Based on Kotter’s 8-Step Process for Leading Change. John B. Kotter is Professor Emeritus at the Harvard Business School. Synergeia has grown from a small organization into a strong and large coalition following the Kotter model which was introduced by Prof. Ernie Garilao.
Synergeia Foundation is a member of the Advisory Council of EdCom 2
email: edukasyon@synergeia.org.p
His message was clear: start small, stay consistent, and work together to change the Philippines.
Addressing hundreds of public servants and education stalwarts at the recently held 2026 Washington Sycip National Education Summit, Mayor Vico Sotto underscored the value of collaborative mentorship in advancing good education governance.
“Alam na po natin at siguro, kaya tayo nandirito from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, dahil nakita natin kung paano nakakatulong ang Synergeia Foundation. Kami po, bilang isang Synergeia LGU, talagang masasabi ko po na grabe ang naitulong sa amin ang guidance ng Synergeia and the ability to connect with other LGUs. So, Synergeia has really been instrumental in improving our educational outcomes. Grabe po talaga. Kaya, ang aking walang sawa at taos-pusong pasasalamat sa lahat ng officials and members of Synergeia Foundation,” the Pasig City mayor said.
He added that Pasig City looks for top-performing models across different sectors and adopts their best practices. For instance, they recognized Valenzuela City as a leader, especially in education, so instead of reinventing the wheel, they chose to replicate what already works. They also expressed gratitude to Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the said city’s former mayor, for generously sharing these best practices.
Inspiration That Endures
Mayor Vico Sottto highlighted how timely the topic was, especially amid growing public disillusionment with government due to corruption scandals and poor outcomes in areas like education, including high numbers of struggling readers. In this context, he raised the question: what continues to inspire and sustain hope among public servants, educators, and NGO workers? What keeps them motivated to pursue reforms and improve outcomes despite these challenges?
“Pero, minsan, lalo kapag mga kabataan ang kausap ko, minsan nalulungkot ako kasi para bang ang baba ng level of hope. Para bang yung iba, papasok pa lang sa trabaho, maguumpisa pa lang ng karera, disillusioned na sa sistema natin. Parang ang laging itinatanong, may pag-asa pa ba? May pag-asa pa ba? Yan ang laging tinatanong palagi sa akin pag nag-iikot ako, lalo na sa mga paaralan sa Lungsod ng Pasig. Mga student leaders. Yan ang madalas na tanong. At ang sagot ko naman parati, una siyempre dapat manatiling mataas ang pag-asa natin,” he shared.
In his thought experiment, choosing a one-way trip to a year like 1896, 1945, 1986, or 2026, to illustrate that despite today’s challenges, he and perhaps many would still choose 2026. Mayor Vico Sotto suggested that, overall, life and opportunities have improved over time. Even amid current problems and scandals, it reflected a belief that society and government are moving in a generally positive direction.
He said that the first step is to recognize the problems and to tackle them head-on without feeling disillusioned and hopeless, while having resilience and grit, and striking the balance.
Small Choices Matter
He also stressed the importance of small steps, whether they lead to good or bad outcomes, saying “Kaya mukhang tama lang na hindi strictly speaking education ang pinag-uusapan natin ngayon kasi nabanggit na lang din ang flood control. Pag pinag-usapan natin shortage of classrooms, maaring puwedeng sabihin na hindi, magkaiba naman yung budget niyan, so yung problema dun sa flood control hindi yan problema dito. Puwedeng sabihin yun. Puwedeng i-argue yun”.
“Pero, ang tutoo, it’s the same ecosystem that allows for this kind of problems in our infrastructure dahil pag tinanggap natin yang maliit na lagayan, pag tinanggap natin yang maliit na kickback-an, sa ibang lugar, palaki nang palaki ito. Walang malaki na hindi nagsisimula sa maliit. Walang ghost project ha hindi nagsimula sa limang libo, sampung libo na bigayan. Positive or negative, anything big starts with something small,” said Mayor Vico Sotto.
He mentioned as an example the journey of Carlos Yulo, showing that his success, from practicing on beds and pillows to becoming an Olympic multi-gold medalist, did not happen overnight. While talent and good genes helped, he said it was daily disciplined training, proper nutrition, wise choices, and consistent effort over time that made his achievements possible.
Evidence Drives Change
Following the example of other Synergeia local government units, Pasig City is committed to a data-driven approach in education.
Mayor Vico Sotto urged his constituents to be empirical, “Na huwag maging bulag-bulagan sa datos, tingnan nang mabuti ang datos para maging guideline ito sa policy-making natin, sa development ng programs and projects natin.”
He went on to explain in their reading camps, “Noong first term ko at naabutan ng pandemic, lagi kong tinatanong, “Ano ang results ng previous Reading Camps?” Wala daw pre-test, walang post-test. Tinatanong ko sila, “Bakit? Ba’t walang pre-test, walang post-test?” Di ba basic naman yan. Sa kahit na ano’ng programa, dapat alam mo ang resulta ng programa mo.”
Asked how they would measure outcomes without a baseline test, he shared “Ang sagot sa akin, “Eh kasi dati nag-pre-test, nag-post-test, hindi ganoon kaganda ang resulta.” Hindi naman puwede yun. Dapat, kung hindi maganda ang resulta, para mabago natin yung programa. Siguro lahat tayo, ganoon mag-isip.”
Mayor Vico Sotto said they pushed for changes and, with support from both staff and community members, implemented interventions that yielded results, most notably, their latest summer Reading camp showed a 20-percentage-point improvement from pre-test to post-test. He added that that was just one small example, but it illustrated that small, consistent actions, like using pre- and post-tests, build over time, ultimately driving larger reforms, better policies, and improved literacy outcomes. Mayor Vico Sotto concluded his speech with this encouragement: “Kaya, anuman ang posisyon natin, anuman ang influence natin, anuman ang kapasidad natin, let us continue to make those good decisions. Let’s change our culture, let’s change our society, let’s change our government for the better. And, collectively, pag pinagsama-sama natin, lahat ng mga effort natin, we will pave the way for a better Philippines. Not only for ourselves, but more importantly, for the next generation of Filipinos.”
Deivid Rioferio
deivid.rioferio@gmail.com
Now is the moment for leaders to turn opportunity into action for education, governance, and the future of the Philippines.
In his keynote address, Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, S.J., Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Synergeia Foundation, called on local chief executives and education leaders to seize the twin opportunities of demographic dividend and good governance, echoing the summit’s theme, Carpe Diem: to harvest, “pag-ani”.
“Pana-panahon ang mga bagay-bagay. Huwag sayangin ang mga pagkakataon,” Fr. Villarin emphasized, noting that by 2040, the Philippines could be among the world’s top economies, if the country does not squander the opportunities before it today.
Champion of Good Education Governance
The 2026 Washington Sycip National Education Summit, the flagship annual thought leadership gathering of Synergeia Foundation, convened outstanding and purpose-driven national and local leaders, teachers, and education advocates from across the country.
Held on February 18 to 19 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City, the summit created a safe and meaningful space where honest and courageous conversations inspired change, renewed hope, strengthened resolve, and reaffirmed a shared vision: securing a sustainable future for Filipino children through quality education.
More than a thousand education changemakers from all over the Philippines came together, bringing with them valuable insights, lived experiences, and innovative ideas to confront the ongoing education crisis.
United in purpose, they committed to pursuing practical and responsive actions anchored in good governance especially at the local level, where the real work of improving reading and transforming literacy outcomes truly takes place.
Good Things Take Time
Fr. Villarin explained that a demographic dividend refers to accelerated economic growth that happens when a country’s working-age population, 15 to 64 years old, becomes larger than its dependent population, children and the elderly.
“Our labor supply will be more than the ones who are old and the ones who are still mga musmos,” he said.
However, he stressed that such a dividend is not automatic. It requires deliberate and sustained investment. He outlined four critical areas: education, health, livelihood, and governance.
The work, he underscored, must begin now. By 2040, today’s students will make up the nation’s labor force. “Walang shortcut sa edukasyon,” he implied. The question is not merely whether students graduate, but whether they are truly prepared, fully formed, competent, and ready for the demands of work and nation-building.
We Can Make Things Happen
Speaking about leadership, Fr. Villarin acknowledged the emotional realities leaders face.
“Maraming umaasa sa atin,” he said. Leaders experience waves of hope and discouragement. There are moments of inspiration, and moments of fatigue. The key, he advised, is awareness: recognize these waves. “Pitasin ang pag-asa. Huwag pitasin ang kawalan ng loob.” Choose hope, not despair.
He further emphasized the indispensable role of governance.
“Mahalaga ang governance. Mahalaga ang pamumuno. Mahalaga ang pagkumpas.” Without a conductor, music falls into disarray. Without leadership, tones clash, people collide, the strong dominate, the wealthy prevail, and the weak are left behind. Governance, he stressed, ensures harmony, justice, and inclusion.
Harvesting the Fullness of the Times
Fr. Villarin challenged leaders to use power and resources not for personal gain, family advantage, or tribal loyalties, but for those without power and wealth especially the youth.
“Pitasin ang kapangyarihan para sa tama, para sa mga walang kapangyarihan, para sa mga walang yaman,” he urged. It is time, he said, to confront and change harmful habits that perpetuate inequality.
In closing, he returned to the call to harvest the present moment.
“Pitasin po natin ang mga pagkakataon nakaharap natin ngayon,” he said. Now is the time to urgently reform education for the future of the nation. Now is the time to lead with truth, justice, and goodness.
The message was clear: the opportunity is here. The question is whether today’s leaders will seize it.
Video link: https://youtu.be/jer-vc8J7Zg
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