On Proclamation of Surigao Norte Elective Officials

Congrats to the newly-proclaimed elective officials!

For these officials, may you be servant-leaders. Surigaonons deserve better than patronage, nepotism and incompetence. As Christians, may you always remember how Jesus cleansed the feet of the apostles. That’s the ultimate symbol of servant-leadership.

The fact of mixed composition of the elective leaders reflect the will of the Surigaonons that no family or clan should dominate Surigao (and the fact that a Barbers, Matugas and Navarros also lost.)

The election of new faces would show the clamor for change and new ideas. May the greenhorns fulfill the Surigaonon’s quest for reforms.

And the election of the veterans would also show the re-affirmation of their performance (except of course for those who won out of vote-buying). May your wisdom guide you to serve us better.

For us voters, may we welcome these political developments with continuing and active involvement in supporting and, if necessary, in criticizing, the elective officials. May we now be united to support our elective officials..and if they would not serve as sincerely and competently, then we should be united to do the necessary legal acts.

Democracy is essentially “people’s rule.” It should never be the opposite. For us, so-called educated or “intelligensia” class, let our rational voice be heard. If needed, we be passionate not only thru the Net but in the real political sphere.

We are facing local, regional and global issues which our elective officials need our help. Let’s step out from our comfort zone to face the inconvenient truths: poverty, unemployment, corruption, unexplained presence of MNLF forces in Alegria-Mainit area (is Surigao part of the Moroland?), lack of State University in Caraga (of all regions, only Caraga has no state university), global warming, and other concerns.