As the observance of Undas came to a close, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano reminded the online community to reassess their priorities and consider whether their pursuit of success aligns with their purpose in life.
In his vlog, “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow,” Cayetano reflected on the fleeting nature of life during a visit to the graves of his father, former Senator Rene Cayetano, and other relatives at the Garden of Memories in Taguig on November 2.
Remembering his late father also prompted Cayetano to reflect on the choices people make and the priorities they pursue throughout their lives.
“Hindi po iyan sa haba ng buhay natin, [kundi] sa meaning at purpose ng ating buhay,” he said.
Drawing from his personal reflections on faith, Cayetano said people are constantly making choices that shape the direction of their lives.
“Wala naman pong tao na hindi purpose-driven. Ang question lang, purpose ba ng Lord or purpose mo,” he said.
Cayetano said the Undas tradition offers families an opportunity to reconnect with their roots and remember the customs that bring relatives and friends together. However, he emphasized that reflection should go beyond cultural traditions and include one’s relationship with God.
“Babalik-balikan pa rin po natin ang ating kultura. But more important than our culture is God’s plan for our life,” he said. “Hopefully bago mag back to work, spend a little bit of time [reflecting] on that.”
The senator’s reflections on purpose also came alongside a discussion on the challenges facing local communities, as Pateros Councilor Jojo Sanchez, who joined Cayetano during his visit to the Garden of Memories, appealed for help in pursuing a proposed special resolution and bill in advancing the municipality’s bid for cityhood.
The discussion also highlighted the differences in resources among local government units and the challenges these create in delivering programs and services to their constituents.
Cayetano stressed the need to address these gaps and ensure that more communities have the resources to provide for their residents.
“Marami pa tayong dapat gawin at trabahuhin para baguhin ang distribution ng wealth sa ating bansa,” he said.###