Honesty and truth

In the midst of so much hedging from the truth among our leaders and politicians these days, it is so refreshing to find an honest Filipino among the struggling poor.

You may already have watched the news or read about him in the papers but his honest deed deserves as much publicity as possible. His example is a much-needed affirmation of what this country badly needs: Honesty and truth from a very sincere heart.

Mr. Reino Lance, a part-time driver who lives in Taguig, Metro Manila, found P150,000 left in his taxi after bringing a passenger to the airport. Even as he knew what he could use that much money, given his own family's financial difficulties, he immediately returned the money.

Ms. Annie Joy Angana of Cotabato was Reino's passenger who left the money which she borrowed to use for the operation of her daughter, Gwyneth, who has brain tumor. You can imagine the inexpressible joy that she may have experienced upon the return of her money!

Reino Lance did not just save the life of Gwyneth, he inspired the whole nation to return to essential values now compromised by too much politicking and desire to stay in power among our leaders. Reino Lance, through his honest act, jolted this nation back to the beauty and real meaning of truth and honesty.

And the spontaneous acts of kindness that followed his honest act also showed this nation that all is not yet lost for our people. Because of his honesty, Reino changed the course of his life and that of his family. Reino received so many more stable, higher paying job offers, free scholarship for his children, and more.

With honesty and diligent work, Reino, who used to sell balut and sampaguita to augment his low salary as a part-time driver, can now look forward to a brighter future. Reino is an exemplary model for our poor and for our poor leaders and politicians.

Hopefully, his example will also turn this country around and cause our people, especially our leaders, to be convinced about honesty and truth still espoused and desired by many Filipinos.

Until this honest act, we have ourselves observed how much of essential values have been compromised in this country. Truth is no longer truth. Partial truths, half-truths, or outright lies have been pragmatically accepted as politically correct. Reino's act confirms that honesty is honesty and truth is truth. There can be no compromise about what is true and honest.

Secretary Mike Defensor interrupted Ted Failon's news program to inform the public that Malacañang was set to expose the truth about the Garci tapes. Admitting that they consulted technicians, including foreign experts, to show how the conversation between GMA and Garci has been manipulated.

"So, are you confirming that Garci was the Comelec official that the President talked to?" Ted Failon asked Secretary Defensor.

Then, the hedging and the disclaimer once again began. They will leave this matter for legal proceedings to confirm, he answered. In short, Secretary Defensor, unlike GMA's lawyer, will not categorically confirm nor deny that it was indeed Garcillano that GMA talked to. Why is it so difficult for GMA or Malacañang to tell the truth as it is?

Anyway, it is not the truth of the tape that this nation is bothered about. It is the truth about a President, a presidential candidate, talking to a Comelec officer, whom she appointed, about her votes, before the formal, official completion of canvassing.

It is not the tapes but the calls that GMA personally admitted to have made to a Comelec official that has been confirmed as the truth. The nation now needs to be clear about whether it is ok for any president who is a presidential candidate, to make those calls.

It is not a matter that can be confused by a question like, but didn't she do something that all other politicians did or another which says, if what she did was wrong, who will take her place as president?

Just because she did what other politicians are doing, does that make her call or their call morally and politically correct? Is it okay not to censure her calls because this nation is fearful that no one else will succeed a non-truthful President?

Reino showed the way. He is just a poor driver and vendor but he stands higher than many of our leaders, including our President, in terms of honesty and truth. He can stare his children in the eye and clearly tell and show them what truth and honesty genuinely are. Thank you, Reino, for your honesty and hard work!

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