III​

"Drops in separation could only fade away, Drops in cooperation made the ocean"

 

With alab ko-op and other essays in this series, we have barely scanned the field of the great task that we set for ourselves in response to the challenge of our nationalist leaders, Dr. Nemesio E. Prudente and Dr. Felipe L. Jocano. alab ko-op is concededly a co-op thought which may be limited and too simple a response to such an urgent call to help recover our cultural heritage and re-establish our social, economic and political identity. But history favors us because among the great economic models (capitalism, communism, co-operatives) which have dominated the world economy for the past 150 years (Thompson, Ibid, p.1), co-operatives proved to be the most successful and enduring.

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David J. Thompson described the humble birth of the modern co-op idea as follows: Twenty-eight working people founded the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society. A store was opened that offered only five items for sale, and though the shop lacked inventory, it was filled with hope. What they lacked in experience, the members made up with enthusiasm. From the mutual efforts of those humble workers grew an idea that today serves the needs of over 720 million members worldwide. The year 1844, therefore, represents the birth of the modern cooperative movement (Ibid., p.2).

On the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Rochdale Society, Thompson paid tribute to the founding fathers of the modern co-operative idea with his own work entitled Weavers of Dreams: Founders of the Modern Co-operative Movement. He aptly prefaced the final chapter of his book with the words of the great Mahatrma Gandhi, visionary, revolutionist and architect of India’s liberation and inclusion in the family of independent and democratic nations - Drops in separation could only fade away, Drops in cooperation made the ocean. And Thompson’s closing words affirmed its historical reality - The Rochdale Pioneers studiously modified the cooperative model and put it into modern practice. They were ordinary people who created an extraordinary concept. Can we ever forget the cooperative legacy they left, which now affects millions? While others bombed, they built, and while others suppressed hope, they sought harmony. They knew that through cooperation they held the key to the future. Through perseverance and unity, their own meager capital, and the loyal spending of their pennies at their own store, they would gain their freedom and would never lose it. A simple idea, a committed group, and a small shop. They began a revolution that brought hope to millions and harm to none. The Pioneers gave birth to the idea of modern cooperation and the world is a better place for it (Ibid., p.139)!

alab ko-op draws its faith from the same vision of the Co-op drops that gathered together to create an ocean of hope for many a struggling people worldwide. alab ko-op is indeed a struggling drop seeking its way to join other concerned drops from the PUP community now forming a stream of solidarity with the struggling people of our land, mga Kabalikat sa Pag-aangat ng Antas ng Kabuhayan ng Mamamayan.

 

alex lopez saclayan

alabkoop  I  wix.com