STEWARDSHIP IS GOVERNANCE, IT IS A GODLY MISSION

STEWARDSHIP IS GOVERNANCE, IT IS A GODLY MISSION

Cardinal Ambo David delivered a homily on stewardship that struck me as profoundly Filipino. He pointed out that the word bahala—from Bathala, our ancient name for God—is the root of mamahala (to manage) and pamahalaan (government). Imagine that: in our very language, governance is tied directly to God.

If management (pamamahala) comes from Bathala, then every act of governance is supposed to reflect God’s will. Isn’t that a humbling thought? Don’t you wish that all government officials behaved as true stewards of the authority entrusted to them—not as if they were gods themselves, but as humble representatives of the One who owns all power?

Unfortunately, reality paints a different picture. Too often, public officials act not as stewards but as exploiters—treating government resources as personal property, forgetting that their mandate is borrowed, not owned. Cardinal Ambo reminds us that leaders face a clear choice: to govern with humility, accountability, and faithfulness, or to govern arrogantly as though they were Bathala themselves.

The parable in the gospel warns against bad stewardship. Leadership is not just about public trust—though that is already a high standard—it is also about Divine Trust. A public office is not a throne; it is a mission. A true steward governs on behalf of God, prioritizing not self-interest, but the welfare of “the little ones”—the poor, the vulnerable, the forgotten.

The Cardinal also reflected on how our language mirrors our understanding of responsibility. To “mabahala” is to be concerned for others. To “magwalang-bahala” is to shirk responsibility, to neglect what has been entrusted to you. Isn’t that the story of many of our government institutions today—officials acting with walang-bahala attitudes, careless about the people they are sworn to serve?

There is, however, a positive sense in our familiar phrase “bahala na.” It does not really mean fatalism or blind resignation, as some critics suggest. Rather, it means we do everything we can, trusting that Bathala has also entrusted us with the strength and ability to face challenges. It is not passive surrender but an active commitment to do our part, leaving the rest to God.

Now, here is a question worth pondering: Most government officials may not agree with this perspective, but perhaps those who are Christians will? If faith is real, then it must shape not just private devotion but public service. If one truly believes that governance is a form of stewardship entrusted by God, then how can one justify corruption, neglect, or abuse of power?

Maybe this is where we need a cultural awakening. Imagine if every mayor, governor, congressman, and senator saw their role as a sacred trust. Imagine if every barangay captain approached governance with the attitude of a yaya entrusted with someone else’s child: “Take care, don’t neglect.” What kind of country would we be if our leaders acted not as owners of power, but as caretakers of God’s people?

Of course, cynics will dismiss this as idealistic. Politics, they say, is about power, not stewardship. Yet, if we Filipinos truly take our language and our faith seriously, then governance without stewardship is not just bad politics—it is a betrayal of both people and God.

This perspective also points us toward accountability. If authority is a trust from Bathala, then leaders are doubly accountable—not only to the people who elected them but also to God who gave them the responsibility in the first place. That is a sobering thought, one that should make even the most powerful tremble.

Stewardship as governance is therefore not optional—it is a godly mission. If our leaders embraced this, corruption would not just be illegal; it would be unthinkable. Neglect would not just be negligence; it would be sin.

Cardinal Ambo’s reflection ends with a prayer: “Lord our Bathala, reveal your will to us so we can truly fulfill our duties in your great name, so we can truly care for others’ concerns, and so we can manage according to the trust you’ve placed in us.”

May that prayer not only inspire the faithful in church pews but echo in the halls of Malacañang, the Senate, the Congress, the kapitolyos, and the barangay halls across the country. For in the end, leadership is not about privilege—it is about stewardship.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

11-17-2025 

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