TODAY we are setting aside as the main topic of our discourse in this column Philippine politics and the raging global pandemic. We are using this space to reprint a post shared in our high school batch chat group.
Apparently, this might have been shared by a son or daughter of a classmate of ours who could be working in Germany for some time already.
We decided to carry this in our column today because we have no doubt that it is relevant in our time knowing how leadership positions in all levels of government are being coveted by many and how many of those who succeeded had amassed enormous wealth enough for him or her to last several lifetimes.
It is also a known fact in the Philippines that most, if not all, those who are in the leadership position are found to be continuously increasing their net worth while still in office. They also are found to be maintaining a coterie of the house helps, bodyguards and aides to the point that the very people they have promised and sworn to serve are isolated from them.
This is the post we are sharing to our readers for all its worth and wishful thinking that one day we will have one such leader emerging in the Philippines, whether he or she is a leader of the smallest unit of government or the highest office in the land. We found it so inspiring for both female and male leaders that it cannot be left unread!
“Just last week Germany bid farewell to Angela Merkel with six-minute warm applause, on the streets, balconies, windows the whole country applauded for a spectacular example of leadership and defense of humanity!
The Germans elected her to lead them, and she led 80 million Germans for 18 years with competence, skill, dedication, and sincerity. She did not utter nonsense. She did not appear in the alleys of Berlin to be photographed. She was dubbed as “The Lady of the World” and was described as equivalent to six million men.
“During these eighteen years of her leadership of the authority in her country, no transgressions were recorded against her. She did not assign any of her relatives to a government post. She did not claim that she was the maker of glories.
She did not get millions in payment, nor did anyone cheer her performance, she did not receive charters and pledges, she did not fight those who preceded her and did not dissolve them. Last week, Merkel left the party leadership position and handed it over to those after her, and Germany and its German people are in the best condition ever.
The reaction of the Germans was unprecedented in the history of the country. The entire population went out to the balconies of their houses and clapped for her spontaneously for 6 continuous minutes. A standing ovation nationwide.
Germany stood as one body bidding farewell to their leader, a chemical physicist who was not tempted by the fashion or the lights and did not buy real estate, cars, yachts and private planes knowing that she is from the former East Germany.
“She left her post after leaving Germany at the top. She left and her relatives did not claim advantage. Eighteen years and she never changed her wardrobe. God be upon this silent leader.
“At a press conference a female journalist asked Merkel: We noticed that you were wearing the same suit, don’t you have any other? She replied: I am a government employee and not a model.”
“At another press conference, they asked her: Do you have housemaids who clean your house, prepare your meals and so on? Her answer was: “No, I do not have servants and I do not need them. My husband and I do this work at home every day.”
“Then another journalist asked: Who is washing the clothes, you or your husband? Her answer: ”I arrange the clothes, and my husband operates the washing machine, and it is usually at night because electricity is available and there is no pressure on it, and the most important thing is to take into account the possible inconvenience for the neighbors. Thankfully, the wall separating our apartment from the neighbors is thick. She said to them. “I expected you to ask me about the successes and failures in our work in the government?”
Mrs. Merkel lives in a normal apartment like any other citizen. She lived in this apartment before she was elected Prime Minister of Germany. She did not leave it and does not own a villa, servants, swimming pool, or gardens. Merkel, now the former Prime Minister of Germany, the largest economy in Europe!!”
We Filipinos? Dream on. After all, to dream is free. Who knows our time will come sooner than later.
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This is another inspiring story proving that determination and perseverance will lead one to success no matter the difficulty.
Yes, very recently a 17-year old person with disability (PWD) – with only one leg and walks with crutches – became the first one with such infirmity to climb the peak of Mt. Apo, the tallest mountain in the Philippines at almost ten thousand feet above sea level.
He is Angelo Revilla, the PWD who conquered the treacherous route with his indomitable spirit. Yet, there was not any financial or material reward for doing such an adventure. He went there just to prove that if there is determination to succeed one will make it. And he did make it to the top in only two days,
What a feat!
