by DONALD SEVILLA
A RESPONSIBLE AND EMPATHETIC LEADERSHIP
We look up to our leaders to help guide us and steer the direction. But when they are empty and lack the basic skills to lead the pack, what will happen?
Governance will be in disarray and society suffers. Instead of making progress and moving forward, we could stagnate and worse, regress. This is the bane of a weak and detached leadership where we all suffer for our poor choices.
A leader should possess the skills necessary to improve people’s lives and provide a bright future. He should set goals and identify priorities, quick to seize opportunities that bring greater good in order to govern well.
But when leaders fail to fulfill the responsibilities given them, the people are short-changed and left wanting. Discontentment arises and the public becomes disillusioned, losing faith in government.
When the Bohol Day celebrations were held with the absence of our top key officials to grace them, it leads us to question the level of dedication and commitment our elected officials have for our beloved province.
It speaks volumes of the lack of a sense of duty and priority. While they could have chosen to be with our people and lead the commemoration of a meaningful celebration, they opted for the glamour and glitz of attending the President’s SONA, rubbing elbows with the mighty and powerful in a mad scramble to gain favor for political ends.
For whatever reasons they profess to justify their attendance, it simply reflects the lack of clarity and purpose for entering public service. No wonder we are besieged by problems we seem helpless to deal with for the past two years.
With the elected Governor under preventive suspension and the untimely passing of the Vice Governor, are we suffering from a vacuum of leadership?
While it is true that we have laws designed to deal with succession and put people in acting capacities to fill the void, are we off to a good start?
Yet we can only hope and pray that we regain track and momentum to continue on. It is bad enough that our leaders lack empathy but could things be any worse?
The writings on the wall are ominous and we pity our people who put so much trust and faith in those we elected into office who show otherwise. It couldn’t have come at a bad time when we welcome visitors from all over the world in a grand homecoming for the TBTK celebrations.
The 170th Bohol Day is deeply significant in itself. As true, blue-bloodied Boholanos, we must learn to appreciate the sacrifices our forefathers made to bring us to where we are now. The President’s SONA is significant, too, but it can be seen on television.Yet, while being invited is an honor and privilege, its attendance is left to better judgment when weighed against an equally important local event. The SONA does not need the presence of our leaders except for those required by law and with obligation to be there.
Ironically the Vice President chose not to attend the SONA and opted to be in Bohol while our officials in droves chose to be in the limelight on centerstage.
Good luck, Bohol!