Christmas reflections: the urgency of electing genuine leaders

Tomorrow, a festive and joyful spirit envelops the nation, yet beneath this cheerful façade lies a somber reality that too many families painfully confront daily. The challenges they face are not just seasonal; they are relentless, worsening with each passing year. As households grapple with the rising cost of
living, essential needs — food, medicine, healthcare — drift increasingly out of reach for countless families.

Every Christmas, the contrast between holiday cheer and personal despair creates a heartbreaking tableau. Families must bear the burden of balancing mounting hospital bills against the simple joy of providing a feast on their tables.

This season, many will find themselves faced with the wrenching decision: celebrate or survive?

What compounds this grief is the absence of a government— from local barangays to Malacañang—that actively protects and serves these struggling citizens. Instead, we witness the same corrupt political families entrenched in municipal halls, city councils, and provincial governments, poised to exploit
government coffers after the upcoming May 2025 elections. These individuals, tasked with safeguarding our resources, are instead entangled in schemes meant to plunder public funds earmarked for development, education, and social welfare. From the PNP to Customs, DPWH, and the Department of Education, key agencies have devolved into hubs of corruption rather than vehicles for progress. Justice’s cries are stifled under the weight of greed that pervades every corridor of power, whether in Congress or local councils.

We deserve leaders who prioritize genuine service over selfish agendas, transparency over deception. The time for demanding accountability is now! Our hopes for true change hinge not only on electing the right officials but also fostering widespread civic engagement—a national chorus echoing the call for
integrity. It’s high time we stop electing corrupt lawmakers who treat politics as their personal family business, wielding their clout over the desperate.

However, the latest senatorial surveys paint a dismal picture. Among the top candidates, only a scant few would pass an anti-corruption test, while many seem uninterested in meaningful legislation. Instead, they appear eager, salivating over the billions of pesos allocated as “undercover pork.” Come May 2025, we might be choosing not just senators, but the next wave of billionaires funded by our sweat and tears.

Similarly, aspirants for Congress scramble ferociously for seats, lured by the promise of project insertions and limitless funding opportunities. The prospect of a windfall makes it clear: we are, in effect, on course to elect multi- millionaires, prioritizing financial gain over public service.

At the local government level, mayors reign supreme within their realms, empowered by allocations that promote their personal wealth instead of community improvement. Elected officials at all levels must moderate their unbridled greed and genuinely serve their constituents—those intended to benefit
from their positions of power.

As voters in May, we owe it to ourselves and our communities to ensure those ascending to positions of authority don’t succumb to entitlement once in office.

We must demand transparency regarding budget allocations and insist on accountability when elected officers fail to uphold their duty. Public servants should remember their primary obligation is to the people who entrusted them with power, not to profit-driven motives.

Yet amidst this sea of corruption, let us also uplift the honest public servants dedicated to their communities despite the overwhelming tide of malfeasance. By highlighting their efforts and sharing stories grounded in ethical governance, we can inspire others to resist apathy, standing firm in our collective quest for justice.

This Yuletide season calls us to action. It’s not merely a time for merriment, but a pivotal moment for unity, purpose, and resolve. We must carry hope in our hearts, striving relentlessly for change that benefits not only the present but future generations yearning for a fairer system free from the shackles of
corruption.

As we navigate through this election cycle, let us reject the insincere narratives churned out across social media. Candidates projecting images of “helpfulness” while harboring corruption must be firmly cast aside. We cannot afford the indulgence of electing individuals with tarnished records, human rights violators, or absentee politicians who disappear post-election.

In the coming campaign, let’s not be seduced by the allure of populism or misleading narratives spun by candidates with questionable morals. Instead, we must critically assess who truly embodies the values of honesty, integrity, and genuine service to the people.

Reflected upon the wisdom of the world’s greatest leader- politician-philosopher, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius maintained that absolute power does not corrupt but reveals the character. He gave us an example of a leader who strived to cultivate a good soul and a good heart.

At Christmas midnight tonight, evaluate your candidates thoroughly—mayors, councilors, governors, party list representatives, congressmen, senators, and their political parties. Do they embody a “good soul” and a “good heart”? If their actions suggest otherwise, discard them from your ballot in May. It’s time to reclaim our democracy and demand representatives worthy of the trust we bestow upon them.  The possibility of a better country begins with each vote we cast, so let’s make them count!

Real gifts are not lavish but rooted in the promise of a fairer society. We have the power to demand a government that prioritizes people over profit—a government that reflects our true aspirations and serves our collective dreams.

Let us prepare ourselves to make informed choices that reflect our values. Let the spirit of the season invigorate our resolve for clean, effective governance free from the grip of corruption. The time for action is now, and it begins with each of us making a conscious choice in May 2025. We cannot afford to remain passive; our country demands our active participation, and it is up to us to ensure that we elect public officials who embody a “good soul and a good heart”.