ILIGAN CITY (PIA)–With the conclusion of the six-month-long Obama Foundation Global Leaders Program that started in February this year, Assistant Professor Abu Al-Rasheed T. Tanggol, known as “Boggs” to friends and colleagues, stands at a pivotal moment in his journey of transformation.
Boggs is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, teaching courses related to public administration, public policy, and peace and conflict resolution. He is also the director of the Institute for Policy Innovation and Leadership. He has been actively involved in peace and conflict resolution since 2007 and public policy since 2013.
A member of the Moro and Lumad Indigenous communities, Boggs carries a deep-seated passion for advocating the right to self-determination for Indigenous peoples in Mindanao. His overarching mission is to enhance governance and public policy practices within the region, reflecting his commitment to meaningful and positive change.
The Obama Foundation, established by former American President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, is in charge of facilitating the Obama Leaders Program, a transformative leadership initiative. It is designed to unite emerging leaders from Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and Europe in a virtual journey of value-based leadership development.
The program comprises structured modules, beginning with self-discovery of personal values, progressing to self-leadership and collaboration with diverse peers, and culminating in driving positive change within communities. Notably, the program fosters one-on-one coaching sessions and features a convening in Athens, Greece. Out of the 105 emerging leaders worldwide, Boggs is one of the three representatives from the Philippines and the sole representative from Mindanao.
Embracing a brighter future
As Boggs reflects on the invaluable lessons learned and the profound impact of the program, his focus turns to the future, brimming with plans and aspirations to amplify positive change in his homeland of Mindanao.
He returned with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear vision of the path ahead. The program’s extensive curriculum has equipped him with a treasure trove of knowledge and skills.
From the program, Boggs gained valuable knowledge and skills applicable to his work at the university, particularly in governance, public policy, and peace and conflict resolution.
He also draws inspiration from the idea of agile organizations, which he has embraced in response to the rapidly shifting global environment. With the climate crisis looming, he emphasized that Iligan City’s aspirations to become a smart city require adaptability and forward-thinking strategies. He is also committed to transforming his organization into an agile organization capable of addressing emerging threats and policy issues with agility and precision.
“After the values-based leadership program that I have been through, I want to put values at the core of how I lead my own organization as well,” he said.
Boggs also greatly values the vast network he gained from the program, an opportunity he never expected as a Mindanaoan. Being part of a diverse cohort of 35 in the Asia-Pacific region allowed him to build a valuable community of practice. With this network, he can seek resources, expertise, and collaboration opportunities to make a meaningful impact not only within his organization and team but also in Iligan, Mindanao, and the Philippines as a whole.
Vision for youth empowerment
Boggs plans to develop a leadership program tailored for young leaders in Mindanao. While acknowledging that it may not reach the global scale of the Obama Foundation Leaders Program, he believes it is a crucial starting point to nurture potential leaders not only from Iligan but from across Mindanao. Seeing youth as the long-term solution to societal challenges, he recognizes the importance of programs for young leaders alongside formal education at the university.
Boggs also encourages the youth to not let their circumstances limit their potential or vision for the future. He encourages them to dream big and explore opportunities beyond their comfort zones, as it is in challenging environments that their perspectives can truly evolve.
“Dream big, because you can choose to be the big fish in the pond or the small fish in the sea. It’s always good to be in the bigger sea because it is actually where your perspective changes,” he said.
He reminds them that circumstances need not define one’s potential and that with resilience and determination, they can overcome setbacks to achieve their aspirations.
Assistant Professor Abu Al-Rasheed T. Tanggol stands proud as the sole Mindanaoan among 105 fellows of the Obama Foundation Leaders Program.
Reflecting on transformation
Boggs is thankful for the program, emphasizing the profound impact it had on his leadership perspective. The former president Obama’s personal engagement and helpful advice for up-and-coming leaders made meeting him seem surreal. He appreciated Obama’s insight that leadership and achieving desired outcomes often involve an incremental, non-linear process with bumps and turns.
Celebrating small victories along the way and maintaining a clear vision were his key takeaways. Additionally, Boggs valued the program’s emphasis on self-care and reflective practice, recognizing the importance of taking time for personal well-being, especially when working to bring about positive change in communities.
“It’s important to be able to celebrate those small victories knowing that you have that vision of what you want to achieve and that the journey may not necessarily be easy, but having that vision in mind is always good,” he said.
Looking ahead, Boggs carries the program’s legacy with a clear mission: to serve as a beacon of values-based leadership, empower the youth, and lead his organization and community towards a brighter and more sustainable future. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
