Gordon to PhilHealth: ensure health of the nation

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) today urged employees of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to be part of the process of nation building by ensuring the health of the nation.

Gordon pointed out that the PhilHealth has a very important role in drawing out the best in the Filipino nation.

"PhilHealth, the health of the nation is in your hands. And what is it - insurance. You ensure your future by using your mind, using your work ethic, using your savings, using your ambition, coming out with your values at may kusang-loob, malasakit at kapwa-tao," he said during a flag raising ceremony at the PhilHealth office at the 15th floor lobby of City-State Center in Pasig City.

"Remember as you raise the flag everyday that you should raise that flag just as if you are raising your country. You take an oath. You do not just mouth those oaths. You don't sing emptily about 'sa manlulupig di ka pasisiil.' That has history, look back to the past. You are drawing a character of the people," he added.

Gordon underscored the need to start the ball of change rolling and to take part in the process to raise the country from its present mediocrity.

"Wala tayong ambisyon. Lagi na lang go down to the level na talagang mediocre. And when you start talking about our country, wala na talagang ipinapakita o ipinalalabas na galing ng Pilipino, yung values," he said.

"We have to build a community where people are always part of the process of change. In reality, there will be people in your office who will try to step on you, may magsisipsip but you forge on. And you are respected because of your work ethic and your qualification, your skills are proven everyday. And eventually that will be seen," the senator added.

Gordon also stressed the importance of choosing the country's next leaders through their track record, adding that they should not merely be influenced by television advertisements portraying a profile of prospective candidates that are very far from reality.

"If you are going to let yourself be seduced once again by the billions of pesos that are going to be used in advertising in this country by politicians, and you vote for them, you will be wrong. And you will never have salvation," he said.

"Whoever you vote for, you must still be part of the process of change, if you are not part of the process of change, it will simply be nothing," he added.