Social Action
Sometime in 2003, Santiago “Santi” Dumlao, one of the stalwarts of the Makati Business Club, shared an inspirational quote with a colleague, Roberto “Bobby” Laviña, who was at the time the National Service Coordinator for Programs and Services of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP).
At that significant moment, with the BCBP community thriving at over 10,000 members spread across the Philippines, Mr. Laviña found himself tasked with proposing a national advocacy that could unite and resonate with the entire community. Recognizing the potential impact of Santi's quote, he approached him with a humble request for permission to use it as a public pillar of the BCBP's mission.
To Mr. Laviña's delight, Santi's response was an immediate and wholehearted - "Sure!"
And so, with a single word, the BE HONEST advocacy was conceived, heralding a new era of integrity and transparency within the BCBP community.
BCBP’s BE HONEST advocacy was launched in 2004, simultaneously in all the nation’s regions with a BCBP presence.
Motorcades, walkathons, and other events with the Be Honest message took place in major public areas across the country. The Be Honest campaign spread quickly in government offices, airports, and cities with BCBP chapters. It also included activities like oratorical contests, fun runs, concerts, and golf tournaments. Banners and promotional materials were displayed in over 100 weekly BCBP breakfasts.
Since the 2004 national elections, BCBP has collaborated with PPCRV and COMELEC to promote honest elections. In 2010 and 2013, BCBP reminded voters to ensure peaceful and honest elections by putting up posters and stickers in polling centers nationwide.
In 2014, BCBP partnered with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center and the AIM Alumni Association to organize a series of forums tackling corruption in five cities: Makati, Laguna, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao.
BCBP has joined the Integrity Initiative to promote honesty, inclusivity, and fair work standards in workplaces. In 2015, BCBP also became one of the original members of the Pilipino Movement for Transformational Leadership (PMTL), which aimed to raise Christian Servant Leaders to change the corrupt political system. PMTL encouraged voters to use a discernment tool called GABAY KRISTO to choose the best leaders for the country.
In 2021, in partnership with 20 other faith-based organizations under the NASSA office of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), BCBP added HALALANG MARANGAL to its honesty advocacy efforts.
One of the major initiatives of HALALANG MARANGAL was to make all aspirants vying for elective positions in the next National and Local elections to come together and sign the BE HONEST PLEDGE (Panata ng Katapatan). This was a call for honesty and transparency in public service, with the written commitment from all those running for office to voluntarily provide the SALN’s of winning candidates.
Authentic positive change starts with honesty. And honesty starts with you and me.
Starting 2022, the advocacy began its journey to transform itself into the BE HONEST movement. The realization that simply advocating for honesty wasn't enough; it was time to take it a step further. And thus, the call for honesty, while staying true to its core, took on a different form in the TAPAT DAPAT campaign.
This movement seeks to inspire individuals to not just acknowledge honesty as a concept, but to own it, live it, and amplify it in our daily lives. It aims to create a culture where honesty is not just a virtue, but a way of life.
Every individual has a role to play, and every action, no matter how small, has the power to make a difference. It is a call that resonates with many, but we realize that BE HONEST is more than just a slogan. It is a catalyst for positive change, and it can be a powerful force that could shape a better future for all, especially in a world that is often plagued by deception and falsehoods.
We acknowledge that as we aspire to transform our advocacy into a more actionable cause, change can only truly happen if it starts from within.
This journey towards a more genuine and transparent society has just begun, but with each small step, it brings us closer to a world where honesty reigns supreme.
