First on my to-do list today is to wish upon a star.
I am secretly hoping though that it was that easy to turn each wish I have into reality.
I mean apart from my usual hopes and dreams that are anchored on genuine happiness, purpose and fulfillment, I am adding my list of the traits I would love to see aspiring politicians possess.
It isn’t that easy, I know. But I hope I am not asking much.
Seriously, I lost count of the number of times I have been tagged on a post, messaged privately on social media, received calls, texts and emails from people who want me to support their candidate in the upcoming elections.
To be honest, I haven’t given anyone my go signal yet, as I would like to take time to really get to know these people behind the colorful posters and catchy slogans. You know me guys: I don’t really vouch for someone (or even when it comes to products and services) unless I really am confident about him/her. So yeah, best to spend this time getting to know each one of these amazing people who genuinely want to be of service to the country and do whatever it takes to enable and empower every Filipino to take up space and make a difference in their own way(fingers crossed).
I mean, let’s face it: we need more of them.
With due respect to all those in position now who I think are doing their best with all they have and all that they are, as we elect a new batch of leaders, know that we all can still do and be better, myself included.
This statement was not meant to discredit anyone in the existing government we have but rather to empower people to continuously be aware and seek of what will truly matter in the long run as we put our fate in the hands of the leaders we choose. As they say, there’s always room for improvement.
So yeah, allow me to share with you some of the traits which I, on a personal note, wish for in aspiring public servants:
Top on my list is accountability.
I am sure you have heard this famous quote from the Spiderman movie series “With great power comes great responsibility.
So true. How amazing will it be to elect leaders who actually walk the talk and are able to really deliver what they promised long after the campaign period is over. I long to have someone who is willing to be answerable to his/her own constituents. At the end of the day, know that as politicians, you just don’t want our vote; you want our trust and continuous support to make all of our aspirations for our country happen. Keep your word, and you get to keep us all.
Next is integrity.
I totally believe that who a person is behind closed doors is far more important than who he/she shows up to be in the open. Consistency and authenticity rank high on my list and it would be so comforting to know that the leaders we chose are really the same person they claimed to be before they got elected. Another valuable component of integrity is practicing transparency. I believe that aspiring politicians owe it to the voters who put them in the position they have now. So please, be open. Know that when your constituents ask, it’s not an attack; they just want to know. They have the right to know. And you, as the leader, have the duty to stand up and speak about the truth, no matter how difficult it may seem. Teaching by example allows you to empower people to embrace their truth too.
Lastly, is sincerity.
I would definitely love to get to know their purpose for running. What’s their story? What drives them? What do they want to achieve? Apart from those, a track record of helping others genuinely and being of service with the purest intentions long before the election period has arrived could definitely add brownie points. And no, I don’t mean “random acts of helping” that are captured on social media but rather those that only the recipients know of, because he/she as a leader does not need the validation or recognition to do good and make a difference in the lives of others.
What about you? What’s on your wish list? Would love to know.
As you take this time to reflect about the candidates for the upcoming elections, please reflect on these:
What are my reasons for voting for this candidate?
What must I also consider in the process?
And for the aspiring politicians, best of luck. I do hope to get to know you better and perhaps work together in helping each and every Filipino become his/her own #bestmeever.
Keeping my fingers crossed that someday, somehow, my wish will come true.
-o0o-
Announcement: I will be holding a FREE Self-Reflection Workshop in Sorsogon City on October 18, 6pm-8pm. This is sponsored by The Art Café by Justine Bornel and M-Power by Maricris Labayandoy. You can message them on Facebook for more details and to reserve your slot.
-o0o-
Asking for Support: The UP College of Education Philo Education and Values Education Department seeks financial support for its scholarship programs, projects and teacher training for basic and higher education teachers. You may contact Kimberly Florendo at 0976-360-2423 for more details on how you can help. Guys, this is for a worthy cause as I am very much aware of the challenges in funding these initiatives, having taken a bunch of education electives during my masteral stint in UP Diliman way back in 2015. Hope you can extend some generosity to these people who mold the minds and hearts of the future generation.
Comments