New Year Message
As the word ‘new’ in New Year insinuates, this is the perfect time to bid our farewells to uncalled-for bureaucratic steps that make the essence of public service a mere rhetorical statement

As the word ‘new’ in New Year insinuates, this is the perfect time to bid our farewells to uncalled-for bureaucratic steps that make the essence of public service a mere rhetorical statement

It has been a couple of years now since I started writing this column. It goes without saying that my dear readers have always been my inspiration for writing. As you keep on reading, you continuously inspire me and for that, I am humbled and grateful. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.
Of course, I also have this desire to always impart something valuable to other people whenever I can, to you my readers especially. Something practical you can learn from; something simple yet meaningful that you may use in your life's journey.
Ideas, and insights — they can be very useful. While I may be the writer of this column, I am likewise aware that I can learn from my readers as well. Please do not hesitate to share with me your thoughts on how we can contribute to a better society. After all, reciprocity of thoughts is quintessential in progression. Thus, together as a community let us share and build on ideas that in the end will help our country. Your valuable visions and inputs that are all aimed towards innovations will certainly result in inclusive societal growth.
As we end the year and start the new one, my prayer is for all of us to grow in wisdom, stay well and be healthy. Let us constantly strive to improve ourselves for each passing day, so that every new day we would find ourselves always better than yesterday.
Needless to stress, constant self-improvement is the key to chiseling a better version of ourselves. Only then we can do more and we can achieve better heights.
I earnestly wish that more and more of us would find meaning in the work we do, and let it be that in the office. There is never a dull moment of learning with our officemates on how we can better deliver the service our respective offices were created for. Keep inspired by your work and by the reason you are working. Whenever challenged, rekindle the passion. Whenever sullied, reintegrate yourself.
This is particularly true for those of us in government. We could do a lot for the public that transacts business with us if we tried and exerted more effort. As far as practicable, consciously make transacting with government — whether national or local — easier and, although seemingly impossible, pleasurable. For brevity, we should all be dedicated public servants, that is regardless of pressure and unmindful of defiance by others.
Purposefully, be useful and helpful to all citizens. Go the extra mile, if necessary. In discharging the duties of our office, aimed at pleasing those who deal with us so that they get to feel close to the government, seeing that government helps them, rather than just requires something of them, like taxes and all sorts of permits. Make the public feel that government offices were created for them and are meant to serve them.
As we close this year, let us say goodbye to those bad habits and unnecessary office procedures that basically just turn off the transacting public or add more burdens to them. As the word "new" in New Year insinuates, this is the perfect time to bid our farewells to uncalled-for bureaucratic steps that make the essence of public service a mere rhetorical statement.
Cut the red tape whenever possible. And give the service you provide a face, one that is amiable and all smiles; one that makes the client feel important and because of that begins to cast off all the negativity that one may associate with government.
Happy New Year to All! Peace, love, prosperity, and blessings to all this 2023.