Written by bro. Noel R. Guevara

PASAKALYE: In the forefront of the BCBP “Be Honest Tapat Dapat” (BHTD) movement is bro. Noel, BCBP Kalibo’s first guest contributor and the current Western Visayas Regional Coordinator for Programs and Services. Having previously served as Chapter Head of Iloilo, he’s not just a leader – he’s been there from the beginning. Noel, along with other BCBP stalwarts from across the nation, were behind the transformation of BHTD from a mere personal advocacy into the impactful movement we find it today. This article, originally a Facebook Messenger “call-to-action” post to the new batch of Western Visayas Honesty Champions, is reproduced herein in its entirety with the author’s kind permission. You can connect with Noel directly on Facebook at @NoelGuevara. – Pinoy Honcho

BCBP is not a static community. Navigating the Digital Era is a challenge to most organizations if you intend to be relevant with the times. Otherwise, you go the way of the dinosaurs that became extinct for their failure to adapt to the changing times. Communication is a vital aspect in defining who we are and it may take different forms. Communication is not only verbal, it can be an image, a catchy tagline, a branding that resonates with your current audience and market for recruitment in order to physically grow. Our Be Honest advocacy has transformed in that respect.

HOW THE BE HONEST ADVOCACY EVOLVED

Twenty years ago, in 2004 BCBP adopted the Be Honest advocacy which was aimed to unite and give social purpose to its members. It was originally used as a public pillar of BCBP’s mission work. Motorcades, walkathons, fun runs, stickering were the orders of the day to raise awareness. The advocacy was bullish in promoting integrity, fair work standards, Christian Transformational Leadership to curb corruption and the Halalang Marangal initiative which targeted electoral aspirants to sign an Honesty Pledge. It was a call for honesty and transparency and for all winning candidates to declare their SALN. Despite the criticism from some members of opposing political inclinations BCBP remained steadfast in its form and purpose to this day. Indeed our Be Honest Advocacy has no political color to those who labor for integrity and justice.

BEYOND AWARENESS

Today from an internal advocacy with a dated tagline Be Honest, to a campaign since 2012, this call has evolved and transitioned into the BE HONEST, TAPAT DAPAT MOVEMENT. A National Strategic Planning and Workshop was held in Alabang last February and was rolled out to the Chapter Heads, Programs and Services Heads, and Digital and Communication Heads of the Region. Beyond the refreshing communication strategy that uplifts the branding, Be Honest Tapat Dapat is no longer just a concept but an inspiration for every BCBP member to live a unified life by OWNING, LIVING and AMPLIFYING honesty as a way of life.

The CALL TO SOCIAL ACTION challenges everyone to seek novel and impactful ways to establish a stable traction to the young generation of BCBP members and make the movement a catalyst for positive change.

We are to create ALLIANCES with big corporations (we have done this with Globe), the government, institutions, the church, academe, professions, etc. to better amplify our voice. We are to put more value to our efforts. Beyond just painting Be Honest murals and putting up tarpaulins, let us collaborate with big brands to maximize visual impact, let us organize fun runs in collaboration with the local government to gather more people who also advocate for a healthy lifestyle, let us involve the Academe in honesty symposiums, oratorical, art and entertainment competitions. The ideas are limitless.

Best of all, while we aspire to transform our advocacy to a more ACTIONABLE CAUSE, everything must start from within.