Dear All,

Today is a big feast for Christians: the feast offers a new beginning. A new mind. Because the Holy Spirit Brings this invitation to us in this feast- to calm one's restless soul, to be deeply in touch with one's interiority in creating an intimate relationship with one's God and be renewed.

It is grace that the launch of Imagine Philippines Movement happened a day before the celebration of the Pentecost. It gives us - the participants - the chance to define a response to the invitation of Imagine Philippines Movement. We have a day of rest and silence to take stock what the event has awakened in the deep recesses of our consciousness.

And I believe that our collective minds now await the actions we may need to forge and mount - Now Na - towards The Philippines we all deserve.

In the conversation yesterday, we affirmed that our situation cries out for change that begins with the self; and beyond the self. This change requires connectedness across status, socio-economic-cultural-political-religious orientations, genders and generations.

In the exchange yesterday, we have surfaced those factors tha give us - Filipinos - all the reasons to celebrate with pride. Remember the free flow of the energy of the life forces of our Being Filipino after we shared our stories... individuals found themselves singing and dancing (what a sight how the ladies danced and the gentlement, like Nicky, hiding behind Sr. May John!) to the tune... 'I Have a Dream.' (The secretariat will post the launch's outputs within the next week!).

In the launch yesterday, we - the participants - experienced to be with like-minded individuals making ourselves ready to make a contribution to the Phiippines that will bring us renown in Leadership and Integrity in all aspects of our national life.

The May 30 event has commenced in all of us a slow shift in our paradigms. (A paradigm is a mental set; a way of seeing.) From 'nega-mentality' to a celebration of who we really are. From set ways of running an event to more flowing series of activities hoping to strike that spark the assembly needs to take on a collective journey to bring this country we all love to a state of great unity, integrity and productivity. From having structures to open spaces that allow each one to make a contribution. From merely receiving information to discovering these.

As we now talk about the experience and in my capacity as lead representative of the institution that launched this initiative, I would like to put together some practical information for our friends and partners:

1. The event adhered to Open Space settings - what and how we experienced the day evoked engagement, questions (because it did not offer the next action), high energy, emerging aliiances and mounting surprises.

From the organizer' point: we are aware of these strings of renewing events. We are aware that the first important effect of the event is the breaking through of the paradigm change and new relations. Alleluia!

2. The event leaves us with the question: Where to from here?

Please tell us.

From our end, this communication is our way of telling you what we see is upcoming. But, we are only a part of the bigger assembly. Hence, let us know.

SAIDI School of OD is your willing secretariat and resource in applying planned positive change towards The Philippines we desire. We will receive your suggestions; we will receive your stories; we will accept questions (and get answers for these); and we will post your stories in the website... www.imaginephilippines.com. And, we offer our expertise in the use of appreciative inquiry to your initiatives.

3. Please expect the bulletin on the May 30 Launch on or before June 12, 2009. Log in at www.imaginephilippines.com

In closing, I would like to commend the hard work and convey my congratulations to Dr. Luchie P. Ticzon, the graduates (1st Batch) of the Certificate in Positive OD program and the staff of the School of OD.

I would like to express 'my deepest thanks' to the many who came, most especially to those who remained and made  their commitments.

And lastly, this initiative was conceptualized in SAIDI School of OD but rolled out in partnership with luCin Foundation, Nick Perlas' PAGASA Group, the Usaping Filipino Group, in particular, Grace Calleja, Lisa Araneta, Tony Cruzada, Adolf Pinlac, Andy Moran, Nex Agustin, and Ica Fernandez, Dr. Sixto Roxas' Subsidiarity Movement, Sr. Mary John Mananzan's and Jun Lozada's call for Pagbabago. (Both have been working hand-in-hand with AMRSP and other alternative initiatives).

Mabuhay tayong lahat.

Tayo ay Pilipino. Mabuhay ang Pilipino!

Truly a Filipino,

Rosalina O. Fuentes, PhD.
Dean
SAIDI School of OD