In these days and age, how do we come across the word reliable or reliability? How shall we set this particular value apart from the other Filipino values? Reliability is often overlooked and is usually regarded as an angle or attribute of one with integrity as well as excellence. As a person of integrity with firm adherence to moral and ethical standards, we are considered reliable as we refuse to be swayed by every wind of difficulties that may challenge our stance on our moral convictions. In the same manner, we are also considered reliable as we pursue excellence in everything we put your hands into, leaving no allowance for mediocrity or substandard output.

Putting it this way, one effective way to approach the value of reliability is by laying down the following challenges: 

• Are we going to be that person who is considered reliable in the midst of the different quality of people or crowd we find ourselves in? 
• Are we going to be the one who is reliable as we refuse to be influenced and be taken down by the uncertainties of what is to come? 
• Will the people around us be able to let their guards down because our being reliable is tested and consistent? 
• In short, are we going to choose to become reliable? Be characterized by the value of reliability?

To be reliable is a choice. As we proclaim that we are of God and we are active advocates of His righteousness, our obvious answer is to choose to become reliable. Knowing that He will never leave us nor forsake us, we will have the courage to suppress everything that comes against what is good and true. Our confidence that the Almighty God is backing us up shall allow us to exercise the value of reliability - not only towards Him but to other people and to the work that we are led to do. 

Being reliable will result in us being trusted with more as we have proven ourselves faithful to the first few things that were entrusted to us. We are qualified to take things further with less to no supervision. We become identified as trustworthy and will be favored by God and the people around us. We will not intentionally fail those who depend on us. We shall also receive encouragement to press on and move forward.

To this end, in our practical and day-to-day life, let us simply choose to stick to doing what is right at all times. Let us wake up every morning with a resolve to get up, go out, and influence the world and other people demonstrating and manifesting the value of reliability. Let us always choose to be the dependable man or woman in every circumstance - by ourselves, by others, and by God. 

​

“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body... and God has put each part just where he wants it.”

Proclamations of winning candidates on the recently concluded national and local elections were made. Except for the presidency, vice presidency and partylists, the nation had already identified who will lead and administer for her in the next 3 or 6 years. Different emotions and opinions swirl around as expectations were either met or unfulfilled depending on whose side the person is - either on the winning or losing side of the candidates. Plans and contingency measures are in place for execution. However, inclusivity must be taken into consideration as we need every person and every resource to build the nation. In order to move on and carry the nation, restoration and assurances must take place. National healing must ensue as we establish the principle that we need to cooperate and work together. This is interdependence.

As new elected administration or a fresh mandate for most of them while this pandemic lingers around, the best way to understand and cope with the new season of our nation is to develop this ‘better new-normality’ together. It is by sharing our experiences and perspectives to learn from each other. We have to continuously pursue our shared values, vision and mission. We become collaborators in how we’re going to navigate new frontiers in this chapter of our history. The presence of a significant degree of involvement, clear rules of engagement and delineation of responsibilities as commitments among the citizenry are also important. This will allow us to work better, individually and collectively, to achieve our goals. We pro-actively respond to change and we build the nation. We implement strategies by acknowledging each other’s’ gifts, strengths and weaknesses. We complement, support and complete one another. Altogether, we evolve with progress as it requires encompassing societal growth and maturity. We all have a mindset and a plan agreeing not just being accountable, but in loving care in how we labor together as we honorably connect with each other.

As an analogy of Saint Paul, he mentioned that the human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. Though there are many body systems with different organs, tissues and functions, it is still one single human body. The body has many different parts, not just one part. Thus, for an emphasis, the foot cannot say that it is not a part of the body because it’s not a hand. It does not make it any less a part of the body.  And if the ear says it is not part of the body because it’s not an eye, same thing, it would not make it any less a part of the body. “If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?” But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where He wants and purposed it to be. “Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In essence, we are all Filipinos and we only have one Nation - the Philippines to build and care for. We may have come from different regions with different tribes, dialects, customs, traditions and religions; we are one and the same- a Filipino, borne and planted in this blessed land. We should be one and connected to allow healing in all aspects of our society to flow and manifest. We need to stick together and never destroy each other. We need to build together and not divide. We need to be inclusive and not exclusive. As the prayer song goes (in tagalog): “Walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang.” No human being is like an island that can stand alone, we cannot exist to be like a hermit; independent we may be but we still depend on each other. We need each other.

As God put the body together to grow and function as one, we are designed to harmoniously grow, function and work together. We must care, honor, protect and labor for each other. This is interdependence made concretized and manifested as we see our nation transformed, healed and rebuilt for many generations to come.

​Last May 1, we, together with more than eighty (80) countries, have celebrated the International Workers’ Day also known as Labor Day. Annually we celebrate this to honor and recognize the economic and social significance of our workforce, regardless of the type of employment or type of employees. But why do we need to celebrate and value work? For six days in a row, God continually worked on creation, and it was good. Imagine the intricacies of His creation and we, too, are wowed by what we can see in nature. It was excellently done and carefully considered. From its beauty, complexity, and accuracy, we can see that God values work, and as men and women created in His image and likeness, we too, ought to value work and workmanship.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. left us a wonderful quote that will make us embrace and honor work, no matter what the job is. He said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well. No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” It is indeed true that no work is insignificant as long as it uplifts humanity. Whether we are in blue-collar jobs or white-collar jobs, we must put love in our craft in order to excellently achieve every day’s targets and goals. Regardless if it’s physical or mental work, it must reflect the excellent spirit given to us.

There are many benefits of valuing work. When we value work, there’s peace and joy within us because we know that we have done our part the best we can. It invites praise and commendation, not only because a target or goal has been met, but because its execution is way beyond expectation. It brings wealth when our clients or customers always come back to avail our services or buy the products we sell because they know it is of high quality. When we value work, we become conduits to provide for the needs of our family, our friends, and even other people. Last but never the least, putting premium to our work glorifies God and will bring eventual glory as we offer the works of our hands to our Creator and Master.
​
Let us not belittle our work nor take it for granted. Let every work have a mark of thanksgiving to God, and surely it will all be done with gladness in our hearts. Our labor is not in vain as we offer our work as a pleasing aroma before Him. Whatever we do, we do it for the glory of God. For we know that as we work with all our hearts, as if we are working for God, we will receive our inheritance from Him as our reward.  

​A changing situation spurred by various circumstances, positive or negative, naturally affects a person’s firmness to stay true to a commitment or oath. It is likened to a marriage vow wherein the joyful companionship of a couple is tested by unexpected problems that arise in their relationship. In a normal manner, these distractive forces influence one’s performance in a given endeavor just as a married couple may also lose sight of their covenant with one another. In cases like these, one common factor that needs to be addressed is the issue of faithfulness.
 
Faithfulness is best developed in challenging and difficult situations, particularly when one seems to have an option or even a logical reason to back off, give up or turn away from a promise, an oath or commitment. Keeping our mind on the purpose and goal has helped many to breakthrough and come out victorious in each trying situation. And every time we try our best to hold on to our words, we grow in being reliable, trustworthy and dependable. Such is the mark of a faithful person.
 
The recently concluded CRFV-organized Statesmen’s Summit II: Gathering of Nobles with the theme “Statesmanship Makes Things Happen: Our New Normal” reminded us the call to stay faithful in contributing to the fulfillment of the Filipino aspirations, which is articulated in the AmBisyon Natin 2040. This is a timely message to reflect on as the national election draws near, that even before the nation chooses who the leaders will be in the next six (6) years, we make a decision now to remain steadfast, immovable and faithful to the collective aspiration of the Filipino for a “matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay”. With this firm decision comes a commitment to stay true regardless of the outcome of the election. This goes to say that our allegiance to our oath of office and the mandate of our organization is beyond politics and beyond personality.
 
The value of faithfulness is strengthened in our lives not only in tough situations, but also in day-to-day life. This truth is beautifully captured in the words of Mother Teresa when she said, “be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” In faithfully doing the small things, we can have a good start-up that will determine our stability and strength ahead. As it was written, he who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.
 
Today, we can see success gradually unfolding but these are just foretastes of a glorious future. We should be found faithful with these small beginnings because these will serve as stepping stones for us to remain strong at the top. Being faithful in small things means having the ability to handle small successes because these will determine our capacity to receive immense victory in the days to come. Faithfulness is not just measured by loyalty. It includes trustworthiness, accountability, and having a sense of responsibility to what has been entrusted. We should therefore give our best in all fields of endeavor and learn to multiply our talents and skills for the good of all.