Dear Mr. President (Simple expectations from the mouth of babes)

To be an agent of change and an instrument of peace and progress for millions is a privilege bestowed on a few. Most of us are able to touch lives and make a difference in the future of a family, a community, a barangay, a city — and that is no mean feat. But to be in a position to be able to do the same for tens of millions is a gift from God.

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III finds himself in such a position, and has resolved not to waste that gift. He once said that, when faced with the life-altering decision to run for President or not, he remembered what his late parents Ninoy and Cory always said. “If we were in a position to help our countrymen and turned our backs on it, we would not be able to face ourselves in the mirror the next day.”

P-Noy’s inaugural address, and the example of clean and honest leadership he has set in his first 30 days in office, are already making a difference. His SONA yesterday provided continuity to his resolve.

We have great expectations of P-Noy. What about the children whose trust in their elders and figures of authority is pure and unconditional? From what they hear from their parents and from what they pick up from television, and their own assessment of what needs improvement in their lives, what are their hopes and expectations of P-Noy?

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Tere Tabuena del Rosario, who with daughter Katrina runs the Bridge School in BF Homes Parañaque, believes in involving her students in events beyond the school grounds, especially if those events impact on their lives.

After the President’s inauguration last June 30, a school and working holiday, Tere and the other Bridge teachers asked the kids why they had no classes the day before. The kids grasped the reason why June 30 was important in their lives, and they were asked to write letters to the new President. They were even more excited when Tere said she would be sending the original letters to the President himself through his sister Ballsy Cruz. She didn’t promise that their letters would be answered, but expressed hopes that they would.

Reading the letters, I was struck by the trust and confidence the kids, from kindergarten to Grade 3, had in the new President. They expressed simple expectations of the Chief Executive, expectations that if fulfilled would make this country great again.

For instance, a lot of the children were particularly concerned about garbage collection. Garbage collection is a local problem that occasionally gets national prominence when it really stinks, literally and figuratively. It is no small matter. When a city’s streets are rid of garbage, business improves in the city, tourism flourishes, health problems decline and people are refreshed. When that simple expectation of cleanliness on the streets is met, the children will believe that their leaders can rid the government of the stink from corruption and scalawags as well.

The children’s letters also show an abundance of hope. And if the children’s letters reflect the sentiments of their elders, we can conclude that the people’s trust is political capital President Aquino still has at the moment.

We can still hope. And dream. Like the children. (You may e-mail me at [email protected])