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Tony Blair: An ordinary human being in an extraordinary situationdate posted: 2009-03-24 16:33:17
By Rick Olivares
 “If someone had told me that one day I’d be prime minister, I would have laughed, and my friends would have been worried” exclaimed Tony Blair in a whew-what-a-life moment at the Q and A that followed his talk at the Ateneo MVP Center Sesquicentennial Leadership Forum on March 23, 2009.
Blair, the former prime minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who described himself as an ordinary human being in an extraordinary situation, had an audience of over 1,500 at the Irwin Theater laughing as he spiced his experiences with witty one-liners and humorous anecdotes.
If the picture in our minds of national leaders is of the droll, humorless, and smug type, Tony Blair was quite the charming opposite as he was candid and introspective. He gave a glimpse of a personal side as a Guardian in Faith that was perhaps never revealed to most of the world.
Blair may have sounded like Robert Ludlum’s globe-trotting Jason Bourne telling his tales of standing at the banks of the Jordan River, tempting temptation at the Mount beyond Jericho, or working the dinner talk circuit during Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 44th American president. But he skirted the cloak and dagger in the decision making behind the invasion of Iraq and the problems that stem from the acceptance and interpretation of different faiths.
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(From left) Fr. Ben Nebres, SJ, Blair, Manny Pangilinan, Fr. Jojo Magadia, SJ.
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With the Ateneo Board of Trustees
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While continuing his public service as a Quartet Representative to the Middle East, he makes time to share valued learnings. Yet, suffice it to say that even in this distant corner of the world where Britannia ruled the Philippines ever so briefly (1762-1764), he, too, is taking home with him some valuable lessons that back up his theories.
As he stood in front of the Rizal Monument in Luneta the day before, he noted that the national hero was a profoundly educated man who made a difference. “Education is the difference in the success of countries,” he emphasized.
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Blair, with Fr. Ben, MVP, Fr. Jojo and Ateneo student leaders
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With Ateneo de Manila University administrators
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During a quick visit to Intramuros, he stood inside the San Agustin Church and marveled at how rich and varied our history is, yet, at the same time how our present problems are shared by most nations.
Blair was correct in pointing out a lack of a sense of solidarity to make things work, but he omitted the sins of colonialism that exacerbated old hatreds and prejudices.
While it is always good to understand and study history, Blair presented several truths or values that form the crux of his stewardship in a time of globalization: that today’s problems require a unified response; that response should be based on concepts and ideas that are fair, just and equitable; that response should be respectful of different faiths; and that response should bind people together.
As a youngster, Blair envisioned himself to be a rock star in the mold of the Rolling Stone that gathers no moss, Mick Jagger. He sang and played guitar until a friend, who as a true friend should be, pronounced with all due honesty, that from thereon Blair should just play the guitar and leave the singing chores to him.
If you tell Tony Blair today that he could have been a rock star maybe in the vein of his current favorites U2, he’d enjoy a hearty laugh. He certainly was better off as the Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Photos by Teya Sabado
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