Good Morning Judge: On Governance

LAST WEEK I shared with you the exhortations of St. Francis Assissi on love, forgiveness and hope. This time let me share with you the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s speech before the Massachusetts Legislature in l961 relative to governance which we believe is relevant today in the light of what is happening in our country today now under the leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, and I quote:

“To those to whom much is given, much is required. And when at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each one of us - recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state - our success or failure, in whatever office we may hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions:

First, were we truly men of courage with the courage to stand up to one’s enemies - and the courage to stand up, when necessary, to one’s own associates - the courage to resist public pressure as well as private greed?

Secondly, were we truly men of judgment - with perceptive judgment of the future as well as the past of our own mistakes as well as the mistakes of others - with enough wisdom to know what we did not know, and enough candor to admit it?

Third, were we truly men of integrity - men who never ran out on either the principles in which they believed or the people who believed in them - men whom neither financial gain nor political ambition could ever divert from the fulfillment of our sacred trust?

Finally, were we truly men of dedication - with an honor mortgaged to no single individual or group,and compromised by no private obligation or aim, but devoted solely to serving the public good and national interest?

Courage - judgment - integrity - dedication... these are the qualities with which, with God’s help, this son of Massachusetts hopes will characterize our government’s conduct in the four stormy years that lie ahead.”

TRIVIA:

Congratulations to Rev. Fr. Misael “Bong” Estrada Quindo for his installation as the new Parish Priest of our Lady of Assumption Parish in Canaman last Saturday, September 22. Delegations from Iriga City where he was last assigned were in attendance, together the other delegates and parishioners of Canaman.

Congratulations also to our CFC sister Marilyn Dagooc who is celebrating her Nth birthday anniversary this coming Sunday, September 30.

Godspeed also to SK brother Sim Adan and her spouse who are leaving for Sydney, Australia for a sojourn. A despedida-merienda-cena and fellowship are slated at their farm in Maydaso, Minalabac, Camaarines Sur.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

“THE FILIPINO YOUTH INSPIRED WITH LOVE AND HOPE IS THE STRONGEST FORCE, THE GREATEST POWER WITH WHICH TO BUILD A NATION.”

HANS MENZI

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“ALL RIVERS GO TO THE SEA, YET NEVER DOES THE SEA BECOME FULL. TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY GO, THE RIVERS KEEP ON GOING.”

ECC: 1:7