Pollster Gallup International Association named the Philippines the happiest country in the world in a poll released last 31 December 2022.
Of the 34 countries included in the survey by the Gallup International Association, the Philippines earned a net score of 75 percent followed by Mexico, Malaysia, Afghanistan and Ecuador. Meanwhile, 39 percent of Filipinos are full of hope that 2023 will be better than 2022.
For many Filipinos, there are reasons for them to be happy, hopeful and proud. When President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. appeared for his inaugural on 30 June 2022, he looked strong and solid.
The 31.63 million votes that he received represented the strongest mandate ever accorded a presidential candidate in the political history of the Philippines.
His votes exceeded those received by President Duterte. The electorate during the May 2022 elections, who voted strongly for Bongbong, was perhaps the most intelligent.
They gave much thought, with prayer, that this time they will never be wrong in their choice for whom they will vote before casting their ballots. People were, thus, asking why so many people especially the young were so vocal in their support for Bongbong. Keen observers gave the following three reasons:
1. Those who were fiercely against Marcos for reasons they themselves realized seemed to be untrue had been in that predicament against Marcos for many years, and yet, such attitude of so many, including mass movements, had not in any way, improved the lives of the Filipino people;
2. Nothing had really changed, the poor remained poor, the rich were still rich, and these rich, because of corruption became richer and more powerful; and
3. The people, especially the youth, had become sick and tired of the rotten political system over the last 35 years, since after the phony people power revolution of 1986.
After almost 75 years after gaining independence, the Filipino people have learned that under the democratic system of government, the president must have strong leadership skills, management ability, and moral character.
An effective strong leader knows what and how to provide for the people and is confident and experienced to help them achieve economic, political, and social success. He is disciplined and had the actual experience to launch the practical application of his skills, to become proficient enough to apply them in a national leadership capacity.
Bongbong has been in public service for over 25 years during which he achieved a distinguished record. Although born rich, 12 years of his public service were with the Ilocano folks and his forebears, in the province of Ilocos Norte where his life brought him close to how the farmers work. He observed to know what they needed most to improve their quality of life.
The time spent by Bongbong with rural folks in the North was, in general, inspirational and uplifting. He’s a simple person despite being born rich, one who loves to work and serve farm workers. His character should serve as a shining light of hope for the 60 percent of Filipinos who belong to the agricultural sector.
This is the reason why Bongbong will remain handling the Department of Agriculture, a brainy decision.
Great and wise leaders make simple and achievable promises. Bongbong in his inauguration pledged only three for the Filipinos in the agricultural areas: Sustainable livelihood, food security and affordable food for all.
Most recently Bongbong said he plans to build affordable housing for the homeless and had already moved to reserve idle government lands for building single-rise and high-rise housing projects in urban areas through the Bagong Lipunan Improvement Sites and Services. He said he had to do this because lands for housing have become expensive for our poor countrymen.
(To be continued)