Not my president but ours

I VOTED Mar Roxas for president and Leni Robredo for vice president. By doing so, I exercised my sacred right as a Filipino to choose our country’s leaders and participated in and, therefore, submitted myself to a democratic process—which mandates that I, not only respect the choice of others but, above all, must bow down to the will of the majority.

The 2016 elections are over. As often said, let us now all buckle down to business; the heat, passions, hurts and all those ugly things that consumed us during the election season, we must immediately forget and discard. Let us all be a good sport.

The elected must not betray us. Our beloved motherland and people certainly need a major fix—or lots of it. Our elected leaders must deliver on their promises—no more excuses, no more finger-pointing, no more sophistry, no more gimmickry—or worst, crude and cruel amnesia from the winners. However, give the newly elected a little period to set things up and refine their strategies.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! This must be foremost in our hearts and minds—both the leaders and common tao. Rodrigo Duterte is not my president; he is our president. True, President Duterte has the highest sacred duty to work for our common welfare. But that burden is neither exclusive nor does it stop wholly on his shoulders—it has never been so in any society since everyone can remember. You and I must share the burden. We must work and sacrifice, too. This is our homeland, too, lest we forget.

Yes, I place my trust and solemnly pledge to work with our new leaders. Indeed, king and subjects must unite for both survival and progress—otherwise patay pa more ang Pilipinas.

Since, there is a higher power above us all, we must regularly invoke Him, too. Hard work and prayers have always been proven to be a very potent and effective formula. God bless us all.

—LUIS F. SALAZAR, PIT Building, Laurel cor. Recto Streets, General Santos City