Having just returned from an extended trip abroad, I am shocked at the headlines regarding Department of Labor personnel accused of “sex for fly”. Even assuming they are guilty, I hasten to confirm that those instances are the exception rather than the rule. It may not be as newsworthy but there are individuals who have served the nation with dignity and commitment to excellence which greatly outnumber the sorry lot that give public service a bad name. I would like to cite two examples of individuals who have made immense contribution to our national interest and yet have managed to keep under the radar despite their very senior positions in government and the private sector. Tomas I. Alcantara He cannot be categorized as a career public servant although he continued to serve the public interest long after his brief stint in government. Tommy belongs to a prosperous Davao family. He graduated from Ateneo de Manila, went to Harvard for his MBA and then to Columbia for an Advanced Management Program. He then went into private business as was expected of him. In 1986, he was invited to join the government of President Cory Aquino as undersecretary of Trade and Industry, a position he occupied for nine years. I first met him in 1992 when I was in DFA. He impressed me as a driven individual, politely aggressive but fiercely stubborn if prevented from getting the job done. During my first trip to Japan, he volunteered to join my delegation. It Read More …