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Monday, September 20, 2004
Of values in public service with Max Soliven
By Aurelia L. Castro
We need to look at the example of how our great men lived.
On the theme “Towards Values-Centered Public Service,” guest of honor and speaker of the 20th Annual Osmeña Forum on Values Max Soliven, publisher of The Philippine Star, talked about his personal encounters and times with our country’s great leaders like Ninoy Aquino, and Presidents Diosdado Macapagal, Sergio Osmeña, and Ramon Magsaysay.
Soliven recalled Osmena’s complete selflessness and love for our country; Macapagal’s humility and true sense of nationalism to public service; and Magsaysay’s decisiveness as a leader and his unusual accessibility to the people.
“Where can we find a man like him (Magsaysay)? He was the president who died without a home! His friends then decided to contribute money to buy his bereaved family their own home,” Soliven disclosed.
Exemplifying Magsaysay’s thrust and example of sincere public service, Soliven challenged our current leaders, “You must show the people that you’re working for them.”
In his speech, Soliven also talked about Ninoy’s fearless, contagious spirit, courage and determination to seek and pursue what is best for his country and people. He ended his talk by saying what Ninoy had always told him. He quoted and said with emphasis, “Stand up and fight for yourselves!” That gained resounding applause from the audience.
What about now?
One can always look back in history and be nostalgic for those good old days. But the reality is now and one of the questions raised during the open forum was, do we still have today those values lived by our former leaders and political heroes?
Soliven can hardly tell. But he said, “Whatever our situation is, we can start all over again. The Filipinos can rise from where they are now…How? Each of us must do our part. Light your lamp, be and do your best wherever you are in life.”
Optimism and faith in ourselves, in each other, and in God can make things happen, Soliven said to more than 200 participants from the academe, media, business community, and government sectors that filled CAP Center.
Soliven also emphasized the importance of education in the country and was outspoken in saying that the pork barrel should be totally abolished.
(September 20, 2004 issue)
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