Resourcefulness: The Art of Sustaining the Nation and Key to Securing Our Supply

By: JESUS V. SISON, PTRP
CRFV, Deputy National Director

​Where could we draw our resources from for sustainability and not just survivability? To whom shall we look up to for our supply and sustenance?
 
In a few days from now, both re-elected and newly elected government officials will take their respective seats of authority to administer the mandate they brought upon themselves. They asserted to uphold the constitution and bear true faith in their allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines. They swore to be faithful in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities. There's a tremendous responsibility and an arduous task. A sample of such a task is stated in Article II, Section 9 that "The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all."  Further, Article XII, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippines Constitution states that: "The goals of the national economy are a more equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and an expanding productivity as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged." The Nation waits and looks up to such ministers and administrators to unlock her vast natural resources and resource her children.
 
For countless decades, the Nation ran to and fro, anticipating the fulfillment of its aspirations through the people who pledged to protect, preserve, and serve her. However, we are not only referring to the elected officials, government officials, and/or employees, but we call upon everyone to reignite the fervent love and concern to resource her and her people toward fulfilling our national dream. To resource her, all of us are needed to be resourceful.
 
Resourcefulness, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is finding quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.  It entails rational problem-solving and decision-making skills, creativity, adaptability, innovativeness, proactivity, and maximizing available resources. The present pressing issues on the Nation's peace and order, food security, energy sufficiency, and other socio-economic challenges push the government and private individuals alike to be more ingenious in addressing them. We should be more resourceful rather than relying on debts and other band-aid solutions. We cannot afford to move between two positions or in conflicting directions repeatedly. We cannot continuously go back and forth, implying a sense of pressurized and agitated movements. If we do, after we utilize scarce resources, lose time, and exhaust our energy, we end up getting nowhere. Though we promote inter-independence and globalization, we cannot entrust the future of our Nation to other countries, people, or entities.
 
These challenging times are when real men and women with genuine care for the Nation and others are to rise and thrive. We would attend to the essentials of quality living and supply the needs for a better life. In developing resourcefulness, we must first challenge ourselves in seeking out situations that necessitate creative thinking and finding solutions. We must be open to exploring and rediscovering different approaches and views. Let's actively find answers as we also analyze past experiences for improvement. Lastly, we must connect with diverse individuals and build healthy knowledge-sharing networks.
 
Above all, as a nation, if we are to draw resources on behalf of the people we serve, run back to the Almighty God. Let's carry the attitude of Simon Peter, the apostle, when he answered Jesus Christ, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." People might run to and fro, looking for the things that will gratify them. Only in God would we be delighted, and His Living Word would sustain us as a nation and a people. "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of skeptics and doubters, but our heavenly Father already knows all our needs." We need to take an alternative action, as God said: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." We must first set our hearts on the kingdom of God and His goodness. The result will be miracles and unmerited favor as all these things will come to us as a matter of course.
 
We all deserve the fullness of life and not just in daily survival mode. We are not designed to be enslaved or at the mercy of circumstances. We are resourced by an open heaven and blessed to supply others and the Nation.