By Chito E. Germino, Paknaan, Mandaue City

THE election a month ago was already done. Elected public officials are ready to serve. I wonder if they have certain standards set for their performance and integrity as public servants. Do they have a role model? Nehemiah, once a governor, had this to say:

“During all the 12 years that I was governor of the land of Judah, from the 209th year that Artaxerxes was emperor until his 32nd year, neither my relatives nor I ate the food I was entitled to have as governor. Every governor who had been in office before me had been a burden to the people and had demanded 40 silver coins a day for food and wine. Even their servants had oppressed people. But I acted differently, because I honored God. I put all my energy into rebuilding the wall and did not acquire any property. Everyone who worked for me in rebuilding, I regularly fed...”