On March 8, 2026, the Rediscover Values workshop was held at the Philippine Military Academy.
Sponsored by the family of General Vicente Lim, the workshop brought together a core group of the Academy’s professors and instructors for a meaningful experience of Values OS.
Comments By Brig. Gen. Stephen Agtoto
The recently concluded Rediscover Values workshop offered a grounded and accessible approach to understanding values in the modern world.
It speaks to a reality we all face: that in a rapidly-changing world, where technological advances, social media, and other influences increasingly shape how people think and act, values must be taught deliberately, embraced consciously, and lived consistently.
The workshop was both simple and profound in that it clearly unpacked a subject that is often discussed and yet is not clearly understood. It underscored an important truth. Values are not merely ideas to be discussed, but they are principles to be lived.
They are revealed in the choices we make, in how we relate with others, in how we carry out our duties, and how we respond when faced with pressure, uncertainty, or adversity. In the military profession and in academic service, values are not optional.
One of our professors said it is probably the best workshop he has attended in the last 18 years from the time he was a cadet to now. We see it as a core teaching that we want all our staff and cadets to experience.
We are grateful to the Vicente Lim Foundation for making the workshop accessible to the academy.
Brigadier General Stephen Vidor Agtoto
Dean of the Corps of Professors
Philippine Military Academy
Safeguarding the Values of the Philippine Military Academy
From –5 to +1: Rethinking Where Change Begins
By Jose Mari Lim
For decades, efforts to reform institutions have focused on policies, systems, and enforcement. Yet many of these efforts fall short. Not because they are wrong—but because they start at the wrong place.
We often assume we are starting from zero. But in many cases, we are not. We are starting from –5.
The Core Insight
When a system is at –5, the challenge is not improvement—it is restoration. Before progress can take place, something deeper must be addressed: Mindsets, Habits, and Values.
This is why many well-intentioned reforms struggle. They attempt to build upward, without first rebuilding the foundation.
Moving from –5 to +1 is not a technical problem. It is a values problem.
Why This Matters
Values are not abstract ideas. They shape how decisions are made, how authority is exercised, and how trust is built—or broken.
When values are misaligned, systems weaken. When values are restored, systems strengthen.
A Proven Starting Point
Last year I was introduced to the Rediscover Values workshop and its accompanying book, The Big Little Book of Values. The workshop was developed and refined in Singapore, a nation widely recognized for its emphasis on governance, integrity, and shared values as foundations for progress.
It has been taught for over a decade in leadership and educational settings, helping individuals align personal values with broader institutional goals.
I was particularly inspired by the testimony of Lt. Col. Vincent Ha, Battalion Commander of the Singapore Armed Forces:
“As someone entrusted with leading and protecting our nation, I know that strength without values is dangerous. The Big Little Book of Values and its workshop are powerful tools for shaping the kind of character that leaders need to command well and serve our country.”
A Strategic Entry Point: The Philippine Military Academy
Since my family has been involved with the Philippine Military Academy as far back as the 1950s — I thought it to be a good idea to offer the workshop to the academy.
The initial run of the Rediscover Values workshop was made possible through the support of the family of General Vicente Lim, who share a deep conviction in the importance of values formation.
If we are serious about long-term change, we must begin where leaders are being formed.
The program received the endorsement of the Dean of Academics, Brigadier General Stephen Agtoto, affirming its relevance to leadership development and character formation within the Academy.
What is formed here does not stay here. It influences institutions, communities, and the nation.
Valuing the Individual
What I find compelling about the Rediscover Values Workshop is that it does not attempt to solve a systemic problem with a simplistic solution. Instead, it addresses the root issue: the individual.
By educating and equipping individuals with a clear framework for understanding and living out values, it offers a realistic and sustainable pathway forward—one person, one mindset at a time—bringing real hope.
In a world looking for quick fixes, this approach may seem slow. But it is precisely this kind of grounded, values-based transformation that has the potential to truly move the needle.
As I watched the Corps of Professors of the PMA participate and engage in the workshop—with openness, honesty, and thoughtful reflection—it became clear this was not just discussion. It was alignment.
And as I sat there, I found myself thinking I wish more people could experience this. Family. Friends. Colleagues. Because the need to rediscover values is not limited to people in the military or institutions. It is personal. It is universal.