Should we elect a boss or a leader?

Last Wednesday we attended the “Understanding Choices Forum on Genuine Leadership and Good Governance: How Shall We Lead the Philippines in 2010” at the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation’s (RAFI) Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (EADS) and indeed, it was a great forum for those who are seeking a better political leadership for this country.

The questions you may be asking in your head as to who we should be voting for were encapsulated in the opening message by Sir Roberto “Bobby” Aboitiz who before we choose the right leader for this country, asked the pertinent question, “Why is the system not working? Why does it appear that our institutions fail to function as planned? If it is not the system, and it is not the aim as provided for in our constitution, what’s causing the problem?

Sir Bobby’s also asked “Why does it appear that we have drifted further and further away from the values of honor and character, which once gave us integrity as a people? We may be tempted to answer—it’s our leaders or it’s our institutions that act for and in behalf of vested interests, but, might it be that we are taking the privilege of citizenship for granted? In frustration, Sir Bobby quoted from the 1949 Norman Beasley book entitled “Politics has no morals” and quoted “At no time in our history have we a greater need of men of character in public office…to get it, we must have character as a people.”

What we really need today is a good upright and a moral leader, not someone who would boss the people. But a leader whose qualities would bring us a fresh hope for a better future for our country. You can say that the criteria that were discussed in that forum can also be used in our search for local leaders. So should we elect a new President; a Boss or a Leader?

As one of the speakers Mayor Ramon Piang Sr. of Upi, Maguindanao pointed out, “The boss drives his men, the leader inspires them. The boss depends on authority, the leader depends on goodwill. The boss evokes fear, the leader radiates love. The boss says “I”, the leader say “We”. The boss shows what’s wrong. The leader shows, what’s right. The boss knows how it is done; the leader shows how to do it. The boss abuses men, the leader uses them and finally, the boss demands respect, the leader commands respect.”

As an example, Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama rightly ordered the evacuation of the urban coastal communities because of the strong waves and high tide. We laud him for doing so, but moving those people is a temporary thing. What should be done here is for the city to already prepare a permanent relocation site for them and move them as soon as they are built. But more importantly, that no one will ever build structures in the abandoned areas again.

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Tomorrow, the AboitizPower leads all the Aboitiz group of Companies in a massive and nationwide planting of trees with the aim of planting approximately 1 million trees to offset the carbon emissions of the Aboitiz Companies. In Cebu, Aboitiz volunteers participated by some 26 companies will start planting 20,000 indigenous trees in a 12-hectare property in the town of Aloguinsan. As I can’t make it tomorrow, my friends in Aboitiz sent me one tree to plant in my backyard. In the spirit of this occasion, I’ve already done so and will ensure that it grows into a big tree.

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This Sunday Oct.11 is a milestone for the family of the late Dr. Manuel de Veyra, my uncle. My cousins, Ms. Chinggay V. Utzurrum, Ms. Teresa Montilla and Mr. Manuel “Didoy” de Veyra will be celebrating their father’s 100th birth anniversary. Tito Manny de Veyra was the son of Gov. Jaime C. de Veyra who was the co-publisher of “El Nuevo Dia” with Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Tito Manny was a hero of sorts as he survived the infamous 105 kilometer Death March to Capas, Tarlac and wrote his exploits in his book “A Doctor of Bataan.”

I remember Tito Manny as a staunch and rabid Rotarian, whom I got to know more when I joined the Rotary Club of Cebu (Mother) when my father died. He was past President and Past District Governor of Rotary District 386. He was a very humble person, who was married to Rosario Avila, my father’s sister and an exemplary Rotarian. May we request the pious reader to please pray for the repose of his soul.

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Birthday greetings to my good friend, Mr. Francisco “Paquito” Unchuan who will be celebrating his nth natal day tomorrow with his friends in their farm in Barili. Paquito is like a brother to me and a fellow saver of souls. He was one who helped me in my Damascus experience. God bless you Kit!