Davao Dream

I had a dream last night. Someone came up to me and asked if I wanted to meet with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. I asked why Mayor Duterte might want to meet with me - I have no authority over anything or anybody, except myself. How could spending time with me possibly benefit Duterte?

An hour later, word came back to me that Duterte wanted to meet with this person who had authority over only himself - such a man is hard to find.

So I met with and then mentioned to the Mayor that we do have something in common. I too have a vision for Davao City. I see Davao being, years hence, one of the instantly recognizable cities internationally. It won't be its infrastructure; there will be no Eiffel Tower nor maze of skyscrapers Hong Kong style. Davao will be a noted hotbed for the free flow of ideas - for the open and active debate and development of progressive ideas. This secondary and higher-education based environment - filtering down to a massively-educated middle class citizenry - will drive a commercial expansion of the City, the likes of which has never been seen in the Philippines.

So, there you go, Mayor. Your next drive is education focused - but an education framework unlike anything in the Philippines now. You've stong-armed this City to a place fertile for this next phase. I can't wait to see it!

Silly dream.