INQUIRER Politics

INQUIRER Politics

Popularity does not necessarily make for a good leader

August 05, 2008 01:28:00

Philippine Daily Inquirer

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s plunging popularity rating does not mean that she is not an effective leader. (“’Most unpopular leader’ ,” Philippine Daily Inquirer, 7/19/08) Leadership demands so many sacrifices. So much criticism has been hurled against her administration, but most especially against her. But these are from self-serving individuals and organizations whose main objective is to put her presidency down. All these criticisms are, I would say, politically motivated.

Part of being a leader is making decisions and choices—decisions and choices that are not always popular. And this is what Ms Arroyo is doing. She is making decisions and choices that bring about efficient governance. And from what we saw in the past, she stood by such decisions because she believed they were the best and they were needed.

Come to think of it, street protests and black propaganda against the present administration have lost their credibility because they are baseless and because democracy, freedom of speech and other privileges inherent in free societies are being abused by the very people who are supposed to enjoy them.

Ms Arroyo is doing her best working for a better Philippine society and for a stable and dynamic economy—under a regime of peace.

I am not pro-Arroyo. I am saying this based on the developments that have transpired during her presidency and the circumstances that have attended her rule. If we reduce leadership to a popularity contest, in what direction would the Philippines be going? Commentaries, news reports, “surveys” and propaganda about popularity will not help Filipinos select their future leaders wisely. A popular leader is not necessarily a good leader.

Let us not be misguided by the absolute fiction that an individual needs to be popular to be a good leader. We have many good leaders; a number of them may even be our country’s best leaders, but they are not popular because they work silently. Surveys are just surveys. We can’t be sure of their authenticity and real purpose.

All I know is that a good leader is someone who knows the way, walks the way, and shows the way. And this “little giant” called Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is leading the way. I salute and respect her as my President because no matter what, she is still standing tall despite the many obstructions and distractions her leadership has been subjected to.

EUGENE GUARIN (via email)

got a new wallet!

Me and two of my closest friends were just strolling around Festival City mall after a heavy breakfast yesterday at IKEA cafe until I bumped into Fred Perry boutique and checked out most of the items are on sale. Hayyy! Sarap mag-shopping sana! Problem is I don't have money to splurge on something that expensive till I found an item at the extreme corner and at one glance, I said, I will buy it!

At first, I asked one of my friends since he's still thinking a long overdue xmas gift. Why not buy this one for me? This is a very nice gift and is a best buy! He paused for a while and to fully convince him, I said,  ok you pay half of it and I'll pay the other half. (hahaha) There you go, we headed on to the cashier and paid for it. (haha! got what I wanted!)  A friend in need is a friend indeed! :)

When I got home, I tried putting in my cards and some cash into it until suddenly, out of nothing,  I felt sad and perhaps emotional about my old wallet and started staring at it. :(  I just remembered that this torn and worn-out wallet have witnessed everything I have been through. (thick and thin) I don't know, all of a sudden I am feeling strange and I don't want to replace it with a new one. Surprisingly, what I've got in it won't fit in to the other one considering it has larger card slots and even a coin purse attached to it. Have you ever encountered the same dilemma that everytime you replace something with a new one, you always have this feeling of loss if I may put it that way? It is a feeling of something you cannot let go off.

Up to this writing, I am still using my old wallet and trying to convince myself that it is about time to replace and use the new one for it cannot hold some things in it any longer. Whatever significance or sentimental value  bonded and attached to it should be placed to rest for another chapter has to start and a new story is about to come out. Just don't forget to spare a little space for that thing used in case of emergency! (hahaha)

my cookie says...

"Prosperity will come your way in the month of May." A message cracked from my fortune cookie after having a sumptous lunch with former colleagues and friends back in Manila. We have  not seen each other for ages albeit we are all working here due to maybe time and effort to actually plan a get together. But it just happened without any plans involved so I guess sometimes things work out fine just the way it is.

Let me go back to my fortune cookie. This year seems to be a very promising year for me. I hope. :) Tracing back the history of fortune cookie, it is said to be the very first similar in aprearance to the American Fortune Cookie was made in Kyoto, Japan. I just wonder though how it has circulated and traditionally served mostly in chinese restaurants where in fact, as history tells us that it has originated in Japan. Please correct me if I am wrong. :)

No matter what the cookie says, you are still the one in charge of your future and no matter what it is , I still enjoy cracking and biting this little cookie and definitely add fancy to my delight!

GOCHISOUSAMA DESHITA!

and my journey begins...

Officially my leave started so as my journey begins. It's been six months since my last travel to Manila, Hong Kong and some other asian nations. This year I will embark on a journey to a place totally strange to me geographically and perhaps culturally. I am talking about a nation somwehere in South America where I will be crossing the Atlantic Ocean for almost 17 hours direct flight. Now I am restless for I do not know what am I gonna do on a flight...maybe sleep, drink, watch onboard entertainment...whatever! You can almost do everything with such a long journey.

Talking about as such, part of it is  also a journey of thoughts where I would be re-evaluating things coming my way. Decisions  to make or break comes along with it. From South America to some part of Asia where my journey ends would be instrumental to making things happen. (to be continued...)

BUEN VIAJE!

Living and coping in Dubai

I've read in the standard this morning about what's going on in Dubai. Most Western newsies writes about how Dubai is suffering from economic woes due to its inability to sustain its mega projects and pay its creditors from the humungous amount of money spent on each project like man-made islands and among many others. As they have tagged it, another economic bubble is going to burst and that might drag and affect the world economy as a second wave. Negative criticisms as to why it has happened to Dubai have crossed around the globe.

As an ordinary expat working in this part of the world, hearing negative write ups does not bring or help me or any individual working and living in this city but it rather drag us down to the lowest level of survival. Yes, it is true Dubai is struggling on its feet just like any other nation suffered from the recent global financial crisis and nobody can deny even the greatest economic power, the United States of America were at limbo and greatly hit by the crisis. How much more can you expect from Dubai where everthing has just started and most of its areas are under construction?

It is so easy to say or comment on something when you are outside looking in...why not try to turn something inside out? We may be able to understand better the plight of every individual working and living around here.

As far as I know, concerned individual and authorities is doing its best for the interest of great majority. Indeed, personally I am suffering from this economic depression just like anyone else. Most of us have tighten our belts just to make both ends meet. We are in a Survival stage and hoping that everything else will fall in its proper places and perspectives.