Nueva Ecija (23 October) -- Two important recognition of Asians as more than capable people served notice recently. New UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon of South Korea and Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh made prestigious headlines throughout the world, a clear indication of Asia's increased role in international affairs. Taken together, they symbolized the ways in which the face of the world was changing.

There is no need to dwell on the obvious - that they are Asians - since the time is getting nearer, hopefully, when being Asians would be unimportant. Rather, being one might have been welcome in this modern world. At best.

Through examples of humility and self-effacing behavior, others could be persuaded to follow the path of peace and prosperity. For anyone knows that only few of them suceed and that, many have failed before them.

For sure, both believed in themselves, and their lives have let them to reach very implementable conclusions about what the world needed. A sense of honor may be imperative to them, which was what ordinary people counted on.

Here in a small province, bemused as a little larger than a small effort, Novo Ecijanos wonder what decisions they'll be called upon to make.

But none of them would matter unless and until the people responsible for their elevation to esteemed positions allowed them to act on their principles backed up by goodwill and depth of preparation.

More than ever, people have to find ways to support this chance for peace to be prevalent in the region and elsewhere. If in the process, they have to choose what was best for the world and what was not, there was nothing simple about the decision they faced.