Rep. Tomas Osmeña has done nothing remarkable in the House of Representatives that would have made his constituents proud. Instead he failed the expectations he nurtured in their hearts when he sought their votes to be their representative.
Oh, to be sure, he has been rubbing elbows with the poor lately. But that is something he was never used to. And he has given a little cash here, some rice and sardines there. But what is that? Philantropy? Philantropy is not the job of a congressman.
The job of a congressman is to make legislation or participate in the legislative process. And Osmeña has distinguished himself in neither. For him, Congress is just a stopover, a convenient halfway house while he awaits his chance to return to City Hall.
Even if he truly wants to be a philantropist, he is making a very poor job out of it. Besides, it is far too late for his “efforts” to matter meaningfully. Far more sincere Cebuano philantropists have beaten him.
And not only have real philantropists given more substantially, in ways that are more appropriate and practical, they also asked for nothing in return. The pleasure they get comes from having provided assistance where needed, honestly and without reservation.
But of course this is a free country. Short of breaking the law, anyone can very well do almost as much as anyone pleases, even if it means exploiting the misery of the poor in order to attain one’s political interests. But one has to distinguish great leaders from the pretenders.
Great leaders climb the ladder to success on the merits of their great deeds. Pretenders scale their intended heights on the failures of others. That is why Osmeña is always criticizing Mayor Michael Rama. Because he cannot hold two fingers up to signify his own achievements.
A great challenge and a crucial test await Cebuanos in 2013, when Osmeña and Rama are expected to square off for the mayorship. The intelligence of Cebuanos will be measured in that election. It will not be Osmeña vs. Rama. It will be the Cebuanos against their own selves.