QUEZON CITY (30 April 2019) – What does it take to become a leader? How does one rise up to the challenges it presents?

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez G. Jr. answered these questions and others, as he shared his experiences in leadership during a lecture he recently delivered at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Headquarters.

In particular, the former AFP chief-of-staff’s talk centered on the invaluable lessons he learned from being a soldier and eventually, as a peacebuilder.

“The most important [thing] for me is my core values. We have to realize, including our international students, what our core is. What is the most important thing to you? That is the question you need to ask yourself now,” Galvez said.

To prepare them for the journey ahead, he encouraged the military student-participants to discover the things that will motivate and help overcome the challenges confronting them.

“In your journey you will have a lot of challenges. And you have to accept those challenges and motivate yourself in order to continue your journey,” Galvez said.

According to the chief peace adviser, among his major accomplishments as AFP chief-of-staff was helping to put an end to the decades-long armed conflict between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“First time na pumunta dito si [Ebrahim] Murad sa headquarters. And many people when I met them, said that it was unprecedented,” he said.

(It is the first time that Ebrahim Murad visited the headquarters.)

“Forty years na – our Commanders tried to finish it [MILF insurgency] – and we were able to finish it during our time,” Galvez said.

(It had been forty years – our Commanders tried to finish it [MILF insurgency] – and we were able to finish it during our time.)

He then related how he transitioned from being the head of the AFP to his new role as the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU).

“The overall framework of the Duterte Administration is [anchored on] malasakit, pagbabago, at patuloy na pag-unlad. Dapat as OPAPRU, alam mo kung nasaan ka,” he said.

(The overall framework of the Duterte Administration is anchored on empathy, change and sustainable development. As OPAPRU, you should know where you stand.)

“So ang ginawa namin, inidentify  namin ‘yong main  action namin sa baba —  ensure peace  and stability, and ensure safety and resilience,” Galvez added.

(So what we did was to identify the actions we had to undertake on the ground – ensure peace and stability, and ensure safety and resilience.)

Galvez’ lecture was part of the nine-day Leadership Module for CGSC Class 65 that aims to provide an avenue to discuss leadership strategies, approaches and practices that could be applied to contemporary issues being faced by public servants.

Around 150 students, including 10 international delegates, attended the lecture spearheaded by the AFP. ###