Urgently needed: Genuine servant-leaders

How would you lead a nation where inequality reigns, with millions poor and in need?

It will be interesting to ask prospective candidates for the May 2022 election this important question.

How many of the candidates, however, even understand or recognize inequality in our midst?

The poor are promised heaven every election campaign period. Sadly, many sell their votes for a measly price. In exchange, the poor have become poorer, the rich richer. On the other hand, the rich throw their financial support behind candidates they know will advance their interests.

Although there may be principled poor and rich among the voters, their numbers have not been enough to elect genuine servant-leaders. Someday soon, will this country finally get genuine leaders who will work for the interests of the needy others? We certainly are not yet there, but it is also definitely not impossible.

In the meantime, political dynasties dominate many areas of the Philippines. These dynasties claim they lead to serve others, not their own.

Again, it will be interesting to match, correlate their words with their deeds, with their performance, with their actual service. Check if their constituents are better off in life, if their constituents have ready, adequate food, livelihood, shelter, good health, and education.

Through the years of their political rule as dynasties which are increasing and   persisting, what evidence and testimony can these dynasties show for their exemplary and genuine service for the needy others?

Many will probably show roads, bridges, other infrastructures as proof of their service and concern for the people.

Goodness.

These projects have all been built using Filipino people's funds. Were the funds for these public, not private projects, honestly disbursed and thoroughly accounted for? More importantly, did these projects see a corresponding improvement in the quality of life of their constituents and constituencies?

That would be significant information to collect and publish before the next election --a document or map that will show the number of poor and needy per barangay, per town, city, province, and region in previous years and correlate with the elected politicians for various years. That kind of information can easily show (especially if presented in clear graphic style) the quality and type of local and national leadership in this country, whether the leaders in designated geographic areas have served the needy others in their localities.

Will this type of information, however, be helpful and useful for voters? Will voters elect genuine servant-leaders or for the highest vote buyers instead, or those who use gold, goons, and guns?

What can persuade and convince voters to vote for those who truly want to lead the people as genuine servants not masters after power, privilege, prestige and wealth solely for themselves and their clan?

Many groups have exerted and continue to exert time and effort to reach out to the voters. Churches, civil societies, media, others have campaigned hard to dissuade voters from selling their votes or from being intimidated by gold, guns, and goons.

We all need more united effort and prayers to finally see urgently needed genuine servant-leaders for this country.

Especially during this pandemic with accompanying multiple crises resulting in more poor, more hungry, more jobless, more desperate and hopeless among our people, genuine, diligent, honest, qualified servant-leaders are needed soonest!

COVID governance, to illustrate, should be led by qualified experts and honest servant leaders, not by politicians or the military. Vaccination should have been adequately, effectively planned for, with the most effective, less costly vaccines made available to the public who deserve to protect their health and their lives. COVID budget honestly disbursed and accounted for.

Badly needed as well are true leaders who will protect our territory, our sovereignty.