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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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Teng Catong
ESNAEN M. CATONG is finishing his Ph.D. in History, Cognate in Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, where he also earned his master's degree. He teaches political science and history at the Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City, where he graduated a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and a B.A. in Political Science.
Teng, as his friends call him, won in a research competition from the Southeast Asia Research Fellowship Program for Young Muslim Scholars under the auspices of AMAN and the Rockefeller Foundation. He has presented papers in international conferences and has published articles in journals. His major works include Philippines-Saudi Arabia Relations: A Socio-Cultural, Political, Labor and Economic Relations (forthcoming, 2007); Balik Islam and Its Socio-Political Implications (forthcoming, 2007); Active ‘Three-O’ Diplomacy: An Indispensable Alternative for Philippine Survival (forthcoming, 2007); and Energy Crisis: The Philippine Experience (forthcoming, 2008).
His research interests include diplomatic history, geopolitics, migration, energy and the environment, Islamic studies, international relations, and peace and conflict resolution.
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