In the corners of our schools, municipal offices, health centers, and even coffee shops, I often hear the same question: “Ano gid bala ina ang AI?” Some respond with curiosity. Others with suspicion. But the most common reaction I hear is withdrawal.

This mindset is exactly what we must overcome.

Artificial Intelligence—or AI—is not just for the tech hubs of the world. It is not an invention reserved for coders in Makati, executives in Singapore, or scientists in California. AI is already shaping the world we live in—from how doctors track symptoms to how teachers create modules, from how businesses manage sales to how farmers predict weather patterns.

If we Ilonggos choose to stand by and watch, we risk missing our chance to influence how this technology will be used in our own communities.

Not a Monster, Not a Magic Trick

Let’s set the record straight. AI is not a robot that will replace us. It’s not some sorcery from abroad. It’s not a trap. It’s a tool.

Think of AI the same way we once thought about calculators, typewriters, and computers. At first, we were skeptical. Then we got used to them. Now we rely on them. AI is simply the next step in that progression.

It is a tool that can help you summarize notes, draft letters, organize your ideas, translate information, or get inspiration when you’re stuck. It doesn’t replace your brain—it works with it.

But you won’t understand this until you try. That’s why I always say: take dibs on AI. Be the first in your office or barangay to experiment with it. Use it the way you’d use Google or Microsoft Word. Use it not to impress anyone, but to explore what’s possible.

The Danger of Being Left Behind

The truth is, the more we fear AI, the more we exclude ourselves from the opportunities it brings. And the more we exclude ourselves, the more decisions will be made without us—about us.

Do we really want people in Manila or abroad deciding how AI should be used in our hospitals, our schools, our local economy? Do we want to be mere recipients of new systems we didn’t help shape?

If we don’t develop AI literacy now—if we don’t build confidence in using these tools—we will find ourselves in a familiar place: catching up, again. And in this race, speed matters. But courage matters more.

This Is a Call for Local Leadership

I especially call on our mayors, vice mayors, councilors, school heads, barangay captains, and department heads: indi naton pagpabay-an ini nga teknolohiya. AI is already being used to write policies, prepare reports, and improve efficiency in LGUs across the country. If we don’t equip our people now, we’ll widen the digital divide between urban and rural, center and periphery, capital and province.

We cannot lead our communities into the future if we ourselves refuse to explore it.

This is also a challenge to our educators: let us not demonize AI in the classroom. Instead, let us guide our students to use it ethically and critically. Teach them how to ask good questions, evaluate responses, and integrate ideas. This is not cheating. This is thinking with tools—something humans have always done.

Try First. Learn Fast. Lead Wisely.

We don’t need perfect knowledge to start. We just need willingness. Try AI for small tasks. Translate a memo. Summarize a news article. Draft a project proposal. Get used to the idea that this tool is here—and it’s staying. What matters now is how we choose to relate with it.

Let’s not wait for formal training or expensive seminars. The best way to understand AI is to tinker. Let the teachers teach themselves. Let the government staff experiment. Let the youth show us what they already know. Let the community help one another discover its potential.

This is how pedestrianization works—not through top-down decrees, but by letting people learn at ground level. This is how we bring AI to the barangay: through use, through mistakes, through shared learning, and eventually, through confidence.

Ilonggos Deserve to Help Shape the Future

We are not outsiders to innovation. Iloilo has always been a place of firsts—of thinkers, builders, and revolutionaries. But the revolution today is digital. And AI is one of its frontlines.

Let’s not stand by. Let’s not be late again. Let’s not whisper “siguro indi ini para sa akon.” Instead, let’s say, “ano pa bala ang pwede ko mahibaluan diri?”

If the future is being written now, we deserve to be part of the writing team. But to do that, we must first pick up the pen—and in this case, the tool.

So go ahead. Take dibs on AI. Not for prestige. Not for perfection. But for participation.
Because Ilonggos were never made to just watch from the sidelines. We were born to build—and this time, we build with new tools.

Ken Lerona is a marketing and branding leader with over 20 years of experience. He conducts talks and workshops for private and government organizations and consults on innovation and reputational risk management. Connect with him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/kenlerona.