Real and lasting reforms

As the New Year 2014 starts, we are still in search of a genuine leader who will bring us out of the material and moral bankruptcy we have been experiencing since we became an independent Republic 68 years ago. It looks like our search will continue until the end of the term of the present Aquino administration in 2016.

Our search will not end during his term simply because Aquino is working under the illusion that his administration’s straight path or daang matuwid is bearing good fruits; that he has the upper hand in the fight against the well entrenched corruption in government. It will not end during his term because he cannot unite our people. On the contrary he has only created a serious rift and deep division among our countrymen by even intervening in the legislative function with the use of the pork barrel to pass highly controversial and constitutionally questionable bill like the foreign imposed RH bill.

Our search is still futile because the President we supposedly elected last 2010 on the glowing promise of genuine reforms in government has been fulfilling that promise more in form than in substance, more in self serving public relations campaign creating a favorable public image than in concrete actions and solid performance that can really be felt by the people.

We cannot end the search for as long as our President is more concerned about his popularity and the promotion of a good public image as reflected in periodic popularity surveys than in a credible and truly believable public service that engenders public trust. Our search for a good leader will continue during Aquino’s term because he continues to believe that for as long as he is popular as shown by those contracted surveys, he is doing a good job; that for as long as he is popular, he is credible.  

Indeed our search continues for as long as most of the office holders are politicians who are more interested in advancing the fortunes of their party than in the promotion of the general welfare; for as long as our office holders use methods to gain their own ends of obtaining or holding on to power, wealth and influence.

It is only the third day of the New Year however, and as always, we Filipinos remain hopeful and continue to make New Year’s resolutions which we hope to accomplish. Coming to mind in this connection is a summary of Pope Francis’ ten most memorable quotes which rappler.com has compiled in the form of resolutions for the coming years. Filipinos including our political leaders particularly our President may consider adopting them. They are as follows:

1. Choose to be humble especially in wielding power and have a sober and essential lifestyle with your money and other possessions. Certainly they “can give us a momentary thrill, the illusion of being happy but they end up possessing us and making us always want to have more, never satisfied”;

2.  Develop the culture of encounter by “meeting the poor in flesh and establishing personal contact with the needy. The sick must be cared for and the prison visited.” Donation to charity is not enough. Although Pope Francis did not say so, this culture is also against the practice of distributing relief goods and other assistance during calamities more for photo opportunities enhancing public image.

3. Another means of developing the culture of encounter is to “befriend those who disagree” with us. We have to “dialogue, dialogue, dialogue”. All have something good to give”. Thus it is also good to listen to them;

4. Stop judging others. “Keep watch over ourselves. Let us not forget that hatred, envy and pride defy our lives”. This particular resolution may even enable us to get rid of our intolerance and stubbornness in insisting that we are always right and thus ignore constructive criticisms;

5. Make time for others. This obviously means that we should not look down and disregard the  suggestions requests and pleas of other people simply because we do not know them especially the poor and the lowly;

The other resolutions compiled by rappler.com from Pope Francis’ memorable quotes which may also be useful in reforming ourselves especially our leaders one way or another are:

6. Don’t judge others and gossip about them by telling unverified information damaging to their name and reputation. “Gossip is murder” according to Pope Francis;

7. Discard the culture of waste because it neglects the plight of the poor. Here the Pope is asking everybody something that could be easily done: “finish your meals — no leftover please. Throwing food away is like stealing from the tables of the poor, hungry”;

8. Make life-long commitments —“rebel against a culture that sees everything as temporary and that ultimately believes that you are incapable of responsibility.” While the Pope here cites marriage as an example of such commitment, it may also apply to other commitments especially in making good on promises, political or otherwise;

9. Make it a habit to “ask the Lord.” This is applicable especially “to young people who may not know what to do with their lives”. In this connection the Pope cites the young Samuel’s plea when he said “speak Lord for I am listening” (1 Samuel 3:1-10);

10. And finally the Pope also wants us to “be happy” always. “Joy cannot be held at heel; it cannot be let go. It is is pilgrim virtue. It is a gift that walks the path of life”.

Let us therefore all hope that we can comply with all or some of these New Year’s resolution. It may enable us including those in public service to achieve true and lasting reforms.

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