A role model of good manners and right conduct?

President Rodrigo Duterte. PINTEREST

Jesus: “Whoever causes one of these little ones to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42).

One day, I found myself seated on a bench and having a tête-à-tête with a ten-year-old boy. At one point I was taken aback when he asked: “Is it really bad to say bad language?”

“My mom used to remind me NOT TO SAY bad words,” he continued, “but I read BAD WORDS from leaders and hear BAD WORDS from older cousins and uncles.”

And, with cussing flooding the social media, particularly from public leaders, do I expect him and other children to know better? Poor child. He’s so confused about what is right conduct and what is not right.

The world is changing, and values and manners are changing with it. Gone are the days when the women were treated with the highest regard, when respect for parents and elders were foremost in the minds of our youth, when silence was imperative for kids when adults were talking, when cussing was a no-no. Gone are the days.

For good reason, a few days ago, Philippine Education Secretary Leonor Briones announced that her department is seriously considering the addition of GMRC (Good Manners and Right Conduct) lessons in the K-12 curriculum, to address the urgent need to raise children with moral backbones and good behavior.

GMRC revival is a big challenge

I will mention five values: “Never use foul language… Don’t call people mean names… Do not make fun of anyone for any reason… Keep negative opinions to yourself… Do not comment on other people’s physical characteristics”– the same values that CHED and Deped educators think must be included in GMRC revival.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) reacted in no time. The revival of good manners and right conduct (GMRC) would be a challenge, the humongous challenge, under this President, they said.

What ACT, other educators, and parents remember, I presume, are the countless times the President, at the drop of a hat, cursed and added insult to injury on many events with the general public and the rest of the world as audience.

What we remember are the shameful moments when he (without respect either for women and the dead) called people he dislikes (including the pope, bishops, priests, and God Himself) by nasty names too decadent to mention. Worst of all, the Catholics among the audience cheered for more.

His spokesperson: The President need not be a role model

When asked why, the Presidential Spokesperson gave these answers:

Instilling good values and character among minors is a duty best performed by the parents themselves (and, by his logic, public leaders are exempted from this duty). Really?

“In raising my children, I don’t leave it to the teachers. I am active in their values formation,” added the Spokesperson. Nevertheless, if I may say so, public leaders remain the champions of values formation, whether they like it or not!

Filipinos have accepted the President for who he is, including his vulgar language and dark/morbid/blasphemous sense of humor, the Spokesperson further explained.

The Presidential kiss. YOUTUBE

In my humble opinion, it is wrong to say this. On the contrary, PUBLIC LEADERS, more so the President, are by duty role models for the Filipino youth – and we cannot accept anything less.

The American experience

Today, Americans are divided. In April 2018, Michelle Obama bantered: “Donald Trump is no role model.” Trump supporters stood up and argued that he’s the hero America needs right now. He’s imperfect, but he’s the leader who will make America great again.

But, I insist, is there a line dividing the man and the Office? None, I guess. Christian values learned (and unlearned) from parents, attitudes, (super)ego, ignorance, expertise, and character make up the composite whole that the man brings into the Office of the President.

Does the duty of the President go far beyond governance? If yes, then the sitting President should be a role model, whether he likes it or not. And every appearance of the President transforms itself into a live classroom where learning and values formation are inevitable. Nothing less.

GMRC in the Office of the President

Our society is a huge family and the President is the father. Imagine if the father of the family – the head who shows how “actions speak louder than words,” the brave man who sets good examples, the leader who raises the bar of righteousness, the adult idolized by kids – is the opposite of socially acceptable behavior. Imagine, just imagine what happens to that family.

What the President achieves during his term is the key performance indicator (KPI). However, character is equally imperative, for he is indeed the Father of the Nation and the Office of the President is the symbol of the highest standard of good manners and right conduct.

No blaming. No “I told you so.” No political color. But, please forgive me, I just want somebody there in that Office as an epitome of moral leadership, whom I, my children, students, and friends can emulate and be proud of. Nothing less.

Jose Mario Bautista Maximiano is the author of The Church Can Handle the Truth (Claretian, 2017). Comments to [email protected] or twitter.com/DrMaximiano