Press Release
October 18, 2018

Dispatch from Crame No. 407:
Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Leadership and Sec. Mar

10/18/18

If there is one thing I learn about leadership in all my years in public service, it is this: Leadership is largely about making sacrifices, about serving the people with selflessness, with the need to place the common good ahead of personal interests.

I have come across so many good leaders - I even had the opportunity to work with some of them - observing that each has a different personality and style. One of them is exceptionally good. He clearly stands out because of his consistent sense of selfless service for the people. He is Manuel Roxas II, or simply Mar Roxas.

We're familiar with Sec. Mar's life story. In 1993, at age 36, he abandoned a lucrative job in investment banking in New York, and went home to Capiz to run as congressman and finish the term left by his brother, who prematurely passed away while in office. In 2009, after getting assured of being LP's standard bearer, he gave way to PNoy to run for President in the 2010 elections. And, then, just 2 days ago, coming out of his happy semi-retirement in politics for more than 2 years now, he filed his candidacy for Senator in the next year's elections.

In his own words, which I copied from a transcribed version of the video he posted on FB: "May dahilan ba para ipagkait ko ang tulong ko sa mga nangangailangan? Wala. And so here we are. I don't have any quit in me and I won't quit on our country."

I had the chance to talk to Sec. Mar several days after my birthday last August. It was a Sunday when, as usual, he brought delicious home-cooked food. I did some convincing for his Senate run, saying that many are hoping for it. He said he's seriously considering, but needed to further reflect. It was thus quite a relief, an indescribable joy, hearing that Sec Mar filed his COC.

Kung tutuusin, wala na talagang kailangan pang patunayan si Sec Mar sa kanyang kakayahan, katalinuhan at sinseridad sa pagiging lingkod bayan. Beteranong Senador na Ama ng maraming magagandang batas sa edukasyon, kalusugan, negosyo, pamumuhunan at trabaho. Respetadong kalihim sa ilalim ng 3 Pangulo na nag-iwan ng mahuhusay na programa at proyekto sa Trade and Industry, Transportation and Communications, at Interior and Local Government. Hinding-hindi matatatawaran ang husay, galing, at katapatan sa tungkulin ni Sec Mar.

Sa kabila ng lahat ng kanyang mga nagawa na, at kahit hindi na n'ya talaga kailangan pang sumabak muli sa pulitika ay etong muli si Sec Mar. Nagsasakripisyo. Inaalok muli ang sarili - talino, sigasig, karanasan at kakayahan - para sa kapakanan ng sambayanan.

Suklian sana natin si Sec Mar ng ating suporta at patuloy na pagtitiwala. S'ya ang isang lider na kailangan ng ating bansa ngayon. It is his brilliance, his brand of principled politics, and his servant leadership that we badly need in our Senate today.

Kay Sec Mar: Maraming salamat muli sa iyong patuloy na sakripisyo para sa bayan. Mabuhay ka!

News Latest News Feed