He was a poor man. Because of this, he needs neither immersion nor being focused on in a 24-hour reality show nor a media spin for him to understand the truest situation of the poor. He was among the very few "provincianos" who liberated themselves and their families from the pangs of scarcity and made it on top through education.
His being a poor student did not impede him to finish, all through scholarship grants, his B.A. in Asian Studies (cum laude) at the Mindanao State University, Master of Public Administration and Doctor of Public Administration at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, and Certificate in Senior Managers in Government at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
This is the experience of having witnessed the outstanding leadership of a self-motivated man from humble beginnings. A true inspiration of modern-day educators! He is the human: Dr. Eldigario D. Gonzales. A born leader of understanding, forbearance, and know-how!
His brilliancy and exceptional leadership responsible in the significant improvement of the Mindanao State University in Tawi-Tawi, the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in Zamboanga City, and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) is viewed to be one of the reasons to his becoming president of the Southwestern University (SWU) of Cebu City, and “the best is yet to come”...
Indisputably, what is inimitable, yet common in these two institutions of higher learning besides the bastion of talents and potentials; their roles in Mindanao and Visayas; and their being melting pots of cultures and traditions, little by little being influenced by friendly Bisayan-speaking students and employees, is the “western” in their school crest. In jest, the choice of leading the “western” institutions is but an accident, and is no threat for the “easterners.”
Born and raised in the beautiful city of Zamboanga of poor farming parents, “Doc Eldy,” as his connections call him, rose from the ranks as Instructor, Professor, Dean, Chancellor, and Vice-President of Mindanao State University (MSU) to becoming the president of one of the most sought-after state universities of the country, the WMSU, ---where beauty is natural, talents are essential, leaders are trained, and the culture of peace and development is being molded---where the future of Mindanao and the region is gouged, till he reached the apex of becoming Zamboanga’s pride in the realm of leadership by serving as effervescent President of the PASUC. He is the epitome and true inspiration of the struggling educated poor Filipinos who made it to the pinnacle.
Dr. Gonzales, as a trend-setter in public and corporate governance, made him what he is today. This, I believe, must be looked into by the University of the Philippines leadership in celebrating the Centennial in assessing the roles of her alumni and by extending them due recognition in the real world of service in whatever capacity to the community, domestically and internationally.
Before he assumed his post as WMSU president, bickering, factionalism, vindictiveness and other challenges often pestered democratic governance not because of the doing of his predecessor but of the latter’s seemingly uncontrollable followings and their rivals that resulted in the underdevelopment of the more than a century-old institution.
In spite of the fact that President Fidel V. Ramos appointed him in 1997, threats posed by his rivals banking on him being an outsider and new to WMSU politics lingered on. It was a very tense situation. His skill in crisis management, and development diplomacy was put to a test. Modesty aside, it was during my incumbency as University Student Council president when Dr. Gonzales was welcomed by the students which forged a strong administration-students partnership in development.
Importantly, through the help of broad-minded stakeholders in the academe, student leaders, and other members of the WMSU family, he successfully maximized the meager resources, utilized the potentials of the highly politicized university, and moved on as a unified vibrant institution of higher learning.
After having developed WMSU, PASUC, and other academic communities, notwithstanding the crisis he and his family experienced due to the abduction of her only daughter (a special child) who was released through the help of his friends, religious and community leaders from various sectors after 40 days in captivity, Doc Eldy accepted the challenge of aspiring as a Philippine legislator. His political trounce---due to lack of time and financial preparations---in the popularity contest in the recently concluded midterm elections to represent the newly instituted 1st district of Zamboanga for the Philippine Congress is seen by some as a loss of WMSU, PASUC, and the countless people who believed in him. But I disagree. This in fact is a blessing in disguise. An exceptional leader of his stature will certainly find his way to nowhere but success!
I witnessed his dedication, professionalism, and cultivation of the tradition of excellence. His being our recognized leader is in itself a manifestation of hope for the poor to succeed through education.
Analyzing at a distance, in my more than a decade of stay at WMSU as a student leader (USC President and 1st Student Regent, pursuant to R.A. 8292), a scholar (M.A. and Ph.D.) at the University of the Philippines---where WMSU through Dr. Gonzales tied with in the Faculty Development Program---, and currently a faculty member of political science and history, I could not help but say: CONGRATULATIONS… to the SWU academic community for having a brilliant leader with a heart for the poor and the underprivileged as your president.
For the sake of "delicadeza," I have not written an article of this sort about anyone, much less to an executive who wields power within the university. But now that he is not in a way connected to WMSU, I could proudly say Dr. Eldigario D. Gonzales was our president par excellence and will be yours too. Experience his managerial style, and be part in charting the providential success of the Southwestern University’s history.
What really is common between and among the MSU in Tawi-Tawi, WMSU in Zamboanga, PASUC, and the SWU in Cebu City is the experience of having a humble yet progressive leader direct our destiny---Doc Eldy. He is a true inspiration. That in a way gives the next WMSU president a huge shoe to fit in. A leadership with respect, honor, and distinction…
Indeed, there is no shortcut to success in the Philippine setting, especially in the rural areas, than education. Dr. Gonzales shared his blessings to the poor Filipinos by using his leadership potentials, thereby giving other sectors of the Philippine society especially in Cebu and beyond a chance for a lifetime.
He was a barrio boy who returned to the barrios and brought with him the know-how indispensable for medium and long term developments by forging a sturdy university-local government units partnership to reach the poor communities. University extension programs were institutionalized, research and development projects were pushed using the university human research capabilities. He had a heart in serving the marginalized Muslims and other cultural communities.
In fact, WMSU was a center of peace and development initiatives when he introduced a program by making the university’s Department of Political Science as the host for the integration of MNLF Commanders and rebel returnees back to school after the GRP-MNLF Peace Accord of 1996. Recently, his internationally acclaimed pet project, ---The Floating School for the Badjaos---was featured by GMA’s Jessica Soho.
Dr. Gonzales used and still is using his connections to sustain his Student, Faculty, and Staff Development and Scholarship Programs that impacted much on his human resource leadership. During his stint at PASUC, he helped the economy of the country in general and the western Mindanao region in particular by attracting people through sports and education tourism thereby fostering a vibrant cultural and historical consciousness. He linked with international communities to invite foreign students from China, Indonesia, Korea, and other Southeast Asian nationals to study in WMSU and other universities under his leadership of PASUC.
His being a self-made leader and executive of humble beginnings is an achievement that every concerned Asian must be proud of. Indeed, Dr. Eldigario D.Gonzales, CSEE is an inspiration for the Asian youth and beyond.
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