I received a message on why I chose to vote for a particular presidential candidate. Qualification and achievements would automatically move others on top of the list. I replied, however, that qualification and achievements are not on the top of my list when I choose someone as a leader, much more as a servant leader, although of course it goes without saying that qualification and achievements are way up there in my requirements checklist.
What do I look for?
Someone inspiring.
Not because that person can fix the economy. At this stage, no one can. Not yet. I’ve been watching the most powerful nation on earth try to squeeze themselves out of the economic deep hole they dug themselves in only to find themselves in a more sticky situation.
Not because that person can expound on the finer things of the law and talk about it for hours on end. We have so many laws our problem really is not novel formulations but plain and simple implementation.
Not because a person can sit down with the masa and eat with one’s hands when we all know deep in our hearts that is not being done during midnight drinking binges. I feel the masa cares less about you eating with them with your hands for a wonderful photo op and cares more about you getting down and dirty with your hands assuring them that the playing field is level and that they will have something to bring home, to put on their table, para may pagsaluhan, nakakamay man o nakakutsara.
Not because that person can fix the economy. At this stage, no one can. Not yet. I’ve been watching the most powerful nation on earth try to squeeze themselves out of the economic deep hole they dug themselves in only to find themselves in a more sticky situation.
Not because that person can expound on the finer things of the law and talk about it for hours on end. We have so many laws our problem really is not novel formulations but plain and simple implementation.
Not because a person can sit down with the masa and eat with one’s hands when we all know deep in our hearts that is not being done during midnight drinking binges. I feel the masa cares less about you eating with them with your hands for a wonderful photo op and cares more about you getting down and dirty with your hands assuring them that the playing field is level and that they will have something to bring home, to put on their table, para may pagsaluhan, nakakamay man o nakakutsara.
I look for a person who inspires me.
Because that person walks the talk.
Because that person feels the way that I do, that we do, when injustice has been done to us.
Because that person is willing to carry the cross, even be crucified in it.
Because that person walks the talk.
Because that person feels the way that I do, that we do, when injustice has been done to us.
Because that person is willing to carry the cross, even be crucified in it.
I do not expect that person to fix everything. Perfection is not the issue. Doing the right thing is.
I do not expect that person to do everything. Results are not the end product. They are but by products. Being a better person and doing the best that we can in any circumstance is the goal. I do not want someone to live my life for me, to fix things in my life, just someone who will inspire me, us, to be better than who I am, who we are right now, better meaning, keeping on doing the right thing, day after day.
I do not expect that person to do everything. Results are not the end product. They are but by products. Being a better person and doing the best that we can in any circumstance is the goal. I do not want someone to live my life for me, to fix things in my life, just someone who will inspire me, us, to be better than who I am, who we are right now, better meaning, keeping on doing the right thing, day after day.
We are a small country.
It is time for us to embrace that fact.
Maybe it would be good for us to stop trying first to be a big player in the world’s economic arena, or boxing ring, or singing stage and start striving to do the little things that would matter more when we leave this world. Following traffic rules, throwing trash in the proper places, pagbabayad ng pamasahe sa jeep, pagbigay ng tamang sukli. Speaking the truth, treating others right, being a person of integrity and respect that wherever we go and whomever we meet, they will be proud to say they met someone from the Philippines and their lives and ours have been enriched because of it.
It is time for us to embrace that fact.
Maybe it would be good for us to stop trying first to be a big player in the world’s economic arena, or boxing ring, or singing stage and start striving to do the little things that would matter more when we leave this world. Following traffic rules, throwing trash in the proper places, pagbabayad ng pamasahe sa jeep, pagbigay ng tamang sukli. Speaking the truth, treating others right, being a person of integrity and respect that wherever we go and whomever we meet, they will be proud to say they met someone from the Philippines and their lives and ours have been enriched because of it.
The challenge to servant leaders. Inspire me. Inspire us.
Do not talk to us about the finer things on how to fix education woes, economic malaise, insurgency problems and land reform issues. If you’re serious, then talk less and work more.
Do what you have to do so we can do ours.
Be who you are, someone who will do the right thing no matter what.
Do the little things that matter to us, for they may be little in the eyes of the world but not to us, not to God…
Do not talk to us about the finer things on how to fix education woes, economic malaise, insurgency problems and land reform issues. If you’re serious, then talk less and work more.
Do what you have to do so we can do ours.
Be who you are, someone who will do the right thing no matter what.
Do the little things that matter to us, for they may be little in the eyes of the world but not to us, not to God…
