By Jerome Alangui-Muguet Polonio, Ph.D
As we open the year 2026, communities across the Cordillera and the country stand at a defining moment. The world around us is shifting—economically, socially, environmentally, and culturally. In these times of rapid transition, one truth becomes clearer than ever: progress is not built by individuals acting alone, but by people empowering one another.
Today, the call is urgent and unmistakable:
We must learn together, lead together, and change our communities together.
Learning: The Foundation of Real Empowerment
Learning is more than sitting in seminars or finishing training modules. It is a continuous cycle of reflection, adaptation, and growth.
When farmers adopt climate-smart technologies, when women entrepreneurs gain confidence through financial literacy, when youth acquire life and leadership skills, and when cooperatives strengthen governance and management—these are not simple lessons.
These are investments in a community’s long-term future.
Communities that embrace learning develop:
· The confidence to innovate
· The courage to solve problems
· The clarity to plan for sustainable development
Knowledge, when shared and applied, becomes the bridge between aspiration and achievement.
Leading with Purpose, Integrity, and Heart
Leadership is not defined by titles, positions, or authority. It is defined by responsibility for people’s welfare and future.
Across barangays, cooperatives, and community institutions, leaders serve as the compass in times of change. Whether they are elected officials, cooperative managers, barangay workers, youth champions, or volunteer organizers, their role is crucial.
Purpose-driven leadership requires:
· Integrity in decisions
· Empathy in understanding people’s needs
· Service that uplifts rather than commands
A community grows stronger when leadership is shared, not concentrated. When people are empowered to lead—formally or informally—development becomes everyone’s mission.
Changing Communities Through Unity and Collective Action
Real and lasting change happens when people move in unity.
Cooperatives, civil society groups, local governments, and people’s organizations all hold unique roles in shaping development. Progress emerges when these actors collaborate, support one another, and share resources and expertise.
We have witnessed transformation when:
· Farmers organize to gain better market access
· Women unite to build sustainable enterprises
· Grassroots leaders work together to resolve conflicts
· Institutions coordinate to craft integrated development plans
Community progress is not accidental—it is built on cooperation, trust, and shared commitment.
The Path Forward: Strengthening Our Collective Journey in 2026
As we step into a new year, the challenge is clear and compelling:
· Continue learning to remain responsive in a fast-changing world.
· Strengthen leadership that is ethical, visionary, and community-centered.
· Deepen collaboration that binds people together toward a shared purpose.
Every community has the capacity for transformation.
Every person has the power to contribute.
Every act of leadership—no matter how small—adds momentum to a broader movement of change.
A Call to All Cooperatives
Let 2026 be the year when cooperatives elevate their role not only as service providers, but as educators, leaders, and builders of resilient communities.
Let us embrace the belief that development is not the task of a few, but the achievement of many.
Let us move forward with unity, purpose, and hope.
Let us learn, let us lead, and let us change our communities—together.
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