CEBU CITY – Winning is one thing, serving is another.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma reminded winning candidates in the recently concluded midterm elections that their victories are their opportunity to become good servants.
According to Palma, being chosen to lead the community is a sacred responsibility and a special privilege that should be considered as a gift from God. “By winning, we can serve the community and be instruments of growth, progress, development and peace for our brothers and sisters,” Palma.
For the losing candidates, Palma advised them to accept defeat and help the new sets of leaders in fulfilling their responsibilities.
Lawyer Veronico Petalcorin, acting regional director of the Commission on Elections in Central Visayas (Comelec 7), shared Palma’s sentiments. “For the losing candidates, it’s not the end for them. This is just one election. Accept defeat because in that way we can start the healing process,” said Petalcorin.
Petalcorin said winning candidates should spearhead the healing process and they can start by being the first ones to remove their campaign posters. “Removing the campaign posters will help heal the wounds caused by defeat because if you’re the losing candidate, you wouldn’t want to see the posters of your opponents with their smiling faces on it,” Petalcorin quipped.
Meanwhile, Central Command (Centcom) was satisfied with the conduct of the elections.
Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, head of Centcom, praised the soldiers and the policemen in the region for the peaceful conduct of the elections. “Everybody freely exercised their right of suffrage; to choose the best candidates who will help the country move towards peace and development,” Clement said. (Calvin Cordova)