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SHAPING OUR DESTINY
by Nick B. Fontanilla, Ph.D. (Word Document)

A new place is emerging in an isolated strip where Northern Iraq meets Eastern Turkey. Michael Totten of the Middle East Journal describes this place as the dream city although it is yet a place of the mind, not found on any map. Inhabitants are hopeful that it will soon form part of the official map and become a virtual state within a state. There is a master plan that is expected to set a trend in city planning. Totten reports that massive construction is going on to create a dream-like cityscape.

Dream or fantasy, the plan provides an interesting and unique approach to development, that is, from a dream city to a dream state: the city giving birth to a nation. Like Singapore which is widely considered a city state although shaped out of different circumstances.

What are dream cities? Vilma Patil, formerly of the Times of India Group, describes dream cities as magnets that attract millions of people from all walks of life. They provide a paradise of opportunities to make a dream a reality. Hollywood and Bollywood, although not cities, have that aura of a dream city because they attract artists from different places aspiring for a magical castle in the sky. Paris, Rome, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco are the fancied destinations of millions of dreamers.

In the Philippines, Manila was, at one time, the equivalent of a dream city, attracting millions of people from provinces with dreams of making it big. Many of them have in fact found the golden pot and are now leaders of industry. With super malls well spread out, many cities have become preferred destinations of dreamers. Unfortunately, they do not make a dream city as described by Totten and Patil. Most dreamers who walked in actually walked out devastated, empty handed. The economics of a dream city are just not there.

There is a new version of dream cities in the Philippines. They are happening. They fulfill the mandate of dream cities. They have the basic structures to make dreams happen.

Unlike Totten’s version of the dream city, however, these are creations of the state not by citizens. Working on the same limited resources and political environment as other cities, they have adjusted and proven to be magnets, attracting investors, visitors and students.

In alphabetical order, these cities are Calbayog (with a vision of one island, one people, one culture by 2015), Iloilo (a premiere city), Marikina (a model city in competitiveness in Southeast Asia by), Naga (Maogmang ciudadano sa maogmang lugar), San Fernando, La Union (a botanical garden city), San Fernando, Pampanga (gateway to North Philippines by), Sorsogon (a progressive gateway to the south), and Tagbilaran ( a prime eco-cultural tourism hub). There are 12 other cities that are soon to become dream cities.

These dream cities use a new framework for development that was crafted and implemented by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia headed by Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao.

The model recognizes the power of context and sees development from the perspective of every community. There are recognizable patterns. One, it is managed by a development-oriented mayor whose skills are respected by peers. Second, governance is widely accepted as a shared responsibility, manifested in a broad coalition of sectors. Third, it recognizes the value of a long-term vision and a strategy that is supported by all stakeholders. Fourth, stakeholders submit themselves to a scorecard that measures performance. Fifth, the strategy is balanced, that is, it takes into account drivers of past and future success. Fifth, it values prosperity for all and recognizes that everyone deserves a fair share of the fruits of development.

Empowered by the state, these dream cities Philippines have shown that real development emanates from the people. There are many positive outcomes. In Naga City, the business community volunteered to pay higher business taxes. In San Fernando Pampanga, members of the radical left and elite business circle worked together to craft a desired vision for the city and are today working side by side to realize that dream. In San Fernando La Union, the botanical garden city has taken shape. In Marikina and Sorsogon, you find responsible citizens in action. The list goes on.

These dream cities are the future and will shape the destiny of the country, create opportunities, and give many dreamers the chance to live their dreams.