Doubting Thomases and the Privilege to Serve

“It is work that makes men heroes. It is work that makes deeds renowned. It is work that gives us the best in life. It is work that makes poor men kings.” Words of wisdom from my father.

When I decided to run for congress in 2001, I spent a few weeks meeting with our different political leaders, like Mayor Soc Fernandez of Talisay, Mayor Eddie Selma of Minglanilla, the late Mayor Enan Chiong of Naga, and the late Mayor Sochong Bacaltos of Sibonga. I also met with the councilors and leaders of the different barangays within my district. During those meetings I would be greeted with an expression of skepticism and doubt in their faces.

The political neophyte that I was, I found such reaction quite disheartening. I knew that they doubted how effective I would be as a political leader, whether I could equal the tracks of my brother, who had previously served their area.

My brother is the consummate politician, serving the public for many years, in various capacities – as congressman, governor, and mayor. He has a ‘photographic memory’; he can recognize people and remember their names on sight, especially political leaders and supporters. In my case, my memory isn’t as sharp – but I can remember people’s faces and, more importantly, read their body language.

At one of those meetings I had with our campaign leaders, a woman supporter asked very straightforward questions. “Do you think you can fill the shoes of your brother?” she asked. “Is it true that you are quite choosy?” The questions caught me off-guard, and I couldn’t answer right away. Then I collected myself and said, “Only time will tell…” By that I committed myself to do whatever I could – no matter how little and humble – in order to make the lives of people in my district a little better and more meaningful.

Those times remain vivid in my memory, so much so that throughout my term as congressman, and even up to this day when I have returned to private endeavors, I continue to reflect on what I have accomplished for the people, my constituents. I must honestly admit that I feel like floating on Cloud 9 to recall the great privilege and joy I had in serving the people. I am immensely grateful to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary for the chance.

I am particularly glad of having solved the long-time problem of the centralized payroll system of public school teachers and non-teaching personnel, who could only receive their salaries after much delay. Now, the almost half-million of them all over the country no longer have to resort to loan sharks, as they already get their salaries on time, wherever they are in the country, with the payroll regionalization. The lawmakers before me simply looked away from the problem – because solving it seemed like an “impossible dream.”

Then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself graced the official launch of the new payroll system in Cebu, after which I flew back to Manila the next day to participate actively in the joint session of Congress for the official proclamation by the President.

I tried my best to serve beyond partisan politics. The P3 million footbridge in Barangay Jaclopan, in Talisay, was constructed – despite the fact that I lost there by almost 400 votes in the congressional elections. The computer literacy program I established in Minglanilla and Carcar was for the benefit of many out-of-school youth, to find gainful employment. There were also the new classrooms, the goat-breeding livelihood program, the roads, the electrification and irrigation projects, and many others.

I have a personal motto: “If you have a task to perform, do your very best, because only God knows if you will get the chance to do it again.”

I have always intended to serve only one term as an elected public servant, and I hope and pray that with the opportunity and time that God gave me, I had served His divine purpose. I hope, too, that my performance has effectively appeased the minds and hearts of those “Doubting Thomases” I had come across earlier.

But I know that all I have done as a public servant is but a tiny, insignificant teardrop in the vast ocean of poverty among our people. While I have tried my best, with no reservations other than the God-given limitations, I remain servant to His will.

It is important to always look back to yesterday, to be humble, humane and compassionate especially to the less-fortunate, for the Lord will knock at your door anytime.