“What’s the difference between God and Tony Blair?… God never think that he’s Tony Blair“- UK newspapers
“You’re attending his Leadership Conference? He’s the most hated man in the UK!”. This is the reaction of the British business executive that I recently made some business deals with when I told him that I will be attending Tony Blair’s Leadership Conference in Manila. Tony Blair, perhaps, is among the majority of world leaders who are more popular abroad than in their home country. I had a first encounter of this “phenomenon” when I attended an international student conference abroad and several ASEAN youth leaders are all praising Pres. Fidel Ramos for instituting reforms that made the country to experience a short lived economic miracle during his term. I couldn’t rebut and tell them that I have joined several rallies and demonstrations agains the then President Ramos. On restrospection, he is indeed for me, so far, best Philippine President during my lifetime.
Well, it’s not every day that a respected and distinguished, former UK Prime Minister who is credited to bring peace to Northern Ireland will come to the Philippines and give a speech. So despite, the comment from the good British chap, I still attended the second in the series of Leadership Conferences organized by Campaigns and Grey.
The venue is the Harbor Tent of Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel at the CCP Complex in Pasay City. Security is tight, with no less than the Presidential Security Group ensuring that no untoward event would happen during this occasion. In attendance are some national and local government officials, civic leaders, business leaders and students leaders.
Tony Blair exudes the charisma and wit that made him, at one time, one of the most popular world leaders. This made me wish that I will still be able to see a Philippine President having the same appeal.
For about thirty minutes, Tony Blair discussed about his experiences as Prime Minister, from day one until the day after he stepped down from power. He recounted the tradition of Prime Ministers kissing the hand of the Queen after their election. He was advised by a member of the Palace court that he don’t have to kiss the Queen’s hand but he just have to brush it lightly with his lips. Being only a few days after his election, he was so sleepy that he tripped on the carpet, dropped and kissed the Queen’s hand. He think that perhaps the Queen is surprised on how fervent the new PM in kissing her hand. This elicited the laughter of the audience.
In ending his speech, Tony Blair said that every leader had their day and if it is time, they should know how to move on. He narrated about the day after he resigned as Prime Minister. For security reasons, Tony Blair never got to use a mobile phone during his 10 years in office. When he stepped down from power, one of the first thing he did is to get his own mobile phone. He was so excited about it that he sent a text message to a friend. Since he never used a mobile phone, he forgot that unless the recipient has saved his number in the recipient’s mobile phone, his name will not appear, only the number. So when he sent a text message to his friend, he received this reply:” I’m sorry, but who are you?” And Tony Blair quickly added, “It’s only been 24 hours!” A lesson in humility indeed.
Here are some snippets of wisdom that I learned from Tony Blair, in his own words:
- To understand the world, you need to look at it as it was. Not what you want it to be. To change the world, you must first understand it.
- You can’t understand the world today without including China and very soon, India. Power is shifting to the East. And the Philippines, being in the East, is in a very good position to take advantage of it.
- Leaders stand out when all other stand back. If you want to be popular, leadership is not for you.
- What is forgivable is to fail. What is unforgivable is not to try.
- Agree on principles, but understand compromises. Prepare for comprises to achieve your end.
- In this new century, there will be more than 1 superpower.
- Leaders must fight for the change they want to see.
- There can only be peace if both sides want it.
- When you first propose change, people will say, the world is ending. When you’ve made the change, people will hate you for it. When the change it successful, people will say that it’s been always that way.
- The best alliances are based on shared purpose and value.
- Understand your opponent as another human being with a different point of view, rather than an enemy.
- Don’t lead for the sake of leading. Lead if you want something done.
- Different faiths of the world must learn to live together in mutual respect. Love for your fellow human being must always be your principle.
A trivia about Tony Blair. Aside from being the youngest UK Prime Minister for the past 150 years, he’s also the only PM who had a child while still in office. With this, he made a remark “Makes you wonder what the other prime ministers are doing?”
Tony Blair is about to receive a special recognition and award from the De La Salle University
With this scene, you can easily identified who among the audience are the Green Archers. Tony Blair wearing the DLSU jersey given by officials from the said university.
After the speech,veteran journalist Che-che Lazaro acted as moderator in the open forum of the conference.
March 27, 2009 at 2:14 pm |
It’s funny how he isnt well liked in the UK for his support of Bush in Iraq. In my opinion its better not to stay in the middle and to make a strong point by supporting the US against terrorism…Im not a fan of war but sometimes leaders have to make some steps to ensure that certain things never happen again (remember 9.11)…pierres lucky to have attended the conference. How much did you shell out for the tickets?
March 28, 2009 at 9:42 pm |
Well said, BKS.
I’m a Brit, and was not a Labour party voter, but would vote for Labour in a flash, even now with the present economic mess, IF ONLY Tony Blair were back leading the country. And I do NOT believe I am alone in this. Some opinion pollsters stopped asking people if they’d like Blair back after they had the consistent answer “yes”. No group wants to sponsor another poll to get this answer again, especially since he is no longer interested (purportedly) or even an MP right now.
In my humble opinion, he was the best thing that happened to the Labour party, probably in ALL of it existence, dragging it screaming and kicking away from its class-based anti-business, anti-authority, anti-world-stage approach, to name but three. He was also the best thing that happened to the country for decades, for instance settling the Northern Ireland conflicts where ALL his predecessors had failed. He doesn’t even get enough thanks for this from the anti-brigade here in Britain.
They also seem to have no understanding of the power of communication. Blair is probably the only politician who can touch people in a light hearted way AND on serious issues, naturally.
As for Iraq – people are beginning to join the dots and seeing WHY Blair saw our best defence as being with the USA in what he used to refer to as “this terrorism”.
So, don’t believe all the junk about him being the most hated man in Britain over Iraq or anything else. This is the press’s take and their ongoing attempt at brainwashing (as they have been doing on other issues.)
They have an agenda. They are either of the Right, like the Daily Mail (widest readership in the country) or of the political Old Left and largely anti-Iraq war. The Left are VERY wrong in this Iraq nonsense. Blair and Bush were right.
History will prove this. In the meantime we have lost out here in the UK, when we didn’t fight to keep Tony Blair as Prime Minister (me excepted, in all modesty!)
I’ll link your post to my site, here:
http://keeptonyblairforpm.wordpress.com/2009/03/28/tony-blair-the-prophet-outwith-without-his-own-land/
March 31, 2009 at 9:56 pm |
Hello Mr. Keep Tony Blair,
Like I said, it seems that world leaders are more popular abroad than in their home country. And perhaps, Mr. Blair is, unjustly, one of them. And I also agree with you, he is indeed the best thing that ever happened to the Labour Party.
In my observance of world leaders, both past and present, they are often more measured or remembered by the unpopular decisions they’ve made rather than their exemplary choices.
Although I do not agree in Mr. Blair’s decision to jump the Bush bandwagon ( I was a firm supporter of Jacques Chirac’s policy on Iraq), I have to commend him when, during his speech in Manila, he was asked will he still support the war in Iraq, he said;” A decision must be made at that time”. And added that he do not regret making that decision. If you have been keeping track of politics here in the Philippines, I am afraid that no Filipino politician would admit that they made the wrong decision (ooops, except for one, the “I am sorry” speech of Pres. GMA, but is it sincere? Your guess is as good as mine)
I heard that Gordon Brown is also not doing a good job right now being PM in handling the economic crisis, despite being the Chancellor of the Exchequer for more than 10 years.
March 30, 2009 at 3:12 pm |
@ keeptonyblairforpm
Hello. Dont worry I dont believe everything from the press or from what I watch on TV. I had the chance to talk to a few friends from the UK and unfortunately what they noticed was a common perception that most if not all the people they spoke to were not in favor of Blair supporting the war in Iraq. Thus passing on the same impression of the people they talked to me (just shows that the approach I used was not the best way to gather the info I needed
). But again I always believe that one can never be in the middle. Its easier said than done but thats how I look at things in life. Which makes Blair very admirable since being PM at that time was never easy and one wrong move could spell disaster. At the same time I view effective leaders as those who put focus on communication. I can go on and on about what I perceive effective leaders to be but I wouldnt 
I hope though that Blair considers occupying the position again and or people over your part of the globe work together to make the economy better (3rd world countries greatly depend on 1st world although Blair mentioned India to be a economic power in a few years). Its a little bit depressing anywhere you go now a days but we just have to find ways to survive. Thank you for the brief lesson on UK politics. Are you a Muay thai fan by any chance?
March 31, 2009 at 10:02 pm |
BKS,
I really hope Tony Blair would do an excellent job being the Envoy of the Quartet to the Middle East. If he will be able to resolve the conflict that originated during Biblical times in the Middle East, I think that would earn him the Noble Peace Prize. He reminds me of Pres. Jimmy Carter who was able to do more for the world after his presidency. Like what Tony Blair said during his speech in Manila, “People seems to be kinder to you when you’re no longer in power”.
By the way, I’m just a poor proletariat. I didn’t shell out thousands for the privilege of attending the said conference.
March 30, 2009 at 3:37 pm |
When I said Blair considers occupying I meant Blair wanting to run or considering to. I hope you get what I was trying to say
March 31, 2009 at 2:38 pm |
Let Tony Blair get a complete background about the problems about the NPA, problems in Mindanao and Abu Sayyaf/MILF – I am somewhat interested on his idea of a solution for these problems in our country.
So far, Britain’s armed forces did well in Basra and as history tells it, the UK was successful in delaying the insurgency in Aden and successful in the Malayan Insurgency. Maybe our Philippine government can at least bring a finality to the Maoist insurgency.
March 31, 2009 at 10:03 pm |
Hello Ray, I am also intrigued on the advices he gave to Pres. GMA during their lunch meeting.