‘…I am hoping two things will happen, whether or not I am hoping against hope: first, that he understands truly what the role of a senator is and how this has nothing to do with brassiere and the length of shorts and all; and, second, that the Filipino voter correctly grasps what is meant when we say we want leaders who are men of “conviction.”’
I’VE always been a keen student of leadership since my childhood. I was born in the 60s and grew up in the 70s and so the political leaders I got to follow or read up on (some more keenly than others) included the likes of John and Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King; Aguinaldo, Bonifacio, Magsaysay and yes, Marcos; Mao and Zhou En Lai and Deng; Singapore’s LKY; India’s Indira and Israel’s Golda, and Adenauer and De Gaulle in Europe plus Nikita Khrushchev and later on Ataturk of Turkey.
When I got older, I started to take an interest in business leaders as well. Locally, I had a front row seat to observe Enrique Zobel, albeit when he was already in the twilight of his life. In books, there were Jack Welch who was big in my time, and Chrysler’s Lee Iacocca; and, of course, Steve Jobs especially in that honest to the core biography which he was man enough to allow to be published in his lifetime, meddling only on the matter of what photograph to use on the cover.
Am willing to bet that there is no Filipino political figure who will be bold enough to have a no-holds-barred bio written about him during his lifetime — not even by heirs who would wish to protect their family name’s reputation — assuming there is a reputation to protect in the first place! But I’m digressing.
Over the years I’ve come to admire them and a few others for a number of characteristics.
Perseverance is one. Passion another. A deep commitment to the cause they have identified with. The fire of ambition — and not in a pejorative sense of the word — beating in their hearts. Sometimes, even the ability to recover from a setback and march on.
And yes, they’ve been men (and a few women) of conviction.
But what type of men of conviction are we looking for? Actually, what type of “conviction?”
I don’t know how real it is but a few days ago I came across what appears to be the campaign platform of movie idol Robin Padilla, who has lived a storied life and who apparently is running to become one of only 24 senators of the Republic. Senators — men and women who will discuss and debate the toughest and most controversial issues of the day in order to craft whatever legislation is necessary to create an environment that will address, or promote, the issue. Issues like national sovereignty in relation to the West Philippine Sea, for example. Or economic issues like labor contracting.
The apparent platform of Mr. Padilla, now desiring to be called “utol,” which means “bro” or “brother” (but happily from a different mother!) talks about many things but these issues.
He talks about bras. About what time people should be home. About how long you should wear your shorts and about having to eat at the right time and about getting enough sleep.
Oh, and at the end of the list he says he wants to be my best friend until my last breath — apparently sure that I will die ahead of him. What a nice thought from a bestie.
If lates opinion polls and the records of the recent elections are any guide to the way Filipinos choose senators, then “utol” is well on his way to becoming Senator Robin in a few months. Now I pride myself on being a democrat who will accept the will of the people. So if this were to be the case and Mr. Padilla is one of the 12 to emerge victorious in May, so be it. Vox populi.
Between now and then though I am hoping two things will happen, whether or not I am hoping against hope: first, that he understands truly what the role of a senator is and how this has nothing to do with brassiere and the length of shorts and all; and, second, that the Filipino voter correctly grasps what is meant when we say we want leaders who are men of “conviction.”
There are just too many candidates around with the wrong kind of conviction under their belts!
