“Filipinos deserve more local leaders who are, at the very least, competent, trustworthy and not corrupt.” (Dindo Manhit, “The leaders we need at the local level”, COMMENTARY, Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 3, 2019).
-oOo-
According to Manhit, “local political dynamics play differently from national political party alliances. For instance, in many places, despite the many electoral reforms that have been institutionalized in the Philippines, the rule of “guns, goons and gold” still prevails.
Per Social Weather Survey, “the top quality Filipino voters look for is “not corrupt’, according to 25 percent of the respondents. Candidates who have “concern for the poor” emerged as the second top quality (22 percent), followed by “good personal characteristics” (21 percent) and being “trustworthy”. Manhit further wrote: “These qualities can be measured by looking into a candidate’s education, experience, record and advocates/platforms.”
“Commitment, Competence and Integrity” are the core values of Davao del Norte Provincial Government.
“PRRD (Pres. Duterte), (Catholic) Church urge voters to choose their candidates well” (Manila Bulletin, October 20, 2018). Evil wins if good people make wrong choices and vote for candidates with bad character.
“Bago Bumuto, Kilatisin muna ng husto ang mga kandidato, Kilatisin ng husto ang kanyang character.”
Ang character ng tao ay ang kanyang personal na pundasyon. Pag masama ang kanyang personal na pundasyon, huwag siyang botohin. Delikado yang maging leader.
Ang ating basihan sa pagkilatis ng character ng kandidato ay ang mga sumusunod:
Commitment – Siya ba ay tunay an tapat sa kanyang pamilya, kaibigan, trabaho, bayan at dios? Ginagamit, binibili at pinagsasamantalahan lang ba niya kayo para sa kanyang personal na interests?
Competence – Siya ba ay may tunay na kakayahan gampanan ang kanyang mga responsibilidad at ginagawa ba niya ito sa moral at legal na pamamaraan. Halimbawa: kung siya ay mambabatas, anong klaseng mga batas ang naisulong nya? May malalaki ba siyang projects na hindi naman talaga kailangan ngayon ng mga tao?
Integrity – Siya ba ay isang taong kilala na moral at spiritual, walang bahid ng corruption, nabubuhay basis a kanyang legal na kinikita, ang kanya bang ari-arian ay tunay na nanggagaling sa kanya legal na sahod o negosyo, hindi tumatanggap ng mga napakalaking regalo habang siya ay naglilingkod sa gobyerno, (graft ito), hindi bumibili ng boto, walang illegal na “drugs, gold, guns at goons” at iba pang immoral at illegal na Gawain?
Humility – Siya ba ay naniniwala na lahat ng bagay ay nanggaling sa Diyos? Siya ba ay mapagkumbaba at hindi hambog? Magalang ba siya lalo na sa nakakatanda sa kaniya at hindi palaaway? Tumatanow ba siya ng utang na loob sa mga taong nakatulong sa kanya? Sakim at benggatibo ba sya?
Sa madaling payo, iboto lang ang mga kandidato na may tunay na matibay na character basi sa Commitment, Competence, Integrity at Humility! Kung bibigyan ka ng pera, bigas, sardinas at udong sa panahon ng eleksyon, tanggapin mo kung talagang kailangan mo. Pero dapat iboto pa rin ninyo ang may mabuting character.
Makonsensya tayo. Vote wisely! Bayan muna bago ang sarili. Mabuhay ang mga responsibilidad na Dabaonon botante!
Below are some quotations from a leadership Guro John C. Maxwell for our voters guidelines:
- The first lesson we must each learn is that broad leadership is built on deep character. An infrastructure of great character is essential to support great conduct. The trust and involvement of our followers will be parallel to the level of our own character.
- Use power to help people. We are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people.
- To be a leader, I must live with God and move with Him beyond where the people are. If they are to follow me, I must be ahead of them.
- People are dynamic and must be led through love and relationship.
- A leader must go beyond a people pleaser to being a God pleaser. If our need for the people’s affirmation exceeds ourneed for God’s affirmation, we are in trouble. Leadership sometimes means doing what’s unpopular.
- You must live with people to know their problems, and live with God in order to solve them.
- An important question for leaders: “Are you building people or building your ambition and using people to do it?”
- Are your leaders voting for worth following?
- A great leader is always willing to be little.
Lastly, let me dwell on Vote buying and selling. If an unscrupulous politician tries to buy your vote, and gives you money, take it. You need the money but vote wisely using your conscience. Money used for vote buying came from peopl’es money. “Koprasan mo sila” Vote buying and selling are mortal sins because it distorts people’s will and ultimately the will of God for good leaders.
