Kung sino ang mapupusuan. Whoever captures the heart—that was how a parking attendant responded to my inquiry on senatorial picks. He prioritizes candidates who visibly help during calamities. When asked to differentiate between a senator and a mayor, he offered only a blank stare.
I frequently seek the opinions of everyday people on current affairs. Regrettably, their verbal and non-verbal cues reveal a lack of civic awareness. At the peak of congressional hearings on contentious matters, a salon worker dismissed my query on POGO with a shrug, and a pharmacy guard admitted his ignorance of the confidential funds. For many individuals, prolonged work hours, news deprivation at work, and the grind of daily commute obscure their views on public affairs. It makes one ask: does work hinder civic engagement?
Prominent figures like Washington Sycip, JAZA, and Manny Pangilinan have demonstrated that businesses must contribute to nation-building. Local companies invest billions of pesos in manpower training, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. While these efforts are undeniably beneficial, true nation-building requires present and future leaders to cultivate civic consciousness among stakeholders and foster responsible citizens. The UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) further supports this, urging business schools to shape future leaders who prioritize serving society.
With that goal in mind, I try to connect the dots between real-world issues and the lessons in our Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance course. Recently, I challenged my students to study the top senatorial candidates. Their task was to research each candidate’s achievements, alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, governance attributes, and impact on the business sector, then ultimately determining if they would cast their vote. After thorough research and the use of SWOT analysis, decision-matrix, and trade-off analysis, they formed clear opinions summarized in comments like these:
His short-term solutions, lack of accountability, and ethical breaches solidify our decision not to support his candidacy.
His policies and affiliations serve political interests rather than public welfare.
While he supports renewable energy and tax exemptions, his policies mainly benefit formal workers and ignore informal laborers.
We have yet to see his ability to provide a sustainable organizational and economic structure to support his intended policies.
We will support and campaign for him due to his ethical governance, transparency, and SDG-aligned policies that benefit the agricultural sector and the broader business community.
Afterwards, the students shared insights through a World Cafe session and gained fresh perspectives. Tanya affirmed, “We should take time to watch the news to be well-informed and conduct research on their contributions and track records,” Jess reflected, “This experience made me realize that I can’t stay indifferent to politics just because it feels overwhelming.”
The students’ grasp of social responsibility and governance was evident. Their subsequent efforts to disseminate these principles to a broader audience proved even more meaningful.
Last week, three groups undertook a service-learning project with a partner organization that provides temporary shelter to street and homeless children and assisted local homeless families. Leon’s group conducted voter education sessions for the parents. Bea and Carla, meanwhile, shared with the teens the essential Ws (what, where, when, why) of voting and practical guidance on the voting process. Simultaneously, Megan, Alyssa, Erin, and Phoebe staged a skit for the younger children.
The play depicted a small town where the community bell, its symbolic heart, was shattered. The newly elected mayor was tasked with restoring it, with two candidates vying for the post. Benny, advocating teamwork, presented a well-defined plan for repair and safety. Lolong, relying on magic, promised a quick solution and entertainment without a plan. The children’s vote was unanimous: Benny. To reinforce participation, Benny engaged them to gather pieces and rebuild the bell. The children excitedly ran around the room, searching for the pieces.
The partner organization’s representative affirmed the children’s enthusiasm and learning, adding that the activity introduced the children to voting and critical thinking. The parents and teens, meanwhile, were pleased to participate in an open dialogue.
Similarly, the students felt rewarded by sharing their knowledge and learning from the community partners. Anne Marie emphasized the power of education for change. Additionally, Helena realized her privileged access to information, stating, “I should share it with others to help build a better future.”
These students’ passion ignites hope for a future where businesses drive civic engagement. Imagine store owners broadcasting news, not just music. Visualize companies embedding citizenship training into ongoing employee development. Consider businesses leveraging advertising to champion servant leadership and civic values. By actively nurturing civic awareness, businesses can play a vital role in creating a more informed and engaged electorate.
Dr. Maria Adiel H. Aguiling is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Management and Organization at De La Salle University, Manila. She can be reached at maria.adiel.aguiling@dlsu.edu.ph.
The perspectives shared in this piece are solely the author’s and do not necessarily represent the official views of De La Salle University, its faculty, or its administration.