For 31 years Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran has successfully accomplished tasks that had an impact on the Tsinoy community and mainstream society such as integration work, medical missions, relief operations, anti-crime efforts, research and publications, to name a few.
Yet, instead of resting on its laurels, Kaisa members know that much more needs to be done to fulfill our mission and vision. New problems, new challenges and new expectations arise. The work is unending. But then, there is no limit to learning and discovering new things.
On Kaisa’s 16th anniversary in 2002, the founding officers decided to hand over the reins completely to the second-generation officers. Once a board member reaches 50 years old, he automatically gives up his board position to younger members.
As the second generation prepares to pass on the baton to the next (third) generation, considerable difficulties had to be faced and resolved. Kaisa forerunners wish to pass on the responsibilities to like-minded people who share and abide by Kaisa beliefs and ideals.
Unfortunately, because of changes in the social environment, two hindrances need to be acknowledged. First, the ethnic minority problem is no longer an urgent issue for the new generation. Kaisa’s principal work – integration – no longer seems as relevant or attractive to young Tsinoys.
Second, western individualism, liberalism and ethos, and hedonism have shaped our youths to care first about themselves and watch out for their self interests. Under such a social environment, it is difficult to find and attract the youths today who will work with commitment and dedication for the greater good, and not for individual fame or fortune.
Hence, the succession problem – finding a new pool of earnest and sincere volunteers – to inherit Kaisa’s work is most pressing. It is a problem common to many Tsinoy organizations today.
But we still have to face the problem and overcome this stumbling block. It is a challenge to which Kaisa must give priority.
Another aspiration of Kaisa is to mobilize the resources of the Tsinoy community – manpower and capital resource – to help in nation-building, to make greater contributions to and more significant impact on the Philippines.
The late president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., John Ng, mentioned several times that if only each Tsinoy businessman would contribute one percent, or even 0.1 percent, of their profit to any charity organization in the mainstream society, the effect to the Philippines will be immense and significant.
But how many Tsinoy businessmen are willing to do that?
This is the second challenge that Kaisa should continue to work hard on: to tap the potentials of the Tsinoy community and mobilize its resources for Philippine nation-building.