PROMOTED as a potent antidote to the current national malaise is the notion of synergy.

Synergism, in biology, is "the action of two or more substances, organs, or organisms to achieve an effect of which each is individually incapable" and in theology, it is "the doctrine that regeneration is effected by a combination of human will and divine grace." [The Heritage Illustrated Dictionary of the English Language]

Synergy as a concept can offset the erosion of territorial integrity. In practice, it is employed as the elixir against national disunity by Lambat-Liwanag.

Lambat-Liwanag is the network of academe-based research centers united by 15 empowering paradigms. The 15 patterns of behavior are: (1) total and integrated human development, (2) holistic health care, (3) deep ecology, (4) history, (5) democratic governance, (6) culture, (7) light-seeking education, (8) gender sensitivity, (9) justice, (10) associative economics, (11) leadership, (12) adaptive technology, (13) mutual enrichment of family and friendships, (14) human dignity and harmony, and (15) aesthetics without boundaries.

Lambat-Liwanag was established by the research centers of the Asian Social Institute, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Philippine Normal University, Philippine Science and Technology Center-Baguio, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of the Philippines Manila, and University of Santo Tomas, and joined recently by the Philippine Christian University, Letran, and the College of Community Health Development and Management. These academic institutions were brought together by the urgent need in our country to upgrade research work. This network, says Dr. Noemi A. Medina of PNU and Lambat-Liwanag Council chairperson, works to free the Filipinos from self-limiting patterns of thinking.

Prof. Enrique D. Torres of PUP, Council vice-chairperson, adds that the association is assisting the national campaigns to give our citizens real options to freely implement their individual and collective dreams. In this regard, Lambat-Liwanag co-sponsored with the SanibLakas Foundation and the UST Social Research Center its first conference on the empowering 15 paradigms.

The conference was a successful experiment in the free and open exchange of ideas. Paradigm no. 4, the sense of history and the sense of mission, was tackled by Corazon P. Coloma of PUP, Leny C. Morada of the CCHDM, Jeanette V. Loanzon of UST-SRC, Jose Eduardo Velasquez of the Museo ng Pasig, and this writer. They validated the four points of a mission-oriented study of history presented by SanibLakas Foundation president Ed Aurelio Reyes. The four points are: (1) use the 3-D view of history as a remedy to the fragmented teaching of our nation's story, (2) build a liberating outlook on our citizens' consolidated journey, (3) holistic consciousness of our collective experience, and (4) discernment of our mission to contribute to the betterment of humankind.

As an illustration of the four points, Prof. Ernesto R. Gonzalez, of UST and Lambat-Liwanag secretary general, cited two alumni of his university, Jose Rizal, the voice of the enlightenment in 19th century Philippines, and Emilio Jacinto, the Brains of the Katipunan. In his novel El Filibusterismo, Rizal "described microscopes glistening behind locked glass panels in storage display shelves. The students were then made to behold with awe these instruments of science instead of being able to use them to behold with much more awe the throbbing cells of life itself. Lambat-Liwanag in contrast seeks to develop all kinds of social microscopes and distribute them among the people so we may all view ourselves in the microcosm of how each ordinary Filipino thinks, behaves and lives."

The workshop group transcended the almost-ritualistic criticism of rote learning and emphasized instead the correct coupling of historical education with our nation's sense of mission. Prof. Coloma stated that some memorization of essential details cannot be avoided in studying history since memory itself is part of history. That memory contains our virtues, the examples of heroism, the national identity and our values.

Morada of the CCHDM asserted that our national mission includes our people's survival in the present context of globalization. To which added Velasquez of the Museo ng Pasig the inescapable fact that the basis of internationalism is nationalism. The workshop also brought out the following important points: (1) the synergistic approach must be utilized in the discussion of historic controversies like the dispute over the site and the date of the First Cry of the Revolution (Pugad-Lawin on August 23, 1896), (2) the recognition of the role of women enhances the telling of the story of the Filipinos, (3) there are three decks in the Philippine saga and the discussion of the political aspect must be joined with the economic and the cultural, and (4) the cross-breeding of academic disciplines can bolster our people's understanding of their own history. Synergism, which is the "cooperative action, as of medicines or muscles, producing a greater effect than the sum of the individual effects," is necessary for the construction of a true national history. Keeping in mind that our society consists of 200 linguistic and ethnic groups, each sector, class, gender, tribe, organization and region is obliged to write its particular history to qualify as a building block.

In the immediate future, Lambat-Liwanag can only hope to re-track the synergism of the Katipunan in the unceasing task of nation-building.

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