Soul-searching season

So far, at least four names – Vice Governor Oscar Lambino; Dr. Jamie Eloise Manzano-Agbayani, wife of Governor Victor Agbayani; 2nd District Rep. Amado Espino, Jr.; and most recently, “Spice Boys” member and Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza – have been floating around as very likely aspirants to become the next governor of  Pangasinan, the country’s biggest province in terms of population.

Talks are also rife about the likely race between House Speaker Jose de Venecia and Dagupan Mayor Benjamin Lim for the 4th district congressional seat. Corollary to that, Lim appears to be already grooming his son, Brian Lim, to run for the post he is vacating, which is reportedly being eyed by Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez.

Many other parts of the province are likewise abuzz with tittle-tattle as to who is running against whom for what in the national and local elections in May.

Some aspirants have even been wily enough to engage in subtle (though obvious really) methods of campaigning even before the campaign period officially starts.

Amidst all these election hullabaloo, as public servant-wannabes – whether re-electionists, kith and kin of incumbent officials, descendants of political clans, popular personalities, or even ordinary folks considering government service – jockey for position, we beg for a moment of calm.

And we ask all the government service applicants to ask themselves these two simple questions: WHY am I running for public office? And SHOULD I be running for public service?

There could be a myriad of possible answers.

Re-electionists can say they simply want to continue serving their people. Relatives of incumbent but graduating officials would say they want to continue the programs of their beloved. Popular personalities may just be prodded by political parties or their friends and relatives because of their “winnability” arising from familiarity; or believe their winnability alone gives them the license to seek public office. A common citizen, someone who is a political neophyte, may have grand aspirations of rising from his or her ordinariness and making a difference once and for all.

Whatever the reason, it may somehow be justified, in one way or another.

But at the core of the intent to run for public service should be that exactly – public service.  Getting elected into office bequeaths a person with power. This authority is not evil in itself; it is, in fact, a necessary tool for our elected leaders to carry out their responsibilities to the people who elected them. But power is intoxicating. And therein lies the danger -a danger that has been the pitfall of many-a-politician to the detriment of the people.

Sincere intent is not enough though. The purest of hearts does not necessarily make for good governance. There is also the matter of competence. Someone who seeks public office should also have both sound leadership and administrative skills to steer his constituency towards development.

And so let this be a season of soul-searching – before anybody files a certificate of candidacy. Ask those two questions. Find the answer in your soul. Don’t dig for justifications in the deep reservoir of self-delusions.

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