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SANIB-SINAG
3 April 30, 1998
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COOPERATIVES are synergism-oriented by nature. The members are essentially the prime movers of whatever activity or program they intend to pursue for everybody’s benefit. They add their assets together to maximize their use, therefore multiplying manifold the returns. Such, basically, is a cooperative; such, essentially, is synergism.
It has been an overwhelming experience indeed to learn from cooperatives how they actualize the synergism factor in their everyday existence and becoming very successful in their attempts. But fortunately for some who are not working together enough in maximizing the potential of their own cooperatives, there are and always there will be people who are willing to share even at the barest effort the lessons and learnings and practical tips in building real synergism among themselves, magnifying their individual and collective efforts, thus advancing their own sense of cooperativism.
The Saniblakas ng Taongbayan Foundation has identified some very important roles of cooperatives in the broader people’s synergism for the people’s empowerment.
Cooperative as Cutting-Edge
The Cooperative is the "cutting edge," achieving "breakthrough experiences" in effecting ways and means in actualizing synergism in the broader Philippine society. As each cooperative becomes more and more efficient and effective in responding to the needs of the times, growing successfully in numbers and strength, and reaping rewards from their achievements, the celebration can only move no other way but forward.
Each of these successful experiences is essentially a rich source of practical lessons. Each difficult step to be made by a slowly-growing coop or a newly-birthed one will be needing practical solutions to their own problems.
And these lessons will not only be useful in their handling of practical affairs but will also give them the inspiration to move on, to go forward, to be a success in their own right!
One can never tell the overwhelming consequences of boosting another’s morale. The kind that enables you to recognize and reassert your own purpose. Equally important is the ability of the successful cooperatives to help provide material support to the ones needing it the most.
The funds may be directed to specific areas which need more attention. Some may need it more for their capability-building, while others may need it for their projects. Whatever need it may answer, the point is still that only the strong cooperatives are able to give that kind of support.
Thus, part of the result of becoming successful is getting the capability to help others become successful too. And there is no success to contribute to the wealth of positive experiences if you are not successful yourself. Similarly, there is no empowerment to share if you are not empowered yourself.
Cooperatives’ Direct Contribution to People’s Empowerment.
As the growing potential to achieve one’s goals increases, the capability to support others in achieving their own goals spreads like fire. The total human development is addressed by looking into the deeper needs of the organizations and the members of the organizations.
The ability to actualize the work is far more important than just thinking about it. And unless the cooperatives are able to transform their plans into actions then there is a problem blocking their empowerment. That is, essentially, how cooperatives can have direct contribution to people’s empowerment. That is how multiplying the growth and success of one’s own cooperative as well as others becomes empowerment.
Bonus: the ‘Ripple Effect’
As these cooperative go on realizing their goals and increasing their capabilities, more and more things are accomplished along the way. The coope ratives become successful one after another. Society becomes more conscious of the roles of the cooperatives in a larger picture.
This is also where economic power becomes visible and thus gives the people the opportunity to be heard, to have political power, to be properly represented, and have cultural power as well. The list of positive results may go on and on as one can imagine the ripple effect of it all.
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