The word humility is defined in the Merriam Webster Dictionary as the quality or state of being humble. Humility, most often than not, is mistaken as a sign of weakness and submissiveness or even fear. But to me, real humility is a sign of strength and confidence and courage exhibited by a real man.
It is also often said that humility is an act of selflessness. However, when it is done so grudgingly, it is considered an act of selfishness. So many preaches the importance of humility in one’s life, but only a few practice it.
The ancient Greeks often wrote in their numerous poems and literature about the importance of humility. In almost all of their writings, the subject of discourse was the shameful often fatal effects of one’s hubris, excessive and arrogant pride.
There are two men that I know of, based in history, that possessed extreme pride, arrogance and lofty ambitions that lead to their ultimate downfall – Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler. During their reign, both men were despised even by their supporters because of their arrogance and overbearing pride.
In the case of President Rodrigo Duterte, many were surprised that they found it hard to believe that the tough-talking former Davao city mayor known for openly advocating murder to bring peace and prosperity, will have the courage to humble himself in public for being wrong. Duterte did not only do it once, but twice.
He publicly apologized to former Pangasinan Governor and now Congressman Amado Espino and two other local officials for linking them in the illegal drugs trade. He publicly admitted that he and his officials were wrong and negligent in counter checking on the possible involvement of Congressman Espino and his two local officials.
To spare his officials and law enforcement officers from further embarrassment and ridicule, Duterte asserted himself as a true leader by assuming full responsibility in the Espino “brouhaha.”
President Duterte made his second public apology when he made a personal appearance at a synagogue in Makati on the occasion of the Jewish New Year’s celebration. Duterte was given a standing ovation by his Jewish audience after expressing his sincere apology for his “Hitler remarks’” and his promise never again to make jokes about Jews.
Duterte should be commended for what he did. I do not know of any other government official, in my more than 24 years as a newspaperman in the Philippines , who made an apology to anyone he had wronged or shamed publicly by mistake.
As what most people say, it takes a real man to practice humility or to admit publicly his mistake. Filipinos should be thankful that they now have a President that is not only honest and sincere but humble as well in of spite all the powers he has at his disposal.
No wonder, President Duterte continues to get excellent public satisfaction ratings despite his alleged deadly crackdown on suspected drug lords and drug peddlers all over the country.
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Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate committee on Justice, did the right thing in terminating the on-going hearing on the so-called extra judicial killings on suspect drug lords and addicts. The Senate inquiry, despite the grandstanding of Senators Leila Delima and Antonio Trillanes, failed to link President Duterte to the alleged killings in Davao city perpetrated reportedly by the Davao Death Squad (DDS).
The Senate investigation instigated by De Lima did not prove anything, except to showcase the potential of De Lima of being a dramatic actress, except her looks and body shape. (LOL!)
It was a total waste of time and waste of taxpayers’ money. Both De Lima and Trillanes should apologize to the public for their behavior and for bringing a bogus killer in the person of Edgar Matobato. Both De Lima and Trillanes walked out from the hearing after they were both accused by Gordon of withholding information that Matobato has a pending case of Kidnapping with ransom. It was reported that De Lima walked out from the hearing to avoid further embarrassment from the trashing she was getting from Gordon and Senator Panfilo Lacson.
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If Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has all the necessary documents and information needed to indict De Lima, they should do it right away to avoid public perception that she is being persecuted by the administration for being a critic of Duterte.
Aguirre should also look into the possibility that the five police generals implicated by Duterte as having been involved in the illegal drugs trade also had “business” dealings with De Lima during her stint as Justice Secretary in the Aquino administration. Ever since their names were mentioned by Duterte, no formal charges have been filed against them as far as I can remember.
Most probably, the government is still investigating them and extracting information as to the identities of other government officials involved in the illegal drugs trade, as well as those who they dealt with and who gave them protection to carry out their nefarious activities without being arrested or prosecuted.