Growing up, I scored fairly good grades in my Araling Panlipunan classes from elementary to college. I represented my country for a couple of years as a competitive figure skater, proudly donning my Team Philippines jacket on and off the ice-skating rink. National issues generally interested me; I would watch the news on television before school and during dinner. I was (and still is) the curious reader to peruse a newspaper front to back. At one point, I wanted to be a newscaster. But growing up in an English-speaking household, the idea of speaking Filipino on camera stunted that dream. (I genuinely think I speak better Filipino now, though.)

Needless to say, I always held a great interest towards my country and its welfare. I consider myself makabayan, a proud Filipino. However, honestly speaking, not once did I see myself entering public service. I’d like to think that the “new normal” had a hand in shaping my dreams and personal aspirations for my beloved Philippines. This month, as we prepared for the last State of the Nation address from President Rodrigo Duterte, I, too, celebrated one year working for the Philippine government.

Immersing in public service, let alone in the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), has been an eye-opening experience. From a naïve and an unworldly individual protected by the gates of living in a private subdivision and enjoying the access of materialistic and abstract privileges, working for the PCOO has been a humbling experience.

'Along with the hard labor of serving the taxpayers comes with a ticket to entering the world of politics: knowing how to be a GOOD servant.'

Along with the hard labor of serving the taxpayers comes with a ticket to entering the world of politics: knowing how to be a GOOD servant. As morbid as it may sound, and in as much as I’d hate to admit, the recent demise of a former chief executive of the country, as well as the experience of serving the government of the current administration, has led me to contemplate on the kind of leadership my makabayan heart wishes for her Motherland come the next national elections.

Working as both a freelance journalist and a public employee, it’s safe to admit that journalistic platforms only scratch the surface of the innings of the government. It’s interesting to say that working from both sides of the fence has given me a better perspective on the leadership I wish to see and beyond. As I entered government service, I only hoped to carry on an important value with my work that hopefully the future leaders would, too: to honor the past and not repeat its mistakes.

The leader I seek is one who has a contingency plan ready, is willing to steer away from the safe side. As we come to recover from one typhoon and continue to boost the resiliency from these calamities, I can only pray the next leader can pick up what we can learn from dealing even bigger disasters like this pandemic.

As a government employee, the pressure is high for coming prepared to work in serving your kababayans. After all, it is their taxes that put food on my table; I owe to them to deliver promptly. One error in that data can result to a domino effect in information dissemination (think #FakeNews); or lacking knowledge towards a certain issue can see you as ruthless and ignorant. We are human; we have shortcomings. The point is, I’d rather enter the field having done my homework rather than coming unprepared for battle at all. Every day is a war working for the government.

The country has always faced its wrath of natural disasters. With tropical typhoons being the most common, the country is no stranger to dire situations such as these. The world—even developed countries—shook when the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus came to savage lives.

The leader I seek is one who has a contingency plan ready, is willing to steer away from the safe side. As we come to recover from one typhoon and continue to boost the resiliency from these calamities, I can only pray the next leader can pick up what we can learn from dealing even bigger disasters like this pandemic. (God forbid another health crisis happens in this lifetime.)

Additionally, the presence of political dynasties has always been existent in the Philippines. For the incumbent bloodline, they sadly have a price to pay that doesn’t stand up to a fight from public scrutiny: the sins of their forefathers. Mistakes are a part of who we are as humans. Holding accountability may be a tough pill to swallow especially if coming from a genuine place. For a public servant with shortcomings, accountability is the best apology you can give to the citizens. I pray that our next set of leaders will carry on the same trait and will pick up from there to serve the people better, even if it means to apologize on behalf of a forefather.

As Panatang Makabayan goes, “Iaalay ko ang aking buhay, pangarap at pagsisikap sa bansang Pilipinas.” I hope our future leader takes a cue from this oath; willing to fight their love for our nation and beyond. I just know I’ll always be proud to wave that flag.

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