My Swan Song To All of You, My Dear Colleagues at the ITMS

I would like to inform you that the Secretary has already approved my early retirement from government service effective 1 July 2006. I would have wanted to meet you all personally to say good-bye but given the emotional outbursts that erupted among the very first people to whom I impassively broke the news, I deemed it best to send a written message instead. Besides, emotions are beginning to run high on my part as well. I must admit Ill be leaving DOE with a heavy heart. For one, Ive always had big dreams for the DOE. Ive always dreamed of a fully automated DOE, that everything will be processed at the stroke of a finger. Ive always dreamed of the DOE having computerized systems which would facilitate processing and coordination among the different DOE units, thereby increasing client satisfaction and providing better services to the public. Ive always dreamed of the DOE having an integrated database centrally located in an information repository, which we would manage, to make dissemination of information a breeze. Ive had a lot of other dreams for the DOE, so many that my own dreams have, most of the time, taken the backseat. Weve done a lot in the three years that ITMS has been in existence. We have established the necessary ICT infrastructure, from the gateway down to the cables and the NIC, from the high-end servers down to the workstations, from the information superhighway down to our very own intranet. We have achieved for the DOE a PC-tomanpower ratio of 1:1. We have proven our worth as systems analysts, designers, developers and administrators, given the successful implementation of CALMS, HRIS, eNGAS, DTS, DLIS, and ICTRMS, to name a few. We have facilitated informationsharing among the DOE officials and employees via the DOE Intranet. We have paved the way for the integration of all digital data through the development of the Energy Information Center (EIC) Intranet. We have established a geographic information system for the energy sector. We have catered to the information needs of stakeholders and the general public through the Energy Data Center, Records Center and the DOE Library. We have continuously improved our information packaging services. We have been at the beck and call of every DOE official and employee to serve all their ICT needs and requirements. In sum, we have efficiently and effectively served the DOE, the energy sector, and the general public in terms of systems development, network administration, information packaging, database/ records management, computer hardware/software procurement and maintenance, survey and mapping.

Yes, weve done a lot. But on closer look, we are not even halfway into the fulfillment of my dreams as I leave the DOE. Not yet. But allow me to thank all of you for sharing these dreams with me, for making my dreams not merely mine but yours and ours as well, for believing in what weve been doing for the DOE, for joining hands with me in turning the ITMS and the DOE into a center of excellence. Not only that. Id also like to thank you for sharing with me the same set of values- integrity, commitment to service, respect for others, strong work ethic and teamwork- which served as our guide in doing our daily tasks and in interacting with other people, both internally and externally. At this point, Id also like to say sorry to those whose feelings I might have hurt one way or another. Whatever could have been my reason/s - to draw out the best in you, to preserve peace and harmony in the workplace, to curb abusive practices, to put an end to unethical behavior, to discourage lethargy and slothfulness, to promote the common good please understand that in all my plans, decisions, and actions, Ive always had the same guiding principle- our common vision and mission for the DOE and the common set of values that we share. Ive never taken anything against anyone personally. Trabaho lang, walang personalan, so to speak. Ive tried my best not to play favorites. If ever Ive had favorites, these are not persons but always the right and proper things to do as far as work is concerned. Ive always tried to be as objective, fair and just as I could. Now that Im leaving the DOE, Ive nothing but fond memories to bring with me. I will always keep in my heart our motto of working while we enjoy and enjoying while we work. I will always treasure our commitment, passion and enthusiasm to serve our officemates, stakeholders and the public at large. I will always remember our many battle cries: One System, One Database, One DOE; Service Delayed is Service Denied; Finish what weve started; and If a thing is worth doing, its worth doing well. I will always cherish the strong attachment and great concern weve had for one another- that its not you and yours or me and mine or they and them, but rather we and us. Thank you for bearing with me. Thank you for buoying our group up. Thank you for helping me build this strong fortress called ITMS. We could not have achieved all those accomplishments without our mutual trust, support and cooperation. So please carry on. Lets not rest on our laurels. Please continue to serve the DOE, our stakeholders, and the general public as meekly and selflessly as weve always done. Please continue to work hard for our dreams. In an old Chinese story, a wise teacher asked people whats the Most Satisfying Thing in Life. Great wealth, some replied. Others said, Good health. There were many more answers, but after everyone failed to give the correct one, the teacher said: The most satisfying thing in life is to see a child confidently walk down the road on his own after you have shown him the right way to go.

This indeed is the deepest joy I now experience in the delicate task of leading, coaching, mentoring and caring for the group, with a happy thought that when Im gone, each and everyone of you will confidently walk down the road on your own inasmuch as Ive shown you the right way to go. Nonetheless, Ive always believed you possess the necessary knowledge, skills, expertise and values to be able to serve. These have always been there inside you. And I merely served as Gods instrument in helping you unleash your inner strength. So now, I am confident that Ill be leaving behind competent, committed and cooperative group of professionals collectively called the ITMS. Im proud of our achievements. Im proud of our legacy to the DOE. Most of all, Im proud of our team. Cheers! God bless.