by Rev. Dr. Mariano C. Apilado
My six years of service at the UCCP Davao City has given me challenging and rich experiences of living that I am carrying with me here in Caba, La Union.
And somehow as I remember those beautiful experiences, I am reminded of four movements in the continuing challenge to reach for excellence.
First, a person remembers. A person remembers beautiful experiences of childhood, youth and growing up and those pleasant memories can give such person pleasant and positive attitudes as he faces the challenges of life beyond childhood and youth.
Second, a person forgives. As a person grows up he would pass through pleasant and unpleasant experiences. Oftentimes, there are pains and troubles of growing up. For a healthy attitude, a person should forgive others and himself so as to maintain a positive attitude to face the more difficult and painful challenges of growing up.
The past elections could have inflicted pains and unpleasant experiences on many. What is needed now is to forgive those pains and difficulties and start working together for Davao to continue reaching toward excellence.
Third, a person learns. Somehow, the most meaningful lessons are from the most unpleasant, most painful and most difficult.
The slogan, “Change? What for? We have the Best!” won in the last elections. But we cannot continue simply savoring the victory of the slogan. Yes, another three years of trust and confidence have been given to the Duterte administration.
But the Duterte face is now Sara. Sara is both the same Duterte, but a different one. Let us learn with her and through her leadership, cooperating with her where necessary and criticizing her administration where needed.
We can savor the best, by continuing to reach for the excellence beyond the Davao of former mayor, now Vice-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
This brings us to a fourth lesson. This is that we move on. We move on together to make Davao City, the best city it could possibly be.
We have the best quantity and quality of water in Asia. Let us have the best water in the world – not for the world, but for Dabawenyos, ever loyal, ever true.
Let us continue to build the best peace and order, the best educational programs, the best health programs, the best business opportunities, the best city of all.
Spiritually, I suggest to Mayor Sara, Vice-Mayor Rodrigo, the whole Sangguniang Panlungsod and all Dabawenyuos, themselves, to read once again I Corinhtians 13.
When the Apostle Paul wrote, the Corinthian Christians were facing problems of immorality, division and misconduct in their lives. The Apostle Paul reminded them of public life and service founded upon the religious and spiritual, cultivating unity and following the way of love.
For Paul, love is the distinctive mark of a Christian, the mark of excellence. Love primarily does not have to do with pleasure; rather, it has to do with being self-sacrificial and living for other people, following Christ who prayed at the cross, “Father, forgive these people for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23: 34).
This love removes the sin, main barrier to unity and provides grace, the main spiritual gift that empowers people to be the best that they can be. This love is patient and kind, always hopes for the best and trusts God for the results and does not hold grudges.
Reaching out for excellence is doing love that looks out for the best interests of other people. Can we expect Mayor Sara, Vice-Mayor Rodrigo, the entire Sangguniang Panlungsod to lead the way to put in practical terms in their official duties and personal living love reaching out for excellence?
