PUBLIC OFFICE IS A PUBLIC TRUST
Eulogy for Gov. Emilio "Dodo" Macias II, Capitol Negros Oriental, 16 June 2010

Ben S. Malayang III

It is said that "public office is a public trust." But what is often neglected is the idea of what is it to be trusted and what it is to be trustworthy.

Holders of public offices are often praised. But as well, they are often pummeled. They are lauded, and maligned. But praised or maligned, a holder of a public office may remain trustworthy in that he or she is clearly committed to a vision of community and of polity exceeding and wider than the narrower interests of individuals and groups.

A holder of a public office makes decisions and undertakes actions that might find favor or disfavor among his or her constituency. This breeds praise or disgust. But praise or disgust, we, as responsible constituencies of a public office, must discern deeper into the innermost motives and dreams of the holder of the office. We must convict ourselves of our leaders' trustworthiness to pursue a vision beyond our own narrow interests.

On this, I thank God that our province is blessed with a strong line of leaders who have proved worthy of our trust. They may not be trusted to always serve our immediate wants, but they can be trusted to do their best for what is best for our people and province.

Governor Dodo certainly stands out as among the giants of our political landscape in whom our people in Negros Oriental find worthy of their trust. I rest assured that there would be many more who would earn the same trust because Governor Dodo Macias has shown that it can be done.

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