO business, he forbade his own
family in engaging in the business - proof of his integrity - as indicated by Pres. Pnoy
during his endorsement speech for Mar: "Now, allow me to talk about Mar Roxas. Many
of us here know that he was the first who worked to bring the BPO sector here and ensure
it flourished in the Philippines. From having 2,400 employees in 2000, it has ballooned to
an 18.9 billion peso industry, employing over one million people in 2014. What most of
you dont know: Cubao was one of the last places to join in the growth of the industry,
because Mar forbade his family to apply in the ecozones.
http://www.gov.ph/2015/07/31/english-speech-president-aquino-club-filipino/.
At the time, he had only one challenge: How to create jobs for Filipinos, the same people
his critics claim he has no connection with nor empathy for.
ACTIONS speak LOUDER than words.
Empathy without action is EMPTY. The Cleveland Clinic
Mar would rather walk the walk than talk the talk. Talk is cheap. To the people he has
led in the field, his actions have often inspired them more than anything he has said.
All the acts and deeds of Mar Roxas have benefited the men and women in the streets, the
unemployed, out-of-school youth, the farmers and their families, children, students, the
elderly. Those who have less in life. The prosperity that we claim desensitizes him from
the masses has served to magnify and focus his vision on their poverty, their needs. His
prosperity has equipped him with the skills, the abilities, the knowledge he has placed at
the service of the people to address those needs.
Cheaper vital medicines & Generic medicines. Water supply in outlying areas (SalinTubig Program, Performance Challenge Fund project). Tax exemption for all minimum
wage earners (RA 9504). Laws that attract investments & business which create jobs &
generate employment, i.e. Special Economic Zone Act, Public Employment Service Act,

Magna Carta for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, crime reduction (Oplan Lambat
Sibat). Theres abundantly more where that came from.
The point here is that Mar Roxas has talked less and done more to establish a body of
work that clearly proves his connection to and empathy for the Filipino people. These are
not words or promises but deeds and acts that are of public record. They exist and they
continue to work for the good of Filipinos from all walks of life.

It therefore makes the most perfect sense for Mar Roxas to carry on the torch and legacy
of Daang Matuwid.
This philosophy was born because of the maxim, Bayan Muna Bago ang Sarili which
has been embraced, not only by Mar, by his father and his grandfather before him, but by
our immortal heroes, Rizal, Bonifacio, Luna, Mabini, Del Pilar, et al, who have passed
the true test of character and gave their lives for us.
When Mar Roxas gave way to Noynoy Aquino, they both agreed to lift the people and
the country above themselves. Daang Matuwid came into being and today is the
successful philosophy of governance while Bayan Muna Bago Ang Sarili is its driving
spirit, the Force that powers it.
Mar Roxas is, and continues to be, every bit a part of Daang Matuwid, as Aquino is.
People need to be reminded that the successes of the Philippines in the last 6 years have
been largely due to the spirit, the discipline and the character that moves Daang Matuwid.
Economic and financial experts agree that there is little that will stop it now that it has
begun. Its success will continue because of its own principles.
So, it is only right and just that Mar Roxas, its co-author, continue wielding it for the
good of the people and of the country.
Bayan Muna Bago ang Sarili! - Long live Daang Matuwid!

By: Juan Miguel A. Acua