A plebiscite was held Monday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Isabela City and Cotabato City. There will be another day for voting for yet other places in Mindanao, two weeks from now.
Whatever the final tally, the plebiscite meant to reflect the people's will on the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which will in turn establish the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, is by itself a milestone. This is the farthest that the peace effort in the South has gone, after numerous failed attempts by previous administrations to put an end to the decades-old conflict.
Credit goes to the sheer will of this administration to finally do what its predecessors have not achieved, for a host of reasons.
It is the same strong will that made the closure of the world-famous Boracay Island—in the middle of summer at that—possible. President Rodrigo Duterte branded the island a cesspool, and despite concerns on what the six-month closure would do to our tourism numbers, it was closed nonetheless in view of the greater good of cleaning up the effects of many years of neglect and greed. Now we will see if the same brand of willpower is enough to clean up Manila Bay.
These are just two examples of how a leader's decisiveness and consistency could make a difference in the nation he governs.
In other issues, the response is nowhere as universal. For example, the push toward federalism despite what are seen as more pressing concerns for Filipinos appears to have lost steam. Lowering the age of criminal liability to 9 years old from 15 is another proof, especially given the perceived uneven application of the law on the rich and the poor.
The manner of fighting illegal drugs could also be taken as an example of sheer will. In this, Mr. Duterte clearly wants to achieve what no president has done before. Unfortunately, while nobody questions the rationale of the campaign, many, including the international community, do not approve of the manner in which it is being carried out.
Meanwhile, political will for the much-vaunted fight against corruption, another age-old menace that has held this country back from genuine progress, appears to vary depending on the nature of the crime and the political affiliation of the suspected party.
Persistence and strength of will are qualities that increase any leader's chances of succeeding against the many problems that plague a nation. There will always be critics and opposing views, but if a leader is firm about the end he has in mind, then all he has to do is to chart the steps to get there, undeterred by setbacks.
There is however a difference between persistence on one hand, and arrogance and obstinacy on the other.
Unfortunately, the line between these is often thin. Public officials may believe that they are being resolute when in fact they are already deaf to criticism however constructive. They may think they are being strong when in fact they are on the verge of tyranny.
The virtue is not necessarily in strength, or in openness, but in the wisdom to know when to persevere and when to back off, or at least pause to listen.
As elections draw closer, we hope there would be more strong and progressive leaders—but most of all, discerning ones.