Last of three partsDear Lloyd,I've been working so hard for the last 10 years, and it seems like my life here has nowhere to go. I feel like I'm a prisoner here in our organization. I wanted to be set free, but it looks like I have nowhere else to go either. I hope you can give me some insights.AndreaDear Andrea,One thing is now clear — freedom has a price.When we finally freed Sulu from terrorism and insurgency, it came with a hefty tag price. We paid not only billions of pesos in cash. Lives were also used to pay for its freedom.When I came down to the province, people were already moving freely. When I heard about the terrifying stories that have defined the Tausugs for decades, I couldn't believe them. An island with the most pristine beaches and shorelines in the world, with one of the most hospitable people, and with a unique millennia-old culture, what they have suffered isn't only beyond comprehensible. It's unacceptable.Now free from seemingly never-ending war, the province led by Gov. Abdusakur Tan is ready to jumpstart its journey as a free people — not without challenges. What his government prioritizes will serve as a foundational piece of the present and future development of the province.In what was once a ghost town, even in the middle of the day, microbusinesses such as local restaurants have given their place life. The governor said: 'I'm keen on giving the Tausugs the first priority to put up businesses in every industry, such as food and real estate. Hindi muna kami magpapasok ng mga commercialized brands. Uunahin natin 'yung mga taga-rito (ferring to the Tausugs).'It's a commendable act.The challenge, however, is equipping the Tausugs with the knowledge they need to succeed in commerce. This is where our Filipino entrepreneurs may take part. We have to give our time and effort to ensure our people there know exactly what to do and how to do it. Otherwise, they will spend more years trying to learn the ropes. They are already 30 years late in the development process.Regarding tourism, we must equip our locals with global tourism-related practices. We must empower our locals as world-class tour guide professionals. We must train them as tourism entrepreneurs. We must teach them how to tell their story.There are a thousand and one more things to do for the province. My idea is a whole-of-nation approach in guiding and genuinely supporting Sulu and the Tausugs in taking their lives back. The national government should look closer at how to fast-track the province's development because of all the provinces in the Philippines; I feel Sulu needs as much — if not more — attention as the others.After my experiences and memories in Sulu, I started talking about the island, the people, and the culture. Come to the province and see for yourself how beautiful and wealthy it is. Learn about their culture as one of the first communities in the history of our country.The key to its fast development can't be found beyond their island. I believe it's the preservation of their identity, culture and values as Tausugs.As for you, even when you get out of prison, you still have a lot of work to do because being out and being free isn't really free. Freedom has a price.* * *The Public Speaking Institute runs public speaking training courses in 2023. The Certified Public Speaker (CPS) is a six-session program every first two weeks of each month, Monday, Thursday and Saturday, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. via Zoom, and the Public Speaking Fellow (PSF) certification program every two months with face-to-face sessions. If you want to improve your communication skills, please go to www.publicspeaking.ph. We'll be happy to assist you.Sgt. Lloyd A. Luna, PAFR, is the first registered speaking professional in the Philippines. He is an international leadership speaker, an author, a master communicator, and the founder of The Luna Group. Visit his website, www.lloydluna.com, or email him at lloyd@lloydluna.com.