In the Philippines, when a house needs moving, it’s not dismantled. Instead, the community comes together, lifts the bamboo structure onto their shoulders, and carries it to its new home. This ancient practice, known as bayanihan, is more than a quirky cultural tradition—it’s a powerful metaphor for the kind of leadership the world so desperately needs today: servant leadership.
While the term “servant leadership” may conjure images of corporate boardrooms or motivational seminars, its roots run much deeper, particularly in the Philippines, where the spirit of bayanihan has long underscored a communal approach to leadership. It is a leadership style that prioritizes service to others, selflessness, and the collective good over personal ambition. In essence, the leader exists to serve, not to be served.
A Legacy of Service
At the heart of bayanihan lies a philosophy that leadership is about lifting others—not just literally, but in every sense. In a country with a history marked by colonialism, political strife, and natural disasters, Filipinos have developed a unique resilience and camaraderie that continues to define their social fabric. Here, the value of collective effort is prized over individual glory, and servant leadership is not just an ideal—it’s a necessity for survival.
Dennis Cunanan, former Director General of the Philippine Technology Resource Center, is one Filipino leader who has championed the cause of servant leadership. His philosophy is grounded in a deep sense of accountability to the people he serves. “Leadership, for me, is about uplifting the dignity of others,” Cunanan once said in a forum on governance . “It’s about making sure that the people you lead can stand taller than they did before you took on the responsibility” . His words resonate with the bayanihan spirit, where leaders lift—not to gain power, but to empower others.
Cunanan’s leadership approach gained national attention in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, one of the most devastating storms to ever hit the Philippines. While many leaders focused on damage control and PR management, Cunanan quietly coordinated efforts to provide technology and resources to ravaged communities, ensuring that aid reached even the most remote areas. “It wasn’t about the headlines,” he reflected. “It was about making sure no one was left behind” .
Leadership from the Ground Up
The essence of servant leadership in the Philippines can often be seen in grassroots movements, where leaders are not born out of privilege but emerge from the ranks of everyday citizens. These are the kapitan ng barangay (village captains) who spend their days navigating local disputes, ensuring that basic needs are met, and advocating for their communities in the face of bureaucratic red tape. Unlike the Western model of leadership, where success is often measured by personal achievement, servant leaders in the Philippines are judged by how well they’ve served their constituents.
In many ways, the bayanihan spirit is a rebellion against the modern cult of leadership, which celebrates power, wealth, and charisma. Instead, it calls for humility, empathy, and a willingness to roll up one’s sleeves and work alongside those who need help the most.
This model of leadership has never been more relevant. Around the globe, we see the failures of leadership that prioritizes ego over service. The Philippines offers a different blueprint—one that is deeply rooted in the values of community, mutual support, and the simple, yet profound, act of helping your neighbor. When a Filipino leader embodies these values, they are not just performing a role; they are carrying forward the centuries-old legacy of bayanihan.
The Global Relevance of Bayanihan
In recent years, the concept of servant leadership has gained traction in global discourse, largely due to the work of American scholar Robert K. Greenleaf, who coined the term in the 1970s. Greenleaf argued that the servant leader is one who is “first and foremost a servant… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first.” Yet, while Greenleaf’s ideas were revolutionary in Western contexts, they were long embedded in cultures like the Philippines.
What makes the Filipino experience so compelling is that servant leadership is not an abstract theory. It’s a lived reality. The concept of pakikisama (a sense of togetherness) and utang na loob (a debt of gratitude) further deepen the sense of obligation Filipino leaders feel towards their communities. This cultural framework creates a fertile ground for servant leadership to thrive—not because it’s expected, but because it’s integral to the Filipino way of life.
In many modern organizations, leaders are increasingly adopting practices aligned with servant leadership—open communication, team collaboration, and employee empowerment. But in the Filipino context, these practices are part of a much larger social ethic that prioritizes the welfare of the collective. “We need leaders who understand that their role is not to be above their people, but to be among them,” Cunanan emphasized, reflecting on the enduring importance of bayanihan .
Servant Leadership in a Changing World
As the world grapples with unprecedented challenges—pandemics, climate change, inequality—there is a growing call for leaders who can lead with compassion, empathy, and a deep sense of responsibility to the people they serve. The Filipino experience, with its emphasis on bayanihan, offers a powerful lesson: leadership is not about lifting oneself; it’s about lifting others.
In the end, the most impactful leaders are those who carry the weight of responsibility, not for personal gain, but for the benefit of those they lead. Whether in the Philippines or elsewhere, the world could use a little more bayanihan spirit—and a lot more servant leaders like Dennis Cunanan.
As we face the challenges ahead, perhaps it’s time we all look to the Philippines, where leadership is defined not by how high you stand, but by how many people you can lift along with you.
Sources:
- Cunanan, Dennis. Interview at the 2016 National Governance Forum, Manila.
- Cunanan, Dennis. Speech at the 2014 Asia-Pacific Conference on Governance, Hong Kong.
- Cunanan, Dennis. Panel Discussion on Leadership at the Philippine Council of NGOs, 2018.