Ben Contreras
DISCIPLINE begins with us. For fear of being called an oddball, we sometimes withhold doing the right thing and would rather wait for someone to lead, someone who would inspire us to act.
Rodrigo Duterte may not be the perfect model but he certainly inspires millions. That is reason enough to pull the trigger to action: Tunay na Pagbabago. Real change!
Is it achievable? The immediate reaction from those who are anti-Duterte would naturally be a big “no.” The skeptics would likely answer in a milder way: “Let’s wait and see.”
One thing I saw and experienced lately was about the willingness of people to lead by example. I am not claiming it all started here. But that rally on Feb. 21, 2016 at Divisoria was a good start for discipline.
The group expected garbage to litter the streets after the rally. But they saw to it that the garbage were collected, and the surroundings back to what it was before the rally.
Since then, it has been the signature of all Duterte rallies in the country. Probably, it was also true outside the country.
Honestly, I don’t believe that Duterte will solve the problems in three to six months. But we don’t have to take it literally just as when we profess our love and say, “I will give you the moon and the stars.”
I do believe that Duterte meant what he said. That would be a good start.
Let us all be willing to cooperate in order to achieve a community we so desire: livable, peaceful, orderly and clean.
Is it asking too much from you?
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The local election was never about achievements, corruption, morality or the absence of it, dishonesty, or whatever. It was all about money. It was all about vote buying. All were guilty of it.
The bottom line of winning is vote buying. And money rained, poured and flooded everywhere.
The winners won because their rivals couldn’t match their rates.
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I thought it’s going to rain last night. The raindrops that hit my windshield were signs of rainy days to come. How soon? We can only and pray that it would be very soon.
This morning, as I write this, I see heavy clouds, not the usual clear blue sky. If this scene persists, we might have light rain this afternoon.
Sans being sentimental or corny, it augurs well for the coming new national leader.
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Gov. Bambi Emano won. Julio Uy’s fighting chance was dampened when Peter Unabia shifted support in favor of the Emanos. Was Julio betrayed? But that is one side of the story.
It was just one of those sayings: “No permanent friends and enemies. Only permanent interests.”
