Lambanog was a little boy when he heard about a man surnamed Marcos. He was a great man. He was feared and he was respected. They said, Marcos made Philippines a great country. Philippines was on top of the list in everything. Lambanog asked: "What makes a great leader?"
They answered: "What makes a great leader is his ability to dictate what would make our country on top of everything!"
Lambanog, in his early longing to be great did his best to rise above anybody--in playing, not knowing that he has trampled on some of his friends. There were times when he made his friends cry. Lambanog was no longer a little boy when he heard the name Cory. Cory, they said was a simple housewife. She is the wife of the martyred Ninoy who fought Marcos. She fought Marcos too.
Lambanog asked: "Why fight a great man?"
They said: "A greater cause is worth fighting for."
"What is the greater cause?", asked Lambanog.
"The freedom of the people is the greater cause", they said.
Then on, Lambanog appreciated freedom because his friends liked him again. He made his friends talked and decide on how they do things.
Years later, Lambanog heard of the name Ramos. They said, Ramos was a general who loved democracy. He is firm and at the same time open-minded.
Lambanog asked: "What would make him a good president?"
They answered: "There will be peace and order and he can stop insurgency. In that way, there will be investors in our country and our economy will go up." Lambanog valued order and peace. He entered the seminary for 7 years. He spent these years studying, praying and discerning.
Lambanog heard of Erap running for Presidency. He did not find him wise. But Erap won the seat.
Lambanog asked: "Why did he win?"
They said: "The masses loved him so much!"
"Why do they love him?", Lambanog retorted.
"Because he made himself one of them...in movies and in real life. They saw him sincere", they said.
Lambanog, though doubtful of Erap's competence, proved that sincerity outweighs "talino".
Two years and a half, Erap was ousted. He may be sincere, but people did not find it enough to make our country back on top. Lambanog saw glory in Gloria. She was installed president of the Philippines. Gloria failed miserably...She got drunk with power that she cannot get away from it... Lambanog now is in pain seeing everything still in bad shape...he was young when he wanted to be great, living in a great country. He looks 24 years back to his question..."What makes a great leader?" Is it making it on top of the list? Is it sincerity? Is it "talino"?
Lambanog discerns: "To be a leader is not only a question of intelligence and sincerity. Leadership is an attitude towards power. There is a great power that a leader of the country holds. We say that power corrupts. That is true. Money is power, so they say. So we ask, "What is this presidentiable's attitude towards money? What kind of lifestyle does the person have? Does he spend too much? Does he value money? Has this person tried to influence somebody from the government to get the project done to gain money? etc. etc...Intelligence is power. This is also true. Marcos was intelligent. Arroyo is intelligent. But, what happened?
So who is Lambanog going to vote? He is going to vote for Noynoy Aquino.
They ask: "Why Aquino?"
Lambanog answers: "because Aquino's got the character, the right attitude to get us back on top."
Lambanog also will vote for Alex Lacson for senator. Atty. Alex also has the right character and attitude to serve our country. His book 12 Little Things Every Filipino can do to Help our Country is more than enough to know the character of this person.
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