AT long last, Bohol is now finally liberated, and so is our town of Valencia. Not that we were undressed by our basic human rights before, what I mean is that we have now come to the point of being led by new breeds, perhaps the better words are, new set of public officials.
In our very own backyard, Valencia is liberated from the powers–that–be that had governed or administered local governance of our municipality from 1987 up to noontime of June 30, 2022. Their grip to power had lasted more than three (3) decades. And I would like to think and believe that God has finally called it a day for them. And that was all enough!
By heaven’s grace, here comes the new set of officials led by our very charismatic man of the hour in the name of Hon. Mayor Dionisio Neil A. Balite, J.D., Ph.D. With sterling credentials on his shoulders, he is the ‘it’ man that we have been waiting and praying for quite a while. He brings in new hopes and ideals for the people who wanted to have a glimpse of whatever change a new leadership can possibly offer. His rise to power then is twinned with cornucopia of problems and challenges. Aware of all these birth pains, he has introduced a new concept of politics, and that is, politics of love!
Politics of love, I believe, can only be attained if we put an end to at least three (3) phenomena that have had prevented love to prosper in the vast field of politics. I would like to quote then portion of my own inaugural address during the inaugural session of our own local sanggunian last week.
“Politics in today’s modern world is characterized by othering, cancel culture, and political patronage. These three (3) phenomena have become endemic in the political landscape of our country.
According to www.verywellmind.com, othering is a phenomenon in which some individuals or groups are defined and labeled as not fitting in within the norms of a social group, in our case, political group. It is an effect that influences how people perceive and treat those who are viewed as being part of the in-group versus those who are seen as being part of the out-group. Othering also involves attributing negative characteristics to people or groups that differentiate them from the perceived normative social group, in our case, political group. Let us then stop this phenomenon. Let us stop othering!
According to www.meriam-webster.com, cancel culture is the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure. Cancel culture refers to the mass withdrawal of support from public figures or celebrities who have done things that aren’t socially accepted today. Cancel culture is prevalent in various social media platforms. Let us then stop this phenomenon. Let us stop cancel culture!
Striking out othering and cancel culture in the way and manner we dispense our duties and responsibilities will redound to the benefit of all. We didn’t swear to come up with self-serving endeavors but to fulfill our duties and responsibilities as public servants. Unifying factors must be anchored on the general welfare of the people and not to the welfare of our political patrons. Let us then strive to disengage from partisan politics in the course of doing our jobs. Let us stop patronage politics!
It is then hoped that othering, cancel culture, and patronage politics will become things of the past. I am very much hopeful even if it sounds like hoping against hope. But then I believe that hope springs eternal!”
That is all for this week folks! God bless us all!
