Twenty-five years have passed since the death of Ninoy Aquino Jr. His death on the tarmac clouded the hopes and dreams of many people who were following the Philippine political situation at that time. Prices were soaring high and protests spilling over on the streets of Manila. The nation was at a real crossroads. Then, in a gentle stroke, the people rallied behind Cardinal Sin and Cory Aquino in one of the finest non-violent revolutions in the history of mankind.

Yet we know that the reconstruction of our nation is not an easy task. Protection of personal power and interests at times overshadows real service to the people. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, shows how the obsession to possess the figurative ring of power and greed destroys fellowship, causing the downfall of kings and queens and their kingdoms. Sometimes it is hard to understand that real power or strength is best expressed through such attitudes as respect, the capacity to listen and accept diverse opinions from one’s constituents.

True people power when the leader knows how to lose his or her ideas in order to arrive at a consensus for the good of everyone. Through this attitude of knowing how to lose, personalities and personal interests no longer manipulate decision-making, but rather a collective decision is reached due to the ability of leaders and followers to understand each other. Truth becomes clearer and acceptable to everyone. Take for example the Philippine Sumilao Farmers’ case. After much dialogue and sacrifice, everyone was relieved with the distribution of the 54 hectares of lands to the poor farmers. Much give and take of ideas was involved in order to arrive at such a consensus but the decision was accepted by all parties concerned. After all, who is not in favor of justice, peace and human rights—truths which are higher than ones’ personal interests?

Such an attitude of “losing” or giving up of power for the common good is greatly needed in our country today, marked as it is by strong cultural and religious differences, geographical demarcations and diverse economic conditions.

At present, we are not lacking in leaders who have sacrificed their powers for a noble cause like Ninoy who seemingly with his death lost the battle. Only now do we realize that his life and death mark a new beginning for the nation. Another example is Al Gore who after losing the US Presidential Elections, and after much soul-searching as he narrates in his video Inconvenient Truth, has become a leading figure worldwide in his campaign for environmental issues like global warming. He even won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. Yet another one is Sonia Gandhi, who after being offered the position as India’s Prime Minister, declined it. Through such a courageous move, she has further strengthened her party’s cause, and India as well.

A lot of examples, indeed, to show that there is much to be gained by losing.