Kaya Natin!

Sixteen months shy of the 2010 elections, groups are already abuzz with talk of who to support for president, vice president and even for the senatorial positions that will be up for grabs. Election fever has begun to seize Filipinos—judging by our politicos’ early declarations of intent, the excitement over surveys showing who’s in the lead and who continues to lag behind, the seriousness of voters’ education drives, debates picking-up steam and efforts such as that of TEAM RP’s IAmChange2010 to get the youth to register and vote and Movement for Good Governance’s election reform advocacy for automated elections.

With our country in such as state as it is in right now, it is all the more crucial to have the public be very early on critically thinking about who they will get to lead this country and actively work to get the right ones, the good ones elected so that we can restore that which everyone is so hungry for—a feeling of hope amidst the despair.

Sadly though, even among the different groups I have had the good fortune of working with—these groups that are fighting for more citizen involvement and participation, better and cleaner elections, promoting love of country and pride in the Filipino spirit, there is a pervading sense of “compromise” and “settling” for something not quite up to the mark.

One person says, “Let’s just look for the lesser evil among the candidates” while another says, “Let’s just support the one most viable and probably has a chance of winning.” If this is the sense coming from those already actively involved in trying to make this country a better place, what can we expect from those who we try to influence, inspire and affect?

“The world is already so filled with mediocrity, love shouldn’t be one of them.” In my personal life, as I continue to search for THE ONE, I hold on to that reminder never to settle for the less than near-perfect. And I challenge those of us who say we love our country—why settle? Why sell ourselves short of the great leader we deserve (and need especially now)?

With the declaration of KAYA NATIN! Champions Governor Grace, Governor “Among” Ed and Mayor Jesse—exemplars of good governance and ethical leadership, I continue to be hopeful that the Philippines that I love so much finally has a chance to rise above and get out of the rut it is in now. They may not be as popular nor are they the most viable options now, but most definitely, they are also not the “lesser evils” people have been resigned to choose from.

Why settle for mediocrity when we can have greatness? Why settle for unremarkable politicos when we can vote for passionate, hard-working, uncompromising, ethical leaders to occupy the highest seats of the land? We do not need the most brilliant and the most popular to govern—that’s what you have technical staff and the cabinet as well as the PR groups for.

What we need are leaders who have a heart for the people, proven conviction to stand up against graft and corruption and character to put the people first before themselves. On Radio Vertias’ Lider Totoo last week, I got to interview Sr. Leticia Bantolinao, Provincial Superior of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master (PDDM). “Governance at the service of communion” she says is what leadership should be all about. We should look for leaders who embody this principle. And if we find them, support them.

I refuse to believe that we are stuck with choosing the lesser evil. I am sure there are others like the KAYA NATIN! Champions who are people of integrity and conviction, people who are not afraid to speak up on issues that matter to the people even if it should hurt friend and family, leaders whose heart is for the poor and less empowered, leaders that can inspire a nation to help in rebuilding it to regain its glory days.

As KAYA NATIN! looks for other champions of good governance and ethical leadership to continue to inspire the people that government can and will work for them, I would like to challenge the Filipino people to support the good people—not the lesser evil or those who are most famous only. Let’s urge them to offer themselves for the service of the people and support those who already do. Our country is the Pearl of the Orient, a land of heroes, we owe to it not only our allegiance but a fervent dedication and commitment that we will not merely settle for pwede na. The world is already so filled with mediocrity, doon na tayo sa tama—hindi ang pwede na!