New Hope Is in Our Hands

By Ken Lerona

We often speak of hope as something that arrives from elsewhere—a change in leadership, a stroke of fortune, or a policy handed down from the powers that be. But what if we begin to see hope not as something to wait for, but something to work for? What if, in this new season, we stop looking up and start reaching out?

New hope is in our hands. Not in a metaphorical sense, but quite literally—in the choices we make each day, in the way we treat each other, in the kind of community we decide to build.

A Broader Meaning of Progress

When we talk about progress, let us be careful not to confine it within the walls of industry and commerce. Economic growth is essential—yes—but it is only one part of a much bigger picture.

Real progress is holistic. It is the kind of advancement that not only builds buildings but also builds people. It is about creating spaces where our fellow Ilonggos are physically well, mentally strong, and emotionally supported. It is about nurturing an environment where a child from Calinog or Estancia can dream just as boldly—and just as realistically—as someone from Makati or Manhattan.

Let’s also talk about financial literacy, not just employment. Let’s speak of personal growth alongside career advancement. And let’s not forget the soul of our identity: our culture, our language, our heritage. Because without them, what are we advancing toward?

Culture, Environment, and the Care Economy

We cannot speak of sustainable progress without acknowledging the very earth that sustains us. Our rivers, our farms, our forests—these are not just backdrops to our success stories. They are the stories. The foundation of the Ilonggo way of life has always been one of harmony with nature. Let’s not lose that legacy.

And culture? That, too, is a resource—though not a finite one. It grows when we take care of it. It flourishes when we tell our stories, preserve our crafts, sing our songs, and walk in the footsteps of those who came before us. Progress is not progress if it erases where we came from.

Let us also champion the care economy—the silent backbone of our community. Our healthcare workers, teachers, caregivers, and community leaders—they embody the Ilonggo spirit of pag-alagad (service). A prosperous Iloilo cannot exist without recognizing their dignity and uplifting their livelihoods.

Education as a Commitment to Home

We must also revisit the way we view education. World-class education should not simply be about creating graduates who are ready for Manila or abroad. It must be about preparing individuals who choose to stay—because there is opportunity, dignity, and purpose here.

When our brightest minds believe that their best life is possible in Iloilo, we will know we have succeeded.

That means working together to create a robust local economy, nurturing a vibrant cultural scene, investing in innovation, and ensuring that public services are efficient and equitable. We must connect education to entrepreneurship, innovation to inclusion, and learning to leadership.

A Call to Collective Action

This new season calls for a new kind of hope. Not one that passively awaits a savior, but one that believes we are the solution we’ve been waiting for. Every Ilonggo has a role to play—students, elders, workers, business owners, public officials, artists, farmers, and professionals.

Progress is not owned by any one sector or group. It is shared. And that means it must also be shaped collectively.

Let’s reframe how we think of development. Not as a finish line we’re trying to reach, but as a community garden we are tending. Each action—small or big—is a seed. Are we planting hope, or are we planting indifference?

The Hands That Build the Future

In every barangay hall, in every classroom, in every public jeepney, in every workplace, we have the opportunity to practice communal responsibility. We show this in how we manage our waste, how we treat strangers in public spaces, how we talk about our city and province, and how we choose kindness over convenience.

Let us not wait for perfect conditions before we move. Let us move, and by doing so, create better conditions.

Because the truth is this: the future is not something to predict. It is something to build.

And what a beautiful tomorrow we can create—when we build it together, one hand at a time.

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Ken Lerona is a marketing and branding leader with over 20 years of experience across consumer, telecommunication, real estate, logistics technology, and consumer finance technology industries. He gives talks and workshops for private and government organizations. He is also a consultant of reputational risk management. Find him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/kenlerona.