“The superior man thinks only of virtue; the common man thinks only of comfort.” – CONFUCIUS
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In a country besieged and befuddled by various ethnic, cultural and technological influences – including an unhampered barrage of communication and information flow from the West – it is no longer a big surprise why Filipinos are in a state of confusing cultural and ethical mix they are in today.
As it has been in decades past, a year or so before presidential elections, politicians aspiring for higher executive positions begin to navigate their way, hoping and expecting to seal a deal somewhere somehow with a political group or party willing to take him as its standard bearer.
The multi-party system that replaced the old but dependable two-party practice has allowed the emergence and proliferation of political butterflies who sell their principles to preserve their political careers and establish a dynasty.
Suddenly, these ambitious personalities are transformed into expert public speakers mouthing carefully phrased slogans, expressing their “noble” objectives to uplift the majority who are poor and the marginalized minority cloaked in motherhood statements.
The emergence of such men (and women) is described by Einstein to “characterize our age” saying: “Confusion of goals and perfection of means seems, in my opinion, to characterize our age.”
Indeed, you can find truth in this as several of those running for the highest post of the land in the May 2022 presidential polls sprung up to present and offer themselves as fit and able for the position.
Let’s face it.
The regretful dissolution and replacement of the two-party system – patterned after the democratically-proven US practice – by the multi-party concept enabled the unqualified to qualify themselves unabashedly as honorable and fitting, much to the consternation and suffering of the electorate.
When a new president is installed, swarms of political butterflies switch sides, take their oaths with the political party of the powers-that-be and voila – they now belong to the ruling majority party!
Grandiose promises aimed at securing (or hoodwinking) the support and mandate of the people roll out of their think tanks because they assume the once-bakya crowd of voters will bite their promotional come-ons hook, line and sinker.
Providing every poor his own house and shelter is a great and noble idea. But this falls flat in the face.
Spoon-feeding destroys the virtues of industry, creativity and diligence that are the core values of the Filipino character.
Why give them fish? So you help them live for a day?
Instead, teach them how to fish so they can live decently and reliably on their own.
Why not teach, provide and promote livelihood and income-earning opportunities like the voluntary, self-help cooperative movement that has successfully transformed the once-poor and desolate Israel into the eighth richest country in the world?
Every barangay, for that matter, must have its own multi-purpose cooperative. Why is it a must?
Because cooperatives help increase the GDP – the consumption of goods and services –
Correcting the faults and failures of the 1987 Constitution and instituting pro-people driven initiatives to prepare them for unexpected tragedies such as the pandemic Covid19 is preferable to maintaining the status quo.
Candidates for the presidency must cease wooing the Filipino voters with mouth-watering promises that are the hallmark of fake leaders.
A candidate who espouses a national mindset that is intolerant of the progressive truth is a traditional self-proclaimed “messiah” undeserving of the support of the electorate.
There is such a candidate in our midst.
Make no mistake about it.
Talks of unification benefit only ONE person because that person wants to elevate himself as the personification of the political opposition.
If a candidate possesses these three qualities of an ideal leader – integrity, moral honesty and executive leadership – there would not be any need to exert efforts at unification.
Everyone gravitates to the leader who has these virtues.
BEWARE OF CANDIDATES WHO MAKE HUGE PROMISES. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
