The Philippine 2010 Election period gradually heats up simultaneously with the rising tropical temperatures of Asia’s first independent Republic. With 9 officially recognized presidential candidates, the contest has left not a few people rather confused and so many noncommittal at this point. Of course, we hear many others eagerly pitching for their chosen candidate with their personal reasons for doing so. Their choices, in the long run, are mainly based on their assessment of the personality, character, qualifications and experiences of their preferences. A few I have talked to and read about bring into the picture their rationale for choosing a person on his or her ability to provide the needed leadership to address the many problems the country faces. It seems that not many have fully analyzed the real state of the nation and what (and it seems to follow, who) it will take to bring it at par with the generally-accepted ideal state (no pun intended in regard to “US Statehood” proponents).
Most of the reasons given, therefore, can be clearly classified as perceptions of voters of the candidates as if they were applicants for a business corporation. True, the role of a president as Chief Executive of the nation requires the highest degree of qualification in administering the many affairs of the State. And among the lot, we can safely say that six or seven are equally and fully capable of fulfilling that task. In fact, even if all of them were individually qualified to serve as an effective orchestrator of the multi-tasks of the president of the land, we would still have to consider their ability to provide the most important ingredient needed in leading a nation into its uncertain future within a fast-changing and self-deteriorating globe.
To complicate matters, one of the main issues, if not the most important issue that is foremost in the minds of Filipinos, is that of corruption. One candidate is said to be so squeaky clean that he is ironically not qualified to rule because he has done nothing whatsoever as a legislator. Not corrupt but so inept, it is said. Another is so corrupt (having been convicted for economic plunder) that we wonder why he even had the gall to run for office. Still another has been charged of corruption that he has spent much money and time doing damage control by literally putting words into innocent kids’ mouths to prove he is not guilty. In short, out of the mouth of babes we could be hearing lies instead of praise for truth and honesty. Pity the children (and other young impressionable volunteers) and leave them out of politics.
Politics -- the ideal kind, the one that involves contemplation of the highest good of the majority and implementation of the supreme ideals of nationhood through selfless service -- engenders unity and cooperation. In that, we must involve the youth. But the one we have -- and the only one many probably know -- divides and corrupts. As it is, our nation is gradually being divided into ten or so partitions that could very well lead into an utterly fragmented nation that mimics the geographical nature of these islands. With such a divided mix, we would easily fall prey in the hands of criminals, opportunists and rebels among us. A failure of elections could very well produce a chaotic society that will be left with so many leaders fighting each other and not one strong leader to summon it toward harmony and peace. It has happened in many countries before.
In the light of such inescapable and even inevitable realities, the leader we choose must be more than an able executive or an astute politician as if the need for the hour is business and governance as usual. Yes, two or more candidates may present themselves as quite intelligent and also academically prepared for the job, but that does not still provide us with the assurance that the entire nation will be safe under the care of any of these “smart” leaders.
I would humbly like to beg the issue by saying that it will not take any one person among the many candidates to prepare us for the coming six years or more of our country’s existence. Any leader will only be as effective as the people will allow him or her to lead them. He will either succeed or fail with them. Take the case of Moses: Chosen by God to lead the Israelites from slavery and into freedom and nationhood, he eventually failed to enter with all those freed slaves because of disobedience. Both leader and people were prevented from receiving their trophy due to unbelief and disobedience.
Was Moses qualified to lead a nation? Absolutely! Was he wise and strong enough to save a people from slavery? Yes, he was. But the people rebelled and wanted to put up their own spiritually unqualified (un-anointed) leaders and because they kept complaining about their situation, God judged them unworthy of His material reward. Moses’ anger against a hard-headed people likewise led to his failure to get the reward. A small thing, perhaps, compared to the glory he received eventually as a prophet but it bears a relevant lesson for us today.
A leader can only remain a good leader as long as he keeps his heart and spirit in the power of the Lord in Heaven. And so with the people he leads. If the people, like the Hebrews, murmur and criticize (a favorite pastime of many Filipinos), any good or qualified leader will lose heart and spirit in his or her work. The Promised Land is for those who (like Joshua who was young, obedient and faithful) are brave enough to listen to the call of God to conquer through His might and to face the challenges of fearsome giants and countless enemies.
Let us then look at the hearts and spirits of those who would claim to be qualified to lead our nation. Let us test their hearts and their spirits and find out if they have gone through the fires of testing that God alone -- not business or political experience -- can bring about in order to form the real person or character that submits to Him and does not seek personal gain or glory. Let us check the motives of those who lay claim to the highest position of leadership of a nation which is called by God to lead other nations to Him.
Our country, by God’s grace and mighty plan, has been established not just to exist on these islands but on every part of this Earth. Visit any major country and you will see that Filipinos live and work there. Today, more than 80% of workers who operate and work in ocean-vessels are Filipinos. The dollars, pounds and euros all our OFW’s send back home are nothing compared to the honor they bring and will bring to our homeland when we, as a united people come to realize our unique role as God’s instruments of His salvation for the world.
Yes, we all want to save our nation from poverty and from corruption. We all want to see our nation like those around us, progressive and well-governed. For ours still needs to see the light of elusive unity and prosperity. The Hebrews also dreamed of escaping suffering, poverty and slavery. They wanted to plant their own seeds on their own land and harvest their own fruits for their own families. God gave them a leader suitable for their dreams. God showed them His power tenfold in Egypt and a hundredfold in the wilderness. Yet, they remained blind to God’s grace.
Even before this election period, we have been divided as a nation. We are even divided as a Christian nation. But our calling today clearly points to our becoming a nation of God that will bring about change not only in our families and in our towns and cities but in the entire globe, even in all the nations of the world. To look at Elections 2010 then as just a make-or-break political event for our country is to shortchange our destiny as God’s people. We are a beloved nation of God. We suffer because God is purifying us and preparing us for a great task ahead. We are divided because we go through the wilderness without a recognized strong unifying leader (although God is there speaking to us every moment). We are confused because there are so many around us who would want to leave God out of the picture and bring themselves or their selfish interests into the arena.
The heart and the spirit are not abstract things we are incapable of seeing and understanding. We, perhaps the most religiously receptive nation in Asia, if not in the entire world, are quite capable of discerning spiritual truths and realities. We just need to humble ourselves like we did during all the calamities and revolutions we have gone through and learn to recognize God’s hand in molding us into a nation ready to claim its Promised Land. It is faith in God that will guide us in this election period. It is our trust in the almighty power of God that will open our own hearts and spirits to the ultimate plan laid down since the beginning of the world for our country to accomplish.
Politics and elections are mere tools for attaining change in our society. Remember, we are not merely choosing a leader; we are reaffirming our submission to God as our one and only true leader. He is the one allowing us to escape poverty and suffering. He alone can bless us through the way He has chosen for us to follow. In short, when we choose a leader, we must allow God to enlighten our hearts and spirits according to His eternal plan for the life of our nation and the entire world. That plan cannot proceed without the people deciding as one that they will listen and heed the call of God.
Do you hear God calling you to do great things? Yes, you can do great things if you let God direct you. Choose and act according to His plan and His wisdom.
(Photo above: Filipinos crossing the "Red Sea" of Ondoy? Is there a Promised Land for our people?
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