Leadership is…

Leadership is…

…hard work. A leader works hard to realize his plans. He does not stagnate himself only at planning, but he carries them out through concrete actions. If necessary, he does the actions himself.

…time-management. A leader knows how to allocate enough time not only for his work, but also for other things. He knows when to get down to business and be serious, but he also knows when to relax and laugh. He knows when to delegate tasks with authority to his followers, but he also knows when to commune and be amongst them. He also knows when and how to achieve his objectives through proper scheduling.

…passion for service. This is fundamental to every leader. He understands the severity of the existing problems, he can identify which among them necessitate solutions, and genuinely tries to addresses them. He feels for the needy. He desires to help unconditionally.

…planning. A leader is not empty-headed. His head is teeming with both relevant and irrelevant ideas, and he knows the distinction between the two. He can identify what needs to be addressed and can plan proper actions to resolve problems. He is intelligent and decisive. He is an organizer.

More than anything else, leadership is commitment. A leader has to be committed to his plans, to his willingness to serve, to time-management and to hard work. Whenever he plans an action, he commits himself to that action and to the consequences born out of it. He commits to his passion and never loses his muse. His desire to lead does not exhaust when he gets too tired of hard work. He is steadfast and dedicated.

Commitment, to me, is any leader’s greatest expression of service. Our political leaders’ commitment is to the Filipino people, but recent events (i.e. P1, 000, 000 dining, etc.) have seemingly exposed how infidel some of them are.

Their commitment is not anymore to the people, but to themselves. But then again, they are still leaders who still uphold the values of leadership – only, in the wrong way. Some of them are really hardworking; hardworking thefts, stealing the people’s money day in and day out. Others have enormous passion for self-service. They also plan their actions very well, from politicking to vote-buying to winning the election and eventually, to corrupting the treasury. And their time management is well thought of, corrupting at the safest time and reconstructing roads only when the elections are approaching.

A shift of commitment among our leaders is necessary. And this begins with the voters’ wise decisions in the upcoming election. Not unless you want to remain being cheated, you need to know your candidates and vote really wisely.

By Ryan Louie G. Madrid

Photo credit: http://images.google.com.ph

Soaring and Dropping

Just this past week, Forbes Asia Magazine released their annual list of the 40 richest people of the Philippines. There are quite a few changes but it’s basically the same people. Once again, retail tycoon Henry Sy tops the list with his empire comprised of malls, insurance, banks and several more properties. Second to Sy is another cigar and beer mogul who has also been another mainstay of the list, Lucio Tan. Number 3 would be

Jaime Zobel de Ayala, now interested in art especially photography. Making a notable presence is presidential aspirant, Senator Manny Villar. He is 9th on the list and is the richest Solon of the country. Villar and his wife's networth is $530 million or about P25 billion according to Forbes Asia.

These people had their total networth higher compared to 2008. Henry Sy had an estimated $3.8 M which is 28% higher than last year. Most of the individuals had their total worth higher compared to last year's estimates. Overall, their wealth is about $16.4 billion which is $2.2 billion higher than 2008.

Up there, you can see that they have gotten wealthier as each day passed by. I'm not envious or something but I am extremely perplexed that they are richer year by year but the masses are falling deeper and deeper to the poverty line. Some are barely hanging to that 'average' level. They say that the country is recovering but I think the only ones gaining right now are these people. Maybe I should start believing in what most people say, the rich become richer and poor become poorer. What the hell is going on now? I know 'most' of them deserved their wealth right now but I do hope that they are aware that the country is under deep crisis. Most of our countrymen really need assistance.

BY: RONDELL CHAZ C. MABUNGA

COLORFUL ADS FOR BULLIES ONLY!!!!!!!!!!!

Expensive Ads for Ineffective Advocacy
Colorful ads and yet eyesore for its several numbers and lengthy duration, beautiful and yet perplexing for its content and substance, expensive and yet non-marketable and simply useless to the people they profess to love so well are my personal opinions in response to the escalating forms of ads flooding, which seems to me a plague, around the city and the country as a whole.
Attention-seekers
“Sipag at Tiyaga”, "Lalaban Tayo"," Tinig ng Bayan", in the national level and “ I luv cdeo”, “Through the initiative of…” in the local level are the common content of abundant posters and streamers posted and hanged strategically in the city’s major thoroughfares. The extravagant television advertisements aired in primetime shows are abhorrent to look at mainly because of its delivered euphoric messages to a person’s starving stomach and ailing society.
Simple analysis
It does need necessitate an ordinary person to possess such brilliant and astute politician’s minds. A simple analysis will do in trying to understand the politician’s accompanying motive and hidden agenda in an act of hanging his name. Sometimes I ask myself if is it really necessary to produce countless expensive posters and streamers, most especially TV ads, just to express their heartfelt compliments to a particular place like the CdeO’s fiesta. Or they are just too early in politicking and maximizing the opportunity in promoting their names to advance their political interests. Would it be nicer and appropriate if the huge amount of money, for sure, they spent will be given to the impoverished sector of the society? Moreover, would it be best should the politicians divert their wordy and intangible compliments into tangible acts by complementing the basic necessities of our fellowmen. Would it be best should all the politicians ads spending are collectively gathered to prioritize and/or deliver what they have promised to the people.
Deceptive scheme
Along with the advancement of names is the carried implicit meanings which convey that those inhabitants in a particular place, like CdeO, have the tendency to be deceived or bullied. That the electorates do not look at the high standards and sound basis of a god politics is quite alarming. Electorates whom could be deemed as substandard, like their substandard projects, whom could be used to engineer a substandard type of government is completely absurdity. A simple logic: is it logical to invest in large amount of money for ads without any intention to retrieve, in any way, it in the future. It seems that the trend of politics which is defined as an art is turning into a business type. First, you have to invest and later harvest with profit without considering the direct intolerable offshoots among the people.
True advocacy
To put an end to this continuing act of deception, we electorates, have to take the precautionary measures to cushion the impact of this recurring deception in the long run. The electorate must be educated and be dictated by their logic and reasons. The politicians must be able to present numerous legislations which will uplift the state of life of ordinary people. Their mindset must be focused on serving the people’s interest rather that preoccupied with how to project a good advertisement. The politicians must hard in reviving the words of Lincoln as “the government of the people, by the people, for the people…”.

Corruption is yours and mine

I attended a seminar on anti-corruption entitled ‘Ehem!’ with other student leaders in the university. The title ‘Ehem’, I reckon, is very apt to the seminar because it is a cunning gesture that suggests malice and doubt to whom it is addressed. The seminar’s objectives were to provide discussions and workshops on corruption and ultimately, to eradicate corruption in the country.

Before I went to the seminar, I thought corruption was only limited to the financial abuse of those who are in authority and getting what is not rightfully theirs. But, it turns out, corruption is more than that.

One student leader shared that corruption, in its broadest sense, is the nonconformity or offense to the rules of the land and to the universal human principles. It took me some time to fathom what he just said. How could a criminal offense like murder be associated with corruption? Then I remembered the book “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. It said stealing is the root sin of the world. When you kill an old man, you steal a child’s right to a father and you steal a wife’s right to a husband. But stealing is corruption. Therefore, when you kill a person, you corrupt other’s right to him; when you rape a young lady, you corrupt her virginity and innocence; when you lie, you corrupt other’s right to truth.

And so it struck me. Corruption exists on all levels of the society. The politicians do it, when they steal money from the taxpayers. The criminals do it, when they commit an offense. The businessmen do it, when they overprice their items. The teachers do it, when they come late to class. The students do it when they habitually ask papers from their classmates during quizzes. The tricycle driver, even, does it when he charges six pesos instead of only five.

It may be a blind spot to some, but 99% of us has already corrupted and are still active participants of corruption, no matter how simple the case may be.

Corruption is already a culture. And we are part of it.

So there is now really no question who does corruption because we all do it. (Maybe, there are 1% of all people who are exemptions. They are a rarity). What sets all of us apart is the severity of the corruption we are doing.

The final speaker said that people need total detachment to counterchallenge the culture of corruption. If they break away from corruption, they should put up an organization and lead others to follow them. People who are able to do this are called catalysts for change.

It sounds really promising but how are we supposed to concretely and totally detach ourselves from corruption when it is already in our system? One of the facilitators said, “that is the challenge!” Much to my disappointment, I thought that statement was a lame excuse of saying, “I actually don’t know.” I am not questioning the facilitator’s knowledge (because he was good at facilitating, by the way). What I’m concerned is that nobody really knows how to translate total eradication of corruption in CONCRETE ways. Or if there is one person who can, I beg you to please tell me. I beg you.

The unanswered question playing on my mind left me wondering if corruption is really unshakeable. Maybe some people can do something about it, like awareness campaigns and staging peaceful revolutions to overthrow corrupt leaders as in the case of People Power I and II. But I doubt if people can totally annihilate it in all levels of society.

One friend told corruption is always here to stay. The full-blooded idealist that I am, I tried to argue. I ended up telling him that the lower forms of corruption may actually be indispensable, but there is hope in eradicating the higher forms – and that is what we should be actively vigilant and responsive of.

Another friend said majority of the people are not as idealist as the few are. Then I guess it boils down to individual preference for the good. As a student leader, I cannot severely change the perceptions of the members. What I can do perhaps is to stay true to my idealism and hope to inspire even one of them.

This essay does not aim to sound pessimistic. It wants to present information. More importantly, it wants to post questions and shape public opinion. This article is not conclusive because the subject matter evades itself to it. This essay, just like the seminar I attended, may have been informative, but it will leave you with more questions than answers.

BY RYAN LOUIE G. MADRID

corruption corrodes the very foundation of the society

Yesterday, August 21, I attended EHEM! : An anti-corruption seminar here in XU organized by the Kristohanong Katilingbanon Pagpakabana-Social Involvement Office (KKP-SIO) at AVR 3. The purpose of the seminar is to give a little background and concepts on the participants of the immensity of our problems on curtailing corruption. The highlighted concept of the seminar, which I believe summed up the whole day session, is the definition of corruption which says that any act of misusing and/or abusing of power for personal gain and interest which will result to the deprivation and suffering of others is a corruption in nature. Mr. Ermin Stan Pimentel, one of the speakers, said valiantly that in order for a corruption to be minimized, if not eradicate all, is that the counter corruption measures must first emanate within ourselves for corruption is becoming part of our lives,culture,and norms. Honestly, I can say that the anti corruption seminar I attended brought me to a new realm, new level of understanding of the deceptive quality of corruption. Before, my conception of corruption is only confined in the government agencies where the traces of corruption are prevalent at its massive scale. But, yesterday, I was informed that corruption can be seen in many ways even in our simple acts. What adds wonder to that seminar was that the participants, including myself,are very much aware of the form of corruption which is happening in our society and even in our school nowadays.

what went wrong?
After taking some time in pondering of what could be the manifestations to an act to be considered a corruption and how to put an end to this unnecessary and extravagant act, my framework of mind went wild to the most considered hotpot of corruption in the country which is the government. I learned in my history class, I hope my memory would not fail me, that the Philippines’ economy was the second fastest growing economy behind Japan in Asia during the pre-Marcos era. To think that we are behind Japan during that time was indeed an honor. Japan is a dynamic country with its rate of development faster than our mind can ever imagine. So the answers on the question on what happened later were really disturbing and regretful. The immortal word ‘if’ is the only thing that we can do. If we did not elect President Marcos, the country might continue to be an advancing economy and might surpass Japan’s feat for we are richer in terms of natural resources.
So corruption is the culprit?
Corruption is the major culprit of our sufferings presently. In the case of Marcos, he was a brilliant leader and a lawyer. But it just happened that he has misused or abused his power to advance his personal interest. I can still remember when Mrs. Marcos said that they virtually own the country.My first reaction was how it could be when we commonly inherited this country from our forefather.Only to find out that her husband has actually plundered the nation's wealth by depositing huge amount of money in foreign Swiss bank .

By Louie Jay Ban V. Jarales

picture courtesy of :http://corruptionmonitor.com/stop_corruption

The Right Decision

We are nine months away from the 2010 presidential elections. People are preparing as they line up for registrations; the media are buzzing of what the budding candidates are up to; political figures like Mar, Chiz, Manny and the rest are making their intentions clear; and different parties and groups are making an effort in tuning up, promoting and encouraging their bets for the highest position in the country

There is a particular movement that has been catching the attention of the country. They are urging Senator Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III to run for president next year. He is the son of senator Ninoy Aquino who was assassinated in 1983 and former president Corazon Aquino who passed away on the 1st of August. Both of them are icons of Philippine democracy and the movement called "Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III for President Movement Ngayon Na!" hopes that Senator will continue what his parents stood for.

Noynoy is known not just because of his parents, but because he was seriously injured during one of the two coup attempts against the Aquino administration way back in the late 1980's and he is an established political figure as a senator and a former Tarlac representative. He has not been dealt with any negative issues and with his mother passing away just a few weeks ago, Noynoy's political stock has risen. But is it worthy enough to become president? Are we really wanting another Aquino for a presidential stint? Or are we just caught up in all the emotion that flourished in Cory's death?

Well, I'll leave the questions above to you. If he does run next year, I just want everyone to think carefully and if you choose him, select because he is fit for the position and he is capable of raising the Philippines back to respectability and away from mediocrity just like its current state. If you want him to be president, vote for him not because of his stately behavior during his mother's funeral but because he has concrete plans for the country. And by concrete I mean he should have plans that will have tangible results; not just some vague desire or a passionate fight for freedom and everything that his deceased parents fought for. I'm not saying its not good, it's just that the emotion and fervor will wear off eventually as the years pass on no matter how powerful it is. If it happens, the people will go back to focusing on the country's state and if they don't see good progress, then we go back to the way people hated our current president.

BY: RONDELL CHAZ C. MABUNGA
Photo Credit: http://images.search.yahoo.com

PGMA's formula: 1M = lavish dinner = hunger neglect

What can an astounding Php 1, 000, 000 do?

It can feed the hungry stomachs of more than 100 children in one whole year – just like what Pangarap Shelter for Street Children did.

It can construct three or four classroom buildings in public schools in areas where education is hardly accessed – just like what the Chinese Chamber of Commerce did.

It can purchase 6, 000 new textbooks which are supplemental to education – just like what the Department of Education did.

It can send 150 out-of-school youth to college and shoulder their educational expenses for one semester – just like what privately funded organizations did.

It can start the construction of a 1 km-or-so irrigation system in dry lands which is beneficial to the farmers – just like what the Department of Agriculture did.

It can fund free medicines for the poor and the sickly – just like what the Department of Health did.

Or…

It can pay for a luxurious one-night-only dinner at an exquisite and expensive restaurant in New York – just like what President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her cronies did.

In her recent US state visit, Pres. Arroyo and her entourage had dinner and ordered several expensive wines in a posh and fancy French restaurant in New York, putting their bill to a grand total of $20, 000 or almost Php 1, 000, 000.

One cannot help but formulate a myriad of questions and realizations form the issue: How could they possibly dine lavishly when a good number of Filipinos are suffering from hunger? How could they possibly enjoy fine dining when the entire Philippines was still mourning over the death of Mrs. Aquino? Who paid the bill, and more importantly, from whose money?

Fine dining vis-à-vis growling stomachs

With the first question, it rouses outrage among Filipinos knowing how our president and her entourage have swiftly used an amount as plenty as 1 M for personal gratification while the country is in the face of crisis, particularly hunger. Almost 50% of Filipinos are living below the poverty line and hundreds are incapable of eating three times a day. Think about how mouthwatering the caviar and the other dishes Pres. Arroyo and her associates ate; and think about the growling stomachs of the Filipinos who can barely eat. The thought of it makes you feel like puking (that is, if you really care). The incident has once again underscored the daunting fact that there are extremely rich and extremely poor in our country’s social stratification.

The president, whether or not she paid for the bill, should have thought about the plight of the Filipino people before she ate extravagantly. She should have preferred a cheaper dinner somewhere else; or if she was invited by some other politician (as purported by Malacañang), she should have advised the “host” to prefer a modest meal. Didn’t the dictum “lead by example” rang a bell on her?

By eating lavishly while hunger is still a recurring problem in the country, the President has only justified and showed how self-serving she is and how she care less for the people.

Celebrating Cory’s death?

It’s also bothering how the president managed to eat lavishly when she knew that a Philippine icon of democracy has just died. (They dined a couple of hours after they learned of Mrs. Aquino’s passing.) Was she in a celebratory mood of the former president’s passing?

Think about how Mrs.Aquino opposed and criticized some of the president’s decisions. Think about how Mrs. Aquino’s death meant the removal of a colossal foe for the president.

The president said that Filipinos should pay respects. Perhaps, her idea of paying respects comes in the form of enjoying an extravagant dinner and indulging on pricey wines. Talk about delicadeza.

Who paid what? From whom?

The issue on hunger and Mrs. Aquino’s death aside, the one big issue hounding the 1 M dinner is the money used to pay the bill.

Reports did not specify if it was Pres. Arroyo who took care of the bill. Malacañang, on the other hand claimed that it was Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez who paid the tab.

If it was indeed the president who paid the bill, shame on her. No need to expound.

If it was Rep. Romualdez, shame on him as well. Look at Leyte, it is consistently hit by typhoons and landslides, why don’t he use the money in sending help to the affected families and to prevent such massive casualties to happen again? He, as the representative of his district, has to focus locally and represent his people the way he is supposed to. Why did he have to come with the president’s state visit, by the way?

Maybe the president and the representative are really heavy on personal cash to give such a massive blow-out. But who would pay a hefty price for just a single dinner? Chances are, they used the taxpayer’s money for it or they corrupted some huge amount to call their own. If that’s the case, I wonder how brutal their punishment will be when they meet face-to-face with Satan. Maybe, more than a million’s worth.

It’s paradoxical how we, voters, choose our leaders in the hopes that they can put food on our tables and end up providing not only food for them, but also luxury, cars and free trip abroad. We become victims of our own choices.

Thank God there’s 2010 elections. We cannot afford to fall victims once more. It starts with our wise choice.



BY: RYAN LOUIE G. MADRID
Photo credit: http://images.google.com

leadership must determine the course of politics

Misamis Oriental- I went to Opol, one of the municipalities of the province of Misamis Oriental, yesterday, August 14, 2009 for the purpose of accomplishing the task whom my dreaded yet respected brother had assigned to me. Upon stepping the once sleepy town of Opol, the breeze of the soft blowing wind from the blue sea accompanied with the apparent ``WIND OF CHANGE’’,so as the song goes, claimed my attention right away. The robust local governance is undoubtedly taking place as manifested by the construction of several business establishments, intensive promotion of tourism, and major reconstruction of highways as dubbed ``tulay sa kaunlaran’’ by Sec. Ebdane.Adding to the treasure casket of this fast emergence to prominence municipality are the scintillating national awards. To wit few of its accomplishment is by being the recipient of GAWAD GALING POOK for Human Resource Management and the recent LAKANDULA Award, both national awards are given only for municipality which has exhibited an extraordinary type of governance and innovations. Obviously, I am not really shocked with the impressive happenings presently in terms of local governance in Opol for my brother once worked there as municipal administrator and worked closely with the local executive to win the trust of the Opolanons and earned the admirations of the national award giving body.And I am very much honored to say that the local chief of Opol is an ATENEAN gifted with innate intelligence as a CUM LAUDE and leadership skill as XU-CSG President and one of the TEN OUTSTANDING STUDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES (TOSP) during his time.
The point that I am making here is focus on the issue of leadership skill among our politicians that are governing our land. Basically, I am not against with the inclusion in the political arena of anybody with the sincerity to serve our people insofar as he possessed leadership skill. Personally, I am a native INITAONON from the town of Initao which is labeled as the haven of the witches. Initao like Opol is part of Misamis Oriental but what set them apart is the plight of the local economy between these two municipalities.Opol is advancing while Initao is so honored,perhaps, to retain its turtle-semblance pacing. I am not saying that I do not like the way Initao being managed or being led by our local chief executive; but I am just puzzled with the question of what does Opol has that Initao has not have? Could it be the question on the leadership skill or on the political dynasty that has been managing the municipality for over a decade?
Practically, Initao is burdened with several tourist sites like Initao national park where you can find caves, white beaches etc. but until now they stay the same. Should they are utilized and developed better then certainly they will generate additional income for the town. But I think this is not yet part of the agenda of the local chief executive, perhaps on the next election this will be promised.
This scenario of development stagnation and discontentment among the people promised to be served are the promising events which likely to happen should we allow seem to be leader politician to manage our discord country. Let us not be deceived with the sweet yet abstract in nature promises. Let us be more responsible with our decision and more discerning with our beliefs for another election is yet to come. The issue on political dynasty is surely to surface but the issue on capability to lead must be given more credence and significance. Honestly, I am not against with the existence of political dynasty in as much as this does not discontent, deceit ,discord or wreak havoc and most importantly will and must not mislead the people towards the true essence of democracy which is equality among the people.
By LOUIE JAY BAN V. JARALES

Another one to the resume

A $20,000 dollar dinner is like Shrek was never treated as a subject of repulsion; Cinderella not having a midnight deadline to beat; or the big bad wolf befriending the 3 pigs. Perks of this magnitude are like gifts handed down from the heavens that could have given them happier endings. Yes, the president and her big entourage had a fairy tale dinner. The bad thing is, the ending was not as good as expected.

A week ago, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her companions went on a trip to the United States of America. In this particular trip, Arroyo and company had a dinner worth almost a million pesos at a restaurant called Le Cirque in New York City. This luxurious dinner got the whole country dropping their jaws in awe and the media buzzing like a pack of wolves about to hunt for a huge prey. Well, who would not? That kind of amount could feed thousands of poor families here in the Philippines. A million (well, almost) pesos can renovate old homes, buildings and classrooms or maybe build new ones.

Considering the crisis that has engulfed the country for like forever and the moods of the Filipino citizens after president Cory's death, having the meal of their lives and letting the whole world know about it was not a wise decision to say the least. She not only placed herself in the limelight but she is now in a situation where she might not finish her term or have heavier consequences after it.

Apparently, she once again added another one to a long list of controversies and conspiracies. Wait, I was mistaken. Let's make that a loooooooooooooong list. I can almost say that waiting for the 2010 elections is not a very good idea because everyone's in for a lengthy 7-8 months.

I learned in my Philosophy class that there is something called, 'negative ignorance'. It is the intentional negation of knowledge to combat ignorance. I believe the little woman has it.

BY RONDELL CHAZ MABUNGA

Wishes coming true? Oh, not quite...

From senators to barangay captains, there is something really, really, really, really, really common among them. First on the list would be corruption. Right? Oh, it’s a no brainer. Well, that’s one thing. But there’s another one. That would be their extra effort, sometimes useless, when the election fever hits. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It is actually good but perplexing as well.

Just a year before the 2010 elections, hundreds of projects and commercials are pooping out like daisies. Dozens of road repairs, a number of bridge renovations, tons of streamers that say “congratulations”, and last but certainly not least, multi-million Pesos worth of TV commercials. We all know what they want even without hearing their or reading it – showing their so called “proof” to the people that they are doing their jobs. Because they have something to brag about, they will become the people most likely to get elected or re-elected. Unfortunately, they work because the masses believe it.

I do hope the people of this country would have an awakening.

What they are doing right now is just a minute percentage of what they could actually do for a whole term. Instead of one or two or three projects, they could have 5 or even more. Where were they during the early parts of their respective terms? Well, I don’t know. Maybe just lounging around, signing a few papers, taking pictures with the marginalized and supporting bills and stuff. All I can do is guess because I only see their faces come election time.

The worst thing about their late appearances is not finishing what they promised. All of a sudden, the project runs out of budget like it was sucked by a massive black hole from the center of the galaxy. Since the plan is left unfinished (usually 60% done), people, especially the poor, suffer. And I mean SUFFER! Unfinished roads make a whole place extremely dusty and muddy. They can also cause damage to vehicles. Closed bridges cause massive traffic buildup and susceptibility to accidents. Finally, those TV commercials add up to our list of headaches.
Does this mean that we’re gonna have to wait for the next elections? Do we have to text “Citizen Patrol” to get immediate action? Well, it is a yes actually and that's pretty much we can do.
This will improve but I believe we’re gonna have to die.

Philippines deserves better,more...

Manny Pacquiao etc...........?????????
Philippines deserves better,more….


This picture may look weird and funny to look at, but this will become a reality sooner than we think if some parts of the election code that administers the qualification of aspiring politicians will not be changed.
Some parts of the election code that I am specifically referring to “is the able to write and read” which allows everybody, even those least qualified personalities but armed with vast wealth and strong political clout, to participate in the political arena.
I do not mean to restrict the distribution of political powers from those well-known personalities with political ambitions for it is their primordial right to exercise their political power as stipulated in our Constitution. Moreover, it signifies of how vibrant and radiant our powerful democracy is.
But the point that I am making is that we do need leaders that can steer our nation towards economic progress, sustainable peace and order situation, and tangible developments. We yearn for leaders that can bring back the country at its proper place that once we had in the early 1950’s. Realistically, we require a leader to posses a sound judgment, bearer of critical thinking; can decide resolutely, wide experience in public service, and a leader with moral leadership.
Indeed, I am saying this with conviction as one of the hopeful Filipinos, who desires for a better Philippines that we do not deserve for a replication of the same type of politics which causes us to flounder in the mire of indifference.
We need a leader that will deliver the best results that are needed by the populace; we are very much tired of heeding the politician’s handful yet empty promises during election period.
In addition, we are curtailing the culture of parasitism among our public officials. This kind of scenario can be attributed to the perpetuation in power of those individuals that are not really suited for their position. They do not have the necessary skills for them to manage well so as a result they have to rely to their staffs. As statistics show, this kind of system is prone to massive corruptions and unjustified excessive public spendings.


Furthermore, with the bombardment of countless complicated problems that we have now , I think we cannot afford to lend our trust to anybody who does not have the potential perhaps or the credential, most importantly, to give out better service and sincerely promise to bring us to the promised land.

By LOUIE JAY BAN V.JARALES

Of yellows and rosaries: The legacy of championing democracy lives on

February 1986. The world witnessed just how powerful Filipinos are when they unite and wield their collective voice to champion democracy against a dictatorial and oppressive rule. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) on what was later to be known as the People Power Revolution where priests, nuns, students, workers, rich and poor alike held hands to overthrow the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos. Because of the public’s apparent abhorrence to his administration, Marcos fled and went on exile; marking the end of his oppressive rule and signaling the advent of a new and free Philippines.

The People Power Revolution is a testimony to our common preference for democracy. More importantly, it is an evidence of our united powers as stakeholders of the government. And most of the credit for the success of the revolution and for restoring democracy to the country goes to Corazon C. Aquino.

Widowed by Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. who later became a Philippine hero, Mrs. Aquino catapulted herself from being a simple housewife to becoming a dictatorship-slayer and mother of democracy. Her involvement to mass actions following her husband’s assassination has greatly stirred the spirit of liberty and nationalism among the oppressed Filipinos.

When the snap presidential election was announced in November 1985, she heeded the call of challenging Marcos for the presidential seat. Her charisma and dedication to democracy have united the oppositionists and the whole country into ending the Marcos regime.

After a fraudulent election transpired and the People Power was staged, Mrs. Aquino was installed as the first female president of the Philippines (and in Asia); successfully putting an end to an infamous period in Philippine history.

Under her administration, she suspended Marcos’ 1973 Constitution which was drafted during the Martial Law era and enacted a new Philippine Constitution that was anchored on freedom, equality, justice and human dignity. She also put into law several significant legal reforms such as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law. Although there were some failures in her six-year rule, Mrs. Aquino’s greatest contribution was the restoration of Philippine democracy which was curtailed during her predecessor’s administration.

After her stint as president, she continued being an inspiration for democracy not only in the country, but worldwide.

August 2009. 23 years after the People Power Revolution, Mrs. Aquino still remains an inspiration to all of us – even when she was in her death bed. Until her dying hours, she has remained the ‘mother of democracy’. Hundreds of thousands of people, rich and poor, have once again united and gathered to honor Mrs. Aquino’s contribution to the country. And although she passed away, she has left an indelible legacy of advancing democracy. This legacy she left is for those who remain, especially the younger generation, to keep and protect.

It’s coincidental and symbolic to note that the ‘mother of democracy’ died at a time when democracy is being threatened once more. Interestingly, her death happened at a time when our Constitution is once again at the tinkering of some self-serving politicians through the approval of the Constitutional Assembly. It’s also figurative how Mrs. Aquino died at a time when the 2010 election is drawing near, when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has just delivered her State of the Nation Address, and when a repeat of the martial law is being feared.

Mrs. Aquino, through her death, seems to have given one last attempt of unifying the Filipinos and urging us to learn from the past.

Her death has reminded us once again of how dramatic and labor-stricken our forefathers have fought for our freedom. It has reminded us of the horrors of martial law, of oppression and of chaos. And with all these messages Mrs. Aquino implicitly conveyed through her passing, we should also be reminded of our responsibility to keep and protect democracy from those who take interest in stealing it.

Let us also remember not only Mrs. Aquino, but all the heroes who have valiantly fought for our freedom. We are now the modern heroes of our country and we are the inheritors of their legacy. We should safeguard democracy at all cost, just like they did. Let’s do it for Mrs. Aquino, for his husband Benigno, for Andres Bonifacio, for Jose Rizal and for all those people to whom we owe our freedom.

We can start by making our vote count this coming 2010 elections. Registering to vote, encouraging others to register and vote, vigilantly keeping an open-eye and actively participating in nation-building efforts are the easiest of all the things we can do.

It takes a valiant and compassionate heart and a common preference for peace and equality before we can achieve real democracy for our country. And we can only do so much to make it happen.

May 2010. History repeats itself. Perhaps, just perhaps, this political turmoil we have now will end in a good light just like it did when Mrs. Aquino restored democracy from an era of tyranny. Perhaps, a better Philippines is in store for all of us.

By Ryan Louie G. Madrid (Photo credit: http://images.google.com)