Integrity and experience

As the 2016 election nears, people keep on talking about the possible bets for presidency as well as their running mates. Characters are dissected, experiences gauged, and survey results appraised. Who's the ideal person to become the next Chief Executive?

A country whose bureaucracy is shot through with corruption naturally longs for a leader whose integrity and honesty are beyond question. Such a leader would serve as a model for all workers in the government, an exemplar of service sincerely rendered and of self-sacrifice willingly accepted for the sake of one's fellow citizens.

Have we had such a leader? Perhaps Quezon and Osmeña of the Commonwealth era could qualify as such leaders. But in the postwar years perhaps only Ramon Magsaysay and Cory Aquino can be said to possess integrity and were imbued with honesty as leaders. The others elected to the highest office of the land including PNoy can also claim such quality but only to a limited extent.

But integrity and purity of purpose to work positively in one's governance must be buttressed with guts and willpower to wield the cleansing broom against erring bureaucrats irrespective of party affiliation or personal attachment.

Here is where self-sacrifice comes in. In doing this the leader may lose a party man who may be influential enough to draw away the support of other party men. He may also lose the friendship of close associates as well as the fellowship of "barkadas." And if his family is engaged in big business, industrial or agricultural, he may even lose the regard and respect of close kin; in fact, he may even lose a fortune. But who cares? If what the leader does is for the good of all, not for the benefit of a few, why blink and play like the three wise monkeys?

Experience in public service has also been singled out by political analysts as a criterion for successful presidency. They cite that one of the reasons why the presidency of Corazon Aquino was ineffective was her ignorance of the Philippine culture of governance, a shortcoming which made her overlook the malfeasances of many officials and rank-and-file workers.

They are saying this because a neophyte senator who has been perceived as immaculately clean is rumored to be a presidential candidate of the ruling party. If elected wouldn't there be a repeat performance of the Cory Aquino era? Such is the analysts' concern.

Yet experience is no guarantee to an honest and nononsense leadership. In fact, an expansive exposure to the ins and outs of government operations could be conducive to the practice of misgovernance in office. Ironically, the fellow who brought out the matter of experience as a must for a presidential candidate is himself neck deep presently in accusations of alleged malpractices while serving as a city executive.

Between integrity and experience, which should prevail as a determinant of people's choice of who shall be the president starting June 2016? One thing to remember is that experience can be acquired easily within a short span of time while integrity takes years of valueoriented upbringing before it can become part of one's character. The saying, "By its fruit you shall know the tree" refers to a person's character profile and parental influence – which dovetails with the Cebuano conviction that "kun ungo si tatay ug nanay mo, ikaw anak man, ungo mong tanan."

Who then should be the Filipino who shall sit in the Pasig Office come 2016? Among the presidentiables, who is the one with experience and reputation for integrity and honesty? If there's one, how is his survey profile? If such profile is at rock bottom can he hope to win in the contest?

Filipino electors should carefully calculate their options. The future of their country depends on the wisdom of their choice.