Sincerity Begets Sincerity

President Aquino found out that Filipinos will respond to their government about their needs and aspirations if their leaders are sincere and serious and honest. These are the qualities that the voters in the May 10 automated polls saw in the electoral campaign of the Liberal Party standard bearer Noynoy Aquino, so they voted him into power. Now, thanks to modern technology in communicating and the availability of social networking websites such as Facebook, Multiply and Twitter, President Aquino is getting a lot of feedback from concerned citizens. He recently told the press that he receives all kinds of text from various sectors of society and this is quite a revelation. Here is a President who is in charge of the fate and destiny of the country, and he finds time to listen to simple folks about their problems and concerns. He has no qualms about the veracity or authenticity of the feedback. All he is after is the immediate response that he receives from the people. This is a healthy sign that his budding Presidency is being received openly by the entire nation.
Thus, when he designed a communication setup in the Palace with the appointment of three capable media practitioners, President Aquino has in mind the Magsaysay-style of linking with the masses. And this style aims to go to any extent possible to reach out to the people. While telegrams during Magsaysay's time was one of the more popular instruments to air to their leaders the concerns of the people, the focus of Malacanang at this time is to hear the people and respond to the feedback that they receive, through an integrated use of Internet, print and broadcast media. President Aquino will leave no stone unturned in order to listen to the people and respond to their needs. He is willing to listen, even implement good suggestions and recommendations that he hears from concerned sectors of society.
Since he has shown sincerity in dealing with the people, President Aquino stands to reap from this act. The people will look up to him in high regard because he aims to be a role model in being an incorruptible leader of a developing country. He said in his election campaign that he will not steal from the people. "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap". Now he has added the instrument of mass communications - sincere and serious - to reach out to the people and convince them that he means business. Sincerity begets sincerity. The people will be more involved in helping the government attain the goals of fighting corruption and reducing poverty. From all these actions will come a prosperous country that is finally liberated from doubts, half-heartedness and complacency.