On leading and laughter

RAYMUND FERNANDEZ

So how do I do this?

This question becomes more important the more the writer intends to reveal himself in the writing.

Thus, I wish if only I could to resurrect “The Maker” or some other third-person-character for this one.

But no.

I have to speak for myself and most sincerely as Raymund L. Fernandez, art teacher of the University of the Philippines Cebu.

Which institution is now “choosing” to either renew the current Chancellor or replace her with a new one.

“Choosing” is in quotation marks because this process is not really done by election.

The Chancellor gets her or his appointment from the Board of Regents, if not the president of the republic.

But the faculty get the chance to endorse.

It is this endorsement which is done by election.

This same endorsement process has put me in a rut of sorts.

In the cast of character-types one comes across, the worst looked-upon in UP is the perennial fence sitter.

And so I have to endorse one or the other.

But still, I wonder if I am not wasting my time.

I have always thought that the least important position in our country is the position of formal leadership, or the position of power.

Most especially in the here and now when the image of political leadership has reached the lowest ever.

And one would have wondered if this was at all possible given our history.

But consider the present dispensation: Anything good that happens in this country happens not because of the leadership.

They happen despite them.

They happen because of middle level executives who do their jobs well.

Or the public who do what they can.

They do not always hold positions of any power besides moral influence.

Thus, I wonder if I should participate in this contest for Chancellorship.

Much less, write about it.

It seems an issue falling way short of extrajudicial killings, or EJK, the surrender of our islands to the Chinese, the surrender of our fishing grounds, the downward drift of our economy and country, etc.

Oh, but perhaps not.

After all, I did say the lowest living form in my community is the perennial fence sitter.

So one should ask: Who between the two candidates has proffered any opinion whatsoever with regard those issues?

And then another question: Who has the better sense of humor?

In my dealings with both, whom did I see laugh more often and more sincerely?

Does this seem a strange addition to the rubrics I put forward?

A person laughs out of something observed, or heard, or listened to.

Laughter is ornament to empathy, the ability to listen and listen well.

This is what we need most of our leaders now.

Consider the current President of the Republic.

He jokes.

But we never see him laugh beyond the calcified half-smile, the permanent look of his face.

Understandably so.

His jokes are the polar opposite of funny.

And thus, while I respect the work of Chancellor Liza Corro whom I hold with respect, I am endorsing the appointment of Rolando Tolentino for speaking out somewhat and especially for his laughter.