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When my son, Mark, accepted the offer of then newly-elected President Rodrigo Duterte to be part of his Cabinet, some people expressed doubts. Social media abounded with malicious and baseless accusations. When Mark resigned as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last week in order to file his certificate of candidacy for senator, he quashed all those doubts and left DPWH and the nation with an astounding set of accomplishments that will benefit future generations of Filipinos.

Infrastructure is certainly one of the major legacies of this administration. Despite the challenges of the health crisis, the government has built better and stronger roads to guide our way towards economic recovery.

Why do people run for public office? What motivates people to devote themselves to 60 or 90 days of grueling campaign, cruel and unfair attacks on one’s character, loss of financial resources, and, in some instances, put their lives on the line?