The cover design of this book denotes the powerful simplicity that focus and direction provides to both our professional and personal lives.

The Mariner’s Needle or Compass is the object of a thousand themes and concepts about the sciences, the arts, government, geography, history and literature that aims to guide its readers towards a certain discipline.

The compass is also a representation of what the author believes is a more pro-active approach to direction-setting in the career of public administration. It is one that gravitates towards the building of strong and sustainable relationships and opportunities for more meaningful learning.

In this book it is the author’s hope that the compass would provide its readers an object of positive recall of its core message—that “excellence in public administration could be facilitated and accelerated with the proper tools and guidance drawn from established leadership and management concepts, proven good governance practices of other LGUs, and everyday life experiences”.