by Fr. Abraham Alonzo
As the Philippine’s national election approaches, the most crucial question we need to ask ourselves as electorates in choosing our next President is: Who among the candidates is aleader with vision?
Since the dawn of history, our country has not been blessed with a true leader with vision. President Manuel L. Quezon in campaigning for the first plebiscite during the Commonwealth government, once said that he prefers
the “Philippines run like hell by Filipinos; rather than run like heaven by the Americans”. It got stuck as our social curse up to the present. Because of his lack of confidence in his own people he started the ball rolling
down to “hell” by buying votes to push his agenda. From that time on it became our national “original sin” that up to now is the very root of all corruption and evils in all levels of our government and society as a whole.
Isn’t it that we are the most Christian nation in the Far East? And at one time we were ranked at the top in the level of literacy and GNP? When it comes to Filipinos abroad, are they not considered to be in the highest level of literacy rate and also among the highest in household income compared to other ethnic groups? But today, are we not only ranked among the poorest but also among the most corrupt countries? What happened? Are we not blessed with resources, world class talents and champions? But how come we do not have a world class leader?
Every great nation begins with a leader with vision. In the United States, for example, before the Declaration of Independence over 200 years ago, they were just like any British colony. But when its founding fathers
formulated a vision that, “All men are created equal and that everyone has the right to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.” And when those same leaders risked their own lives and fortune to stand up for that vision –
everything changed. Today, they are defined by that vision – more equality, freedom and opportunities shine.
Another example, is our own neighboring country Taiwan. Before the Kuomintang Revolution, Formosa, as it was called before was just an abandoned island of China. But when Chiang Kai-shek came with the inspiration of Sun Yat-sen formulated a tripod vision of “Self-sufficiency, Freedom and Democracy.” And when their succeeding leaders follow through with that vision, who they are today is defined by that same vision. If we look at Taiwan today, they are not only free and democratic but even have a higher per capita income than Japan.
A third example is Singapore, before their independence as a British colony, they were among the most depressed of the federated states of Malaya at that time. They also had rampant problems of corruption. But
when their leader Harry Lee Kuan Yew formulated a policy that later became a national vision called “clean house” and organized a government agency to investigate and stop corruption – everything changed. Now, it is
not only among the cleanest of nations but also among the most progressive among the first world countries.
Marcos had his vision of Bagong Lipunan but was he a leader? Was he not also called “the greatest thief and the worst violator of human rights”? Cory’s greatest contribution was giving back our freedom from dictatorship
but when she failed to acknowledge her capability to lead and prepare our country to search for the best qualified leader with vision at the most opportune time, did she not also fail us? Is there leadership for the incumbent President if her family’s notoriety for corruption is unbridled and whose main concern is simply to perpetuate herself in power? Remember the saying:“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat them.”
The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, people perish”(Prov. 29:18). Are we not at the bottom yet? Aren’t our people perishing and many are still in diaspora? For we have not found that leader with clearest of vision above
the rest. How long can we hold our pains and sufferings? We are a resilient people but there is a limit to everything. This election can be our new beginning. As electorates we have a sublime obligation, we are like a
collective CEO who can hire or fire our next “servant-leader-employee”, who can also make or unmake our destiny not just for a term but for many generations to come. Is our soul worth a few pesos? Let us not waste this
golden opportunity of a lifetime. Vote wisely with your conscience. Take time to know who they are, their accomplishments and their vision. Whoever can best articulate and champion the vision of our greatest ideals
and aspirations as people by one’s own record of leadership by example let that person be the next President!
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