By Karla Angelica Pastores
Contributor

BIRDS of a feather flock together, or so they say. In psychology, we learned that you are drawn to friends who are similar to you in terms of traits and characteristics. As the friendship deepens, you become more and more similar to each other.

And…?

When it comes to our friends and family, we tend to trust each other’s judgments and opinions. We turn to our friends for advice and information, and, depending on the level of closeness we have with them, usually believe what they say.

During elections, first time voters typically look to their friends and family as credible sources of information as to which candidate to vote for.

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By Harvey Keh

For the past 2 weeks, one of the major news items that came out was the call of Chief Justice Reynato Puno for a Moral Force to come out and become more active in shaping our country’s future especially in the upcoming 2010 National Elections. This has led to calls for him to spearhead this force and at the same time make himself available as a Presidential Candidate in 2010. Among those that have issued statements of support include Senator Panfilo Lacson and the Ang Kapatiran Party.

This call for Puno to run for President only goes to show that many Filipinos are now looking more and more at leaders with moral ascendancy, credibility and untarnished integrity. This is understandable given the fact that our present government led by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been branded as one of the most corrupt governments not only in Asia but in the whole world. We have also seen numerous political scandals which have consistently plagued her government more recently the imposition of a ban by the World Bank on 3 contractors that have implemented infrastructure projects with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

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By Karla Angelica Pastores

THE first time I met Jesse Robredo, Grace Padaca, and Among Ed Panlilio, I wasn’t star struck. They did not have an air of superiority around them, and they certainly did not walk around waving to everyone and shaking hands with people whose arms are not even extended. To me, they did not look like politicians, let alone award-winning ones.

No, I wasn’t star struck when I met them. I was awestruck.

Over dinner at Club Filipino one June evening last year, I was listening to these three government officials talk about their problems in their provinces and offer solutions and support to each other. They were seated across from each other, engaging themselves in a lively conversation. As I sat there, a young, somewhat inexperienced fresh graduate, I felt very privileged to have met these leaders and be privy to their thoughts and ideas.

Several months and two more exceptional public servants later, my respect and admiration for Mayor Jesse of Naga City, Gov. Grace of Isabela, Among Ed of Pampanga, Gov. Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao and Mayor Sonia Lorenzo of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija have only grown. In my work for Kaya Natin!, I interact with these five people on a regular basis, and like that evening in Club Filipino when they first met, I have the chance to know them as people, not as politicians.

As people, these leaders are as real as they get. They have more right to say that they’re just regular people than television and movie stars have –just regular people who have problems and issues albeit scrutinized by the public eye. At least with celebrities, they’re compensated with more than enough; with government officials like Mayor Jesse and Gov. Grace, it’s only their heart for the people and the country that keeps them in public service despite the difficulties.

In today’s political arena where corruption seems to be the norm, government officials like the Kaya Natin! champions are a refreshing twist to the story. Here we have leaders who, while far from being perfect, have put it upon themselves to serve the public with integrity. Not only are they challenging the rules of the game of traditional politics, going against big names, but they do so with a genuine commitment to changing how politics works in the Philippines. They are the faces of effective and ethical leadership in government.

The reality is that these champions of good governance are not that much different from the rest of us. Before taking on the challenge of public service, they were ordinary citizens who only wanted to do something and be someone for others. It was a sacrifice they were ready and willing to make, and it was a sacrifice that was worth every pain and disappointment if only to see their fellow Filipinos leading better lives. They are still ordinary citizens; only now they hold jobs aimed at serving the public.

Ordinary people? Quite probably. Extraordinary characters? Most definitely. The best part is, they’re all real people.

By Marjorie Gorospe

THE 2010 Philippine presidential elections are drawing near. Some aspirants have started subtle campaigning, hoping to catch people’s attention this early.

History would tell, however, that Philippine elections have been marred with fraud, casting doubt on people who are placed in power. This is one reason why some voters forego their right to suffrage.

Jaime Garchitorena of Youth Vote Philippines says one cannot blame some people for choosing not to vote.

Garchiterona says the Filipinos’ growing distrust with elections will only lead to more unwanted public servants.

“If you don’t trust the system, which you do not try to fix, then it still stays the same as distrustful as you thought it was,” Garchiturena adds.

Garchitorena says breaking this cycle of distrust is difficult. But people should not give up. He says “trying” means that people have accepted the possibility of change.

Youth Vote Philippines hopes to encourage the youth to find time to vote.

He points out that people should not complain if they chose not to vote. “Kung hindi ka boboto, huwag kang magreklamo [Don’t complain if you will not vote],” he adds.

He admits that it remains a challenge to encourage more young people to vote. However, he and his colleagues in Movement for Good Governance are not losing hope.

LAST week, one of the major news stories that erupted prior to the end of 2008 was an incident involving the abuse of power by a city mayor whose father is also the incumbent Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary.

According to an e-mail which has been circulating for days now, Masiu City Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr. together with his friends and bodyguards ganged up and beat up a 56-year-old man and his 14-year-old son over an altercation at the Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo City.

As if this wasn’t enough, Mayor Pangandaman, Jr. and his cohorts continued to beat the two of them up while the 14-year-son pleaded with them to stop. This happened as DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman just watched and didn’t even bother to lift a finger to stop the incident. Since then many people have condemned this act and have voiced out their utmost disappointment with the kind of government officials that we have in this country.

If Sec. Pangandaman and Mayor Pangandaman, Jr. have some decency and delicadeza left in them, I believe they should not only offer a sincere apology to the Dela Paz family but also resign from their posts immediately.

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