Davao marks 77th founding anniversary

As the country grows economically at a faster clip so are the scandals in the low and high offices of the government. It seems that to be a politician is to be associated with thieves who hijack the welfare of the people. Such selfishness downgrades a person’s dignity and the effects drag down the whole country as well. Thus, in the eyes of the world, our moral index is at its lowest point.

As we celebrate the 77th Araw ng Dabaw, we pray that our leaders shall always be true to their calling — to serve their constituents with zeal as they promised during their campaign for office and not their own selves with their vested interests. That they will be aware that moral decay is a great setback of our civilization akin to that in the last years of the Roman Empire as success brought complacency which smothered the spirit of vigilance.

A humble spirit can open up opportunities for us to search God in our hearts for He shall lead us in the right direction. Davao City can thus become a beacon of light— a progressive city with high moral standards. Our city has undoubtedly seen an increase of material wealth–more cars, more subdivisions already in the suburbs, malls and skyscrapers do the city center, etc.,–very optimistic and vibrant indeed.

However, let us not forget our Christian identity. Behind this material progress there are those who have been left behind. The Church calls them the least, the last and the lost—the anawim. We also have to measure success in terms of the upliftment of the poor for Capitalism and Democracy are systems that are not perfect. Closing the gap between the rich and the poor is challenging and it requires the delivery of the right social, educational, economic and cultural programs by our leaders.

The season of lent reminds us of the value of sacrifice for a greater good. This spirit of sacrifice blends well if applied in the measurement of progress and effort thus achieved so far by the city. May we not succumb to greed but rather strive to help and care for the anawim so that the programs mentioned above become more meaningful and true as a measure of real progress.

Let us turn to our Blessed Mother to ask her that we see her Son in the eyes of the anawim.

Happy Fiesta! Viva Dabaw!

By Johnny Sulit