Writer: Marivic D.

Labitad

Your Choice. My Future: Selecting Responsible Leaders for A Better Nation

A winning Piece

“Man works for an object. Remove this object and you reduce him to inaction.” Dr. Jose

Rizal wrote this in The Indolence of the Filipinos, an essay about why Filipinos did not

work hard during the time of the Spaniards. Indolence, or laziness, is considered a chronic

malady in the Philippines. A malady that a number of our political leaders have embraced

for years.

It is true. I am only ___ years old. But that does not mean that I do not understand what

our politicians and government leaders are up to. That does not mean that I do not know

what is and what should be. I know what is happening in my country. I know because I am

a part of it all.

No matter how hard we deny it, it is a fact that our leaders, like the Filipinos during the

Spanish regime, are not willing to work hard and sacrifice if there is nothing in it for them.

There always has to be a gift or a certain kind of payment. This ideology, I believe, is the

reason why the simple task of choosing responsible leaders has become such a burden for

many.
Technically, I will not yet be eligible to vote in the coming elections. But I have been

thinking hard about what characteristics I would look for if I were allowed to vote for our

country’s next leaders.

Our nation’s history has presented us with practically every kind of leader we can think of.

We had a dictator who kept us under martial law for years. We had a reluctant housewife,

an actor-president, and a female president beset with numerous political scandals and

allegations long after she has left Malacañang. Our current president has the difficult task

of living up to the names of his parents, who are considered modern heroes of Philippine

democracy.

Yes, they all have their good points; but, sadly, I cannot say that they have all the qualities

I want in a leader.

The leader that I am looking for is compassionate. His dedication to service is

incomparable. He epitomizes Dr. Jose Rizal’s ideal Filipino – someone who is willing to

take risks for the good of his fellowmen.

He should be a man of integrity. He should be honest and principled; not one who

enumerates promises only to throw them off into the wind after winning the elections.
My ideal leader is somebody who has the courage to turn away from fear, from greed, and

from temptation. He is somebody who is confident and secure in his loyalty to the people

and the country. No amount of power and money can compromise this loyalty.

The best leader for this nation is a person who knows what humility is. He knows that the

country needs a leader who is willing to take responsibility for his mistakes; a leader who is

mature enough to correct these mistakes for the sake of his people.

A responsible leader is someone who puts himself last; someone who is willing to put

himself in compromising situations to make sure that his fellow Filipinos live in safety and

security.

And he does all these without asking for or expecting anything in return.

I beg of you; all of you who will be filling up the ballots come election day. Please…Please

choose the best leaders for our country. Think not only of yourselves, but of us, the younger

generation, too. Tomorrow is all we have. And your votes will give us that tomorrow we so

deserve.

I want my tomorrow to be a country and a society where I am free to be what I want to be;

where I am free to fearlessly pursue my goals. A country where I can speak my mind

without the fear of being judged or misinterpreted. A country where leaders are chosen

because of their capabilities and their sincere love for the nation and its people.
I want my tomorrow to be a country where democracy is not just a word or a belief, but a

way of life.

Most of all, I want my tomorrow to be a country that I can proudly and confidently pass on

to my future children, and my children’s children.

Yes, it is true. Filipinos have long been considered as indolent. It is time to correct this

misconception. And the best way to do this is for us to choose a new breed of leaders.

Leaders who will gallantly lead us to a better nation. Leaders that our country’s greatest

leader, Dr. Jose Rizal, will be proud of.

“The glory of serving a country is not for him who has contributed to its ruin.”

Don’t procrastinate. Think. Hope. Believe. Vote sincerely. Give us the tomorrow we want,

the tomorrow we deserve and the tomorrow we long to face! Because with your choice

comes our great future!