Achievement Week
Media
Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal
- Title
- Achievement Week
- Identifier
- Editorial
- Language
- English
- Source
- The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume XXVII (Issue No. 7) July 1951
- Year
- 1951
- Rights
-
- Fulltext
- Editorials “ ... to promote the general welfare” It was a happy thought to name the one-week observ ance of the fifth •anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of the Philippines, *‘Achievement Week”. “Achievement” is a positive and “Achievement uplifting word and may well be applied Week’’ to the past five years of Philippine endeavor, for while one meaning of the word is “to bring to a successful conclusion” or “to bring into a perfect state”, the more common meaning is “some thing accomplished by praiseworthy exertion”. While any true achievement is solid and enduring, the word does not generally mean anything so complete or finished as, for example, the word “consummation”. And so it is with us in the Philippines. Much has been achieved during the past five years, although, in our opin ion, more might have been if the Government had adopted different measures in certain important respects. Much of what has been achieved was attained in the face of, and not because of such measures. It is the people, individually and in the mass, who are the real achievers. Yet, quite properly, the Government, as representative of the people, is entitled to receive the general credit. Therefore, though we have not won the victory and it is not yet time for triumph, All Hail to the Republic, All Hail to the Government of the Republic, All Hail to the President of the Republic! There is no danger that we should all be so completely satisfied with what had been achieved that we would now cease our efforts and seek repose,—resting on our still rather bare and stalky laurels. We shall have the words of the poet Longfellow in mind:—“Still achieving, still pursuing...” What was the rest of it? Yes: “with a heart for any fate.” The Addresses at the National Convention of Filipino Businessmen The somewhat belated May issue of the Philippines Commerce, official organ of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, contains all the addresses delivered during the four-day National Convention of Filipino Businessmen held in Baguio from April 28 to May 1, and well deserves not only a careful reading today but a putting by for future reference. The “theme” adopted for the Convention was “A Mid-century Survey of the Philippine Economy”, a most timely one in view of the fact, pointed out by several of the speakers, that the nation has just started out on a great new effort at economic development with the aid of the E.C.A. The program of the Convention was ably planned and the speakers were all wisely chosen from among the leading officials and businessmen of the country. Very competently did they cover the main aspects of the eco nomy and the economic problems of the Philippines. The speeches were without exception informative, capable, and earnest, and the total effect of their perusal is most heartening to anyone concerned about the Philip pines and its future. Most encouraging of all was the notable absence of anything approaching the narrowly nationalistic spirit which many observers here and in other countries in these post-war times have come to fear. There was naturally an emphasis on Filipino as distinguished from alien interests in the country, but nothing was said to which any fair-minded reader could take exception. Very evident, on the other hand, was an enlightened patriot ism, a high sense of responsibility, and a sincere concern for the depressed labor and farm-tenant classes. Most encouraging also was the emphasis laid, even by the govern ment spokesmen, on the importance of private enterprise. A list of the forty-three resolutions adopted is pub lished in this issue of Philippines Commerce, but the texts are not included so that no statement can be made with respect to them. To give some idea of the scope of the agenda of the Convention, we list the speakers and their subjects as follows: First Day Opening Remarks, by Lino Castillejo, member, Board of Gov ernors, Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Call to Convention, by C. S. Gonzales, Chairman, Executive Committee. Welcome Address, by Florencio Villanueva, President, Baguio Chamber of Commerce. Restrictions,—A Test of National Discipline, by Aurelio Periquet, President, Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. Land Division Must be Just, by Salvador Araneta, Adminis trator of Economic Coordination. Modernization of Philippine Agriculture, by Luis Lichauco, Chairman, Board of Directors, Land Settlement and Development Corporation.
- pages
- 211