"Do not hang my picture in your offices, for the President is not an icon, an idol or a portrait. Hang your kids' photos instead, and look at them each time you are making a decision." - Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, in his 2019 inaugural address
To the parents who will cast their votes on May 9:
Please think of your children.
Think of the future that we want to give them.
Think of the heritage that we want our children to receive when it is their turn to contribute to the well-being of this country.
Think of the values that we want to impart to them as they grow and become more conscious of their surroundings.
Think of what our youth, stressed, burdened and disillusioned by the continuing failure of our government to deliver its promises for the people, really want from us.
Think of why many of them are now joining the ever-growing “pink flood,” supporting the candidate that they believe is the most qualified to run the country, even at the risk of losing the close relationships they had.
Think of why they are willing to spend time, money and energy for a candidate that they believe embodied the highest level of good governance, transparency, accountability and true public service, despite incurring the wrath of their parents who, in their belief, has fallen into the guiles of money and propaganda and refuses to see facts as they see it.
-o0o-
And what do our youth want?
Simple.
They want a government that is free from corruption.
They want a government that acts according to what is right and just for all, not just for the coffers and ego of the few privileged.
They want a government that puts the welfare of the people above all other considerations.
They want a government that will listen to all with a discerning yet open ear and is willing to accept errors and embrace meaningful change.
They want a government that is “all-encompassing” in its service, a government that will serve friend and foe alike, a government that does not look at gender, race, or political affiliation in the fulfillment of its duties.
They want a government that is ready to defend itself and its people from all threats, internal and external, but never to the point of turning its aim against people who cry for meaningful change; a government that will not play “favorites” to friends and wreak vengeance on its perceived “enemies;” a government that will never resort to spilling innocent blood to fulfill its goals.
They want a government that will embody the Philippines’ highest values and principles; a government that will make them proud to stay in the Philippines and work as one towards the common goal of progress for all, and a government that will give them reason to brag to the entire world:
“Taas-noo kahit kanino, ang Pilipino ay ako!”