Cayetano’s charge to new officials: Make Taguig and Pateros the salt and light of the country

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday encouraged the new officials of Taguig and Pateros to make the city and the municipality the “salt and light” of God in the country by prioritizing the needs of the people.

“Today I ask you for a very simple thing. In honoring God, by serving him, let us make Taguig and Pateros the salt and light of our Lord in our country,” Cayetano told the new officials led by his wife, Mayor Lani Cayetano, during their oath-taking on June 30, 2022.

Alluding to the words of Jesus in the New Testament, Cayetano said being salt means “being there for the people” and preserving what is good in their respective communities.

He also encouraged the new officials to be a light by touching the lives of those around them.

Cayetano reminded the officials that the reason Taguig City provides unique services to its people – including full scholarships for all students – is not just to give money but to shape the future Taguigeños into what God wants them to be.

“Namimigay lang ba tayo ng pera? O hinuhubog ba natin ang future Taguigeño? Y’ung Taguigeño ba na ‘yan, will they have the values that God wants us to have, to have a city that is the salt and the light?” he said.

Cayetano said it is for this reason that the people themselves should demand the best from the new officials.

“Bakit po nandito [sa ceremony] ang mga kapitan, mga prosecutor, mga judges, mga principals, mga pulis, at mga taga Bureau of Fire? It’s not only to witness but to demand from the city government that you get the best,” he said.

Cayetano said all public servants – from the street sweepers all the way up to the city mayor – should “step aside” if they cannot honor God and show the right values.

“Umalis na lang po tayo and let the people who are willing to honor God and serve the people be the ones because in the end, you [the people] deserve the best,” he said.

Cayetano also reiterated his call for a faith-based and values-oriented leadership despite the criticism government officials can get for doing so.

“Being a leader that honors God is not being a leader that only protects, only advocates, only fights for y’ung mga ka-church nya or dun sa kapamilya niya. Madali pong ipaglaban y’ung mga mahal mo sa buhay. Ang mahirap po ay ipaglaban mo y’ung mga nagbabash sa ‘yo, ipaglaban y’ung mga nagki-criticize sa ‘yo, o ipaglaban y’ung mga hindi bumoto sa ‘yo,” he said.

“But ipakita natin na dito satin sa Taguig, we have a radical kind of love. Kung sino’ng ayaw sa atin, lalo pa natin silang mamahalin,” he added.

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