WHAT MATTERS MOST

The quality of the elected mirrors the quality of the electors

- Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez

Whether it's the pope, senators, congressmen, governors, mayors, and councilors, the truth remains: the kind of public figures we choose is the embodiment of the nature of our decision-making, the quality of our thinking process, and the soundness of our judgments or lack of it.

In the case of the pope, the cardinal electors, or at least two-thirds of their total number, chose the one they discern can best address their definition of the challenges that the Church faces in the next five to ten years. Is the new pope going to be a pillar of strength, who shall defend the conservative values and the unchangeable dogmas that cannot be compromised, or should he be a passionate advocate for liberal changes, embracing the changing realities of the times?

In the case of the senators, the choices of voters also mirror the more compelling needs of the people. Take for instance, the rather unexpected surge of Bong Go who, although a reelectionist, never held another office before, not even as barangay chairman. What was the driving force that made him click? Well, his claim of being the advocate of the Malasakit indicates that medical care is one of the top three needs of the people, next to food and social justice.