The CLEANLINESS within . . .

In the early 1980’s Mlang was catapulted into fame when we had been adjudged the cleanest and greenest town in the whole of the Philippine archipelago. Such feat brought more people to their maps and atlases, wondering what must have been the outstanding traits that elevated us to such distinction.

For one thing, Mlang bested it over other similar areas because the all-out cooperation of the greater majority of the population. Another factor is the superb management and coordination with the different sectors of our society. Such ideal relationship elicited the highest level of motivation among our people and winning the contest becomes a matter of personal pride and locational vindication.

Most importantly, we personally believe that in every individual there is always that desire for orderliness and cleanliness. Someone has said “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” True to the workings in our natural world, matter always moves from the less disordered state to the more disordered state. Hence, there is always that necessity to bring order and cleanliness within ourselves. The cleanliness that is within, the spiritual cleanliness will always be manifested and work out morally upright and righteous way of life.

History had always attested to the fact that civilizations thrive where cooperation, peace and understanding abide.. However, where discord and competition reigns supreme, humankind self-destructs and goes down to the lowest level of baseness. This in itself would inspire us to work to the best interest of our people and not forward our own personal agenda. Let us warm to the persuasion put forth to us by the John Fitzgerald Kennedy, late President of the United States of America in the early 1960’s when he enjoined his people to “Ask not what your country can do for you; rather, ask what you can do for your country.”

In spite of the many programs our past administrations had instituted to better the lot of our people, our people still wallow in the quagmires of poverty, helplessness and deprivation. It is inherent upon us to pool our capabilities together to bring respite to a people already grown calloused to the evils of man’s inhumanity to fellow man. The day we spend in procrastination in vacillation is a day too much to a people who cast their lot to the powers that be during the May 14, 2007 local and national elections. It is for us, individually, to bring out the best in us – the cleanliness within – and effect tangible goodness to the greater number of our people. This could be the greatest legacy we can ever leave them.