Had they been president

This Sunday, August 21, is the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. The same day, August 21 in 1983, was no ordinary date, however. Exactly 33 years ago, Ninoy Aquino was assassinated at the airport tarmac during the term of the dictator Marcos. His death galvanized the Filipino people to unite against the dictator. Had he lived and had he become this country's president, what kind of leader would he have been?

He would have been a very prayerful leader. His years of imprisonment and isolation during the Marcos regime drew him closer to God. His hunger strike that God inspired as his passport to freedom and to America sealed his covenant with God. His administration would have been centered on serving God and His people.

By his actions, we know that he was a courageous person, unafraid of the dictator, unfazed by the threat or reality of death. He was a dreamer, he dreamt of a better country for our people and was unafraid of dying for our people. He believed that the Filipinos are worth dying for.

He would have been a very intelligent leader. Outspoken, well-read, very knowledgeable about local and international affairs, he would have deftly handled state affairs. As a former journalist, he would also have been a very cautious leader – gathering genuine and correct information especially in the area of human rights. Being himself a victim of lies and false accusation, he would have insisted on the rights of every Filipino to be considered innocent until proven otherwise. He would definitely have been a staunch defender of life and due process.

He was a very effective orator. He could hold the attention of his audience with his witty, inspiring words. He would have known how to use his words and open his mouth for the Lord, never foul, ever respectful, ever carefully truthful.

He would have been a very sensitive leader, a romantic even, writing poems and love letters to the woman he loved, his wife and the mother of his children, Cory. He would have shown respect as well to women and to religion.

He would have, as he predicted, been severely challenged to lead a country after years of martial law, after years of plunder.

He would have been, however, an inspiring leader, able to rally people to join hands together to hurdle the obstacles of national unity and development.

His leadership would have raised our people to a high moral and spiritual level, himself a witness to God's faithful love and grace through his own personal trials.

God must have so loved Ninoy, He called him by His side rather than be this country's leader. And God's wisdom is unfathomable and perfect.

Jesse Robredo would have been another president our country would have had. However, God also called Jesse on the 18th of August of 2012.

If Jesse Robredo would have been president, he would have led us all to see a very humble leader in action. Wearing tsinelas as his trademark, he went around his city to interact with his constituents, with love, with real care, without threats, without guns, without killings.

The people of Naga so loved this leader, they re-elected him as mayor for six terms. He led his people and his city to economic prosperity and effective environmental management through transparent and participatory governance. He brought his diligence, his humility, his sincerity, his participatory and transparent style of governance as well as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

He was also a very religious person, respectful of diversity and champion of the poor and the vulnerable. And he respected and loved his wife and daughters – he always found time to be with them, despite his busy schedule.

His leadership would have been spiritually inspiring for our country and our people would have been enthusiastic to join him uplift our poor and his fight versus abuse and corruption through peaceful means.

However, God had other plans for these two genuine public servants who would have led our country just as He has plans for us under this new regime. Best to put our trust on God completely, rather than on mortal leaders. "Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation." (Psalm 146:3)

God knows best and He cares best about us all.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8).