In the world of politics, the phrase ‘debt of gratitude’ is more often than not, a lonely one. Well, at least, not in the city of Manila.
Debt of gratitude or ‘utang na loob’ is a value that is highly-held, specially in the traditional Filipino culture.
There is no price tag on the sense of indebtedness on the part of the recipient and automatically requires a sense of reciprocity. We frown on the passivity of those who are at the receiving end of the favor and brand them ‘walang utang na loob,’ a very negative description ?which goes against the goodness of the heart that have passed down for generations.
Our very own Mayor Honey Lacuna is a classic example of the rare breed of politicians around these days.
She is one who truly keeps to heart the good deeds she had received and makes sure she does not forget and return them the best way she can.
This again became evident when a day before her birthday last May 6, Mayor Honey .expressed her debt of gratitude to the city residents who paved the way for the start of her successful political career that culminated in her becoming the first lady mayor in the history of Manila.
As part of her birthday celebration, the good mayor distributed rice and roast chicken to residents of Barangay 525 where she is registered and Barangay 616 where she was raised grew up.
The officials and residents in the said barangays were just too happy to welcome her and join her advance birthday celebration that she chose to spend with them as a way of looking back to her roots.
In a fitting tribute, they feted the lady mayor, whom they consider as their very own homegrown hero, having began her political career with them, first as a Manila Councilor and later as a department head, Vice Mayor and now Mayor.
Mayor Honey gave a moving message by thanking the barangay officials and residents for sparing time to spend with her and for their continued support.
Saying while she considers herself lucky for becoming the Mayor of the country’s capital city, the lady mayor she considers herself even luckier that the residents in front of her were the very first ones who trusted and continue to trust in her. She acknowledged that through their endless support, she succeeded in becoming a city councilor, Vice Mayor and finally reaching the top local post usually reserved for men only.
“Mas swerte po ako sa inyo dahil kayo po ang unang nagtiwala sa akin mula nung ako ay maging konsehal, vice mayor hangggang ngayon bilang mayor. Ni minsan ay di ny’o po ko pinabayaan kaya naman marapat lang na ibalik ko lahat ng mga biyaya na natatanggap ko at gusto ko po itong i-share unang-una sa inyo. Gusto ko poong magpasalamat sa lahat, lahat, lahat kaya maraming salamat at sana ay pagdamutan ninyo ang aking nakayanan,” Mayor Honey told them.
“‘Wag kayong mag-alala dahil hindi ko po kayo ipapahiya. Ang buong pamilya Lacuna, mula sa aking tatay (former Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna) at mga kaanak ay walang sawang magpapasalamat sa inyo,” she added.
On her birthday itself -May 6, Saturday- Mayor Honey also held a gift-giving activity and celebrated her special day by partying with senior citizens and children who either celebrated their birthdays on the same day as hers or within the month of May.
I have known Mayor Honey for as long as I remember. After all, she is my goddaughter and her dad, the bright lawyer and former Vice Mayor Danny, is a very good friend of mine for decades now.
As such, I know and can vouch for her good character and it makes me feel really proud that her parents were able to raise her well to become an upright person who knows how to value debt of gratitude, a trait that is supposed to be inherent but is seemingly lacking in most politicians nowadays.
If only for this, Mayor Honey has already fulfilled her vow that she will never make her fellow Manilans regret having supported her or do anything that will cause them shame. With her way of looking back to where she came from, she already made Manilans proud.
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