EDITORIAL

Making Good Governance A Political Stance
Political season is here time and again. People know it’s Christmas time when caroling is playing in the air. Kids find hint that yuletide moment sets in when sparkling decors and figure of Santa Claus are visible everywhere. Election time is not quite different from Christmas occasion. Campaign jingles replace caroling. Posters in every corner reflect colorful sights just like Christmas decors. And in behalf of Santa, there goes the smiling candidate with hands waving and bringing best promises to change the world!
Christmas is usually associated with time of giving. It is universally known as season of love. The theme for every election is always to bring change to the lives of the people. Yes, politicians envision to eradicating poverty. Some want to eliminate corruption. And others commit to bring in real justice and sound economic development. Well, all of these, in one way or another, are nobly touching the realm of good governance.
Good governance has been so misused, abused and overused political propaganda. Thus, it is not surprising to note that people no longer appreciate its essence. It may be that the whole reality of good governance is not fulfilled, or it may be good to one of its aspect, but it is omitting some other important parts. Hence, it is rendering good governance either raw or overcooked in effect. How is good governance treated as it is? Is it too rigid to be a political stance thereby making it impossible to realize?
For a good governance to make it real and authentic, it must be anchored on the 5 pillars based on the Catholic Social Teachings. These pillars are said to be mutually interdependent to each other. What are these so-called pillars of good governance?
Authority and Governance. Pope John Paul II, in his message during 2003 World Day of Peace states that authority and governance must meet the almost universal demand for participatory ways of exercising political authority and for transparency and accountability at every level of public life. The rise of party list system suggests better ways of coming up with participative decision-making from among the marginalized sectors. However, it must be seriously guarded as a way to expand the political influence in the Congress.
Common Good. The famous John XXIII once declared that common good is the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily. Whenever the elected candidate begins his term, happy are those who belong to his party, and unfortunate to those who did not support him during election. Where is common good? It is vested to the chosen few and deprived from the suffering majority!
Integral Humanism. Paul VI in Populorum Progressio asserts that development cannot be limited to mere economic growth. It further upholds that in order to be authentic, it must be complete: integral, that is, it has to promote the good every person and of the whole person. In order to get positive impression from the international community, political leaders take pride in their flagship projects at the expense of social condition and Christian values. Political patrons support candidates now and people will pay later. Promotion of good, as Paul VI would have it, goes to the kingmakers unfortunately.
Solidarity. John Paul II in his Encyclical Letter, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, says that the effective aspect of solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others, but it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good of others. Why on earth is it happening that if election is about to begin, sudden infra development is visible everywhere? Determination and commitment to help others is not seasonal and conditional. It emanates from the unselfish nature of showing real concern for others regardless of time and party one may belong.
Justice. In justice, the government is duty bound to honor the set of rights listed out in the social teachings of the Church. According to John Paul II, Redemptor Hominis, the respect of this right is indicative sign of humankind’s authentic progress in any regime, in any society, system or milieu. Justice has intrinsic values when it is in place. It generates confidence to the governed, investors and international community as a whole. How can a community be categorized as progressive when it is ravaged by massacre or killings by shadowy group?
Good governance has so much to give if given the chance to run its course. If taken as a political stance by whoever will commit and persist to uphold it, life’s expectation can be positive and full of hope. And every community will find its better place under the sun.
Just like a Christmas wish being whispered by everyone, in this election time goes also a similar wish…MAY WE HAVE A PEACEFUL ELECTION AND A WISE VOTATION!!!