The President of the Republic came to Bohol for the fifth time since our province was hit by a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake last year. Deep in the heart of Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, Bohol must have a special place where only the Boholano people can enter. There must be special reasons why Bohol is such an apple of the eye of the President. And one plain reason is the quality of our leaders in Bohol. The Boholanos are indeed blessed that they have elected public servants who represent the best ideals of humanity and civilization. In the words of the President, he said of Bohol leaders: “In terms of diligence, it will be difficult to beat this group. If your leadership is this hard-working, I will not be surprised that a bright future awaits Boholanons. They are public servants who will not leave you in your hour of need.”

The President, of course, is not sugar-coating his words. Aquino said it because he had seen how our officials, led by Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, and the Boholanos themselves have responded to the Oct. 15 calamity. Pres. Aquino recounted: “After the earthquake… Gov. Ed Chatto… instead of fretting to the media, tossing the blame on others and making [himself] look good, laid down a specific plan to meet the problems faced by the province.” Then he posed this question: “There are some who choose to dwell on the negative, cast doubts and make the situation look more difficult than it is, while others make the most of their skills and knowledge to take advantage of our improving situation. In your view, who will succeed between the two?” Obviously, we know the answer.

Before the President on Friday heaped praises on Bohol leaders, Aquino in his Christmas message to the nation last December had likened Bohol as a star in Bethlehem that shines amid gloom and darkness. We can trust the words of Aquino because he is an honest president. In several occasions, Aquino had publicly lambasted government officials who failed to meet his expectations. The President expresses his conviction without really worrying about its possible collateral effect, and we like it that he is not a traditional politician, or not a politician at all. And what Pres. Aquino has said of Gov. Chatto and the rest of Bohol officials who have overcome one of the most painful moments of our history is simply accurate. In many publications here and abroad, international organizations, both private and public, have expressed their commendation on the performance of the provincial government. How Chatto and Bohol officials have managed the crisis, according to international observers, is worth emulating by the international community of nations.

Good works need not to be praised. But there are times that those who are watching us, observing us, and following our trails would need a model, a beckon of hope, an example of good governance. And we've done it before. Bohol was adjudged by the DILG, for two consecutive years, as the “Best Governed Province in the Philippines.” Pres. Aquino may have forgotten about this award. But we don't. What the President had said last Friday is simply a reaffirmation that we made the right decision in 2010, and in 2013, and hopefully, in 2016, too.