On May 9, you will make history.
Every voter—young and old, rich and poor—will all have the same power to change the nation.
Many Filipinos dream for a better Philippines, but the real challenge lies on electing qualified and dignified people into government positions.
How do you step up in picking out the best candidate among the rest? How do you make a God-honoring decision on whose name to shade on the ballot?
Here’s the key: Know the traits of a good leader and choose a candidate that possesses those traits!
So here are 5 qualities of a good leader to help you make an informed and empowered decision on who to vote for this Halalan 2022:
1. A good leader has a good track record
A politician’s track record, qualifications, and leadership experience show that they can lead the position they are running for.
Look at their educational background. Is their education enough to run this country, your province, or town? Look at their track record. What have they accomplished before? What are the projects and advocacies they’ve been involved with?
Research and see if a candidate is capable of fulfilling the promises and the deeds they have included in their platforms.
2. A good leader is competent
Governing a nation requires more than just basic knowledge and familiarity with principles of political governance, economic and financial management, social and health mitigation, and justice system.
It needs a competent and capable leader—someone who makes courageous decisions and sees the “big picture” within the context of an overall vision for the country. If they held government positions before, were they able to deliver their promises during their campaign? Look at their platforms. Do they have concrete plans to solve issues and better the lives of their kababayans?
Competence goes beyond words. In The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, leadership guru John Maxwell adds that a competent leader shows up every day, keeps on improving, follows through with excellence, and accomplishes more than what’s expected of them.
3. A good leader has integrity and good moral values
You want a leader that has great leadership, but you also want a leader that has a great heart.
When a leader loves God and the country, they must have integrity. They value transparency in governance and accountability. So before choosing a leader, look at their sincerity of service. Do they have integrity, or do they have history of corruption? Were they convicted of a crime before?
Likewise, the values they hold greatly influence their decision-making, so see if they have strong moral values. Check if their platforms are morally sound. See how they conduct themselves during times of moral dilemma. See if they have the conviction to do the right thing even in complicated situations.
4. A good leader cares for people
A leader who loves God knows how to love others. They have the heart for the poor and powerless, they champion the cause of justice and truth. They treat their constituents with genuine love and care.
How to know if a leader really cares?
Check their agenda and know why they want to lead. How do they treat people under them? Who benefits from their projects? Good leaders mirror the servant leadership of Jesus (Matthew 20:25-28). They lead not for personal gain—but actually sacrifice themselves in service of the people.
5. A good leader inspires people
There is no perfect leader, but there are competent leaders who can inspire others toward a goal and attaining it. They are able to win people’s confidence, trust, and support as they pursue a government program.
Before you cast your vote, ask: Does this leader inspire people to do something for the country? Through their words, actions, and beliefs, can they unite others to take part in bettering the nation? Choose a leader who inspires others to dream more, do more, and become more.
This Halalan 2022, you have a right—as well as a responsibility—to elect good leaders.
It’s also a call to pray that whoever gets in the office, God will lead them and guide them, that they will be righteous leaders who will bring the needs of the nation first before themselves. Ultimately, pray that Jesus Christ will be their Lord.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (Timothy 2:1-2 ESV)
Are you anxious about the upcoming elections?
We are here to pray for you. Call the CBN Asia Prayer Center at 8-737-0-700 or email your prayer requests to prayforme@cbnasia.org.
