THE whys and ways of leadership, according to author John Maxwell, shape the character of the leaders themselves and their contributions to society.
Genuine leadership transcends in different facets and dimensions that go beyond position, legal authority or technical expertise. It is rooted in moral responsibility, strategic foresight, and a commitment to the common good.
The Filipino cultural experience offers a compelling illustration of this principle. International observers have frequently praised the exceptional talents of Filipinos in global talent platforms. Yet what stands out is a deeper cultural trait: the absence of hostility between generations of performers.
Senior artists do not view emerging talents as threats; instead, they mentor, nurture and inspire them. This nurturing culture and mindset reflect core Filipino values such as respeto (respect) and bayanihan (community spirit). These values extend beyond entertainment. They shape how Filipinos lead, collaborate and build institutions.
But practices evolve over time. Government mechanisms such as unprogrammed appropriations — intended to provide fiscal flexibility in times of surplus revenue or external financing — often generate debate. It sits at the intersection of trust and power because they are not automatically released and are often less visible than programmed funds.
It demands a higher standard of ethical leadership. While designed for responsiveness, it also raises legitimate concerns about discretion, accountability, and potential misuse.
This raises critical questions: What constitutes a better system? How can corruption be prevented? How can stewardship of public funds be strengthened? These are not merely technical issues, but ethical ones.
Leadership is tested most when faced with conflict, crises, and scarce resources, whether in the utilization of oil products or in the stewardship of public funds.
In the study of Government Accounting, business students learn that agencies are supposed to submit proposed budgets anchored on specific programs and projects. Funds are appropriated accordingly, and releases are staggered based on the progress of implementation. This system is designed to strengthen internal control and safeguard public resources.
When organizations are poorly managed, trust is eroded and the perception of opacity intensifies. Conversely, when managed with principled leadership and radical transparency, fiscal flexibility need not come at the expense of accountability.
Powerful principle
In government, radical transparency affirms a simple but powerful principle: public funds exist for public benefit, and every citizen has the right to understand how every peso is justified, released and utilized.
Reform efforts illustrate this direction. The government’s adoption of blockchain technology through the Digital Bayanihan Chain initiative signals an institutional commitment to transparency by creating tamper-resistant records of budgetary transactions (dict.gov.ph). However, technology demands ethical leadership that can reinforce trust and institutional credibility.
Radical transparency — a term mentioned in hedge fund pioneer Ray Dalio’s book, “Principles: Life and Work” — must be exercised with cultural intelligence. Leadership and transparency combined are not confined to government. In the Filipino context, openness does not equate to bluntness and insensitivity. Responsible transparency communicates truth, with respect, compassion, and awareness of relational dynamics.
When aligned with respeto and bayanihan, transparency strengthens rather than fractures social cohesion. This philosophy must be exercised with cultural intelligence.
In business, customers deserve clear, accurate, and complete information about products and services. In professional organizations, stakeholders expect integrity in decision making. Across sectors, transparency functions as a discipline of responsible leadership.
Global leaders are called to take actions with deeper responsibility toward humanity. The act of fasting is more than a physical sacrifice where there is a profound integration of moral discipline, integrity, and radical transparency.
Leadership, too, hungers for the use of power — not merely for authority but the need to transform it into a desire for accountability as a steward of humanity. In order to build sustainable futures with the next generation of leaders, we need to be radically transparent about the challenges we are now facing.
When leaders nurture rather than compete, they create environments where young minds flourish. Nurturing young minds requires more than teaching technical competence. Ultimately, it requires modeling ethical courage, responsible leadership, and principled openness.
When leaders integrate moral responsibility, cultural values, and institutional accountability, they create environments where trust thrives and integrity is honored. The next generation is empowered to lead with radical transparency, not as an optional enhancement in leadership, but as a foundational principle.
Fe Violeta G. Baluran, CPA, MBA, is a faculty member of the Department of Accountancy at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business (RVRCOB), De La Salle University (DLSU). She can be reached through fe.baluran@dlsu.edu.ph Francia R. Santos, DBA, is an associate professor at the Department of Marketing and Advertising, RVRCOB, DLSU.
