Leadership By Example

Writer John Maxwell says, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” I would say that Maxwell’s definition of leadership exemplifies the spirit behind City Mayor Nelson Legacion’s act of voluntarily placing himself under quarantine, after coming home from a one-day trip to Metro Manila on official business, in consonance with the existing protocols that his administration has been striving to strictly enforce.

The same could be said of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s decision to resign from his post as the government’s contact tracing czar, after the incident of the viral Baguio City party which he and his wife attended, where there were violations of existing health protocols. Of course we know that his resignation was not accepted, as he continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid 19. Per print and broadcast media reports, NTF chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr himself said that Magalong’s resignation was not accepted, citing “his contributions in the government’s Covid 19 response.”

At a time when our citizenry has long been losing its trust and confidence in the government, these manifestations of leading by example can help restore our faith and our hope in governance. We do not only need efficient leadership in good governance. More than this, we need inspiring leadership- one that can influence our nation’s people to come together and unite in truly healing as one.

As they say, even the darkest night cannot stop the sun from rising. We need inspiring leaders in these darkest of nights in our country’s history. And we ourselves also need to become leaders by example.

TRIVIA:

Congratulations to Ms.Soledad Villafuerte Magtoto for her well-deserved election and assumption as President of the Camarines Sur Chamber of Commerce. She is the first lady president ever elected by the association. Compadreng Erning and Comadreng Pudit Magtoto are the proud parents of President Sol.

On my own behalf and that of my spouse Minda, I wish to express through this column our most sincere and heartfelt condolence to the family of the late Senator Victor Ziga who recently crossed the Great Beyond. I had the pleasure of representing him as his lawyer in several court cases involving his residential house and lot in Naga. I am sure he is now in the warm embrace of our Lord.

Likewise, our family’s condolence to Sis Ester Malanyaon and the rest of her family for the demise of my AdeNU high school batchmate Gil Malanyaon. His remains now lies in state at his residence in Calabanga.

Condolence also to the family of the late newsman par excellence Emil Saavedra (of Tinambac, C.S.) whose demise was reported to the media by our fellow columnist Ernie Verdadero.

Lastly, my greetings to my friend Jojo Amador who is a constant reader of this column.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

“SOCIETIES HELD TOGETHER BY FEAR AND REPRESSION MAY OFFER THE ILLUSION OF STABILITY FOR A TIME, BUT THEY ARE BUILT UPON FAULT LINES THAT WILL EVENTUALLY TEAR ASUNDER.”

BARACK OBAMA

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“WHAT SHALL I RENDER TO THE LORD FOR ALL HIS BOUNTY TO ME?.”

PSALM 116:12