“That’s how Martin Romualdez builds leaders: not by giving orders, but by giving confidence”
IF YOU’VE ever worked under a leader who truly trusts you, you know how it feels — that quiet confidence that you can do your job, make your own decisions, and be accountable for them.
That’s the kind of leadership Speaker Martin Romualdez has always shown. He doesn’t hover. He doesn’t dictate. He empowers. Because for him, leadership isn’t about control — it’s about trust.
You could see that clearly in the way he inspired the inception of TINGOG Partylist.
From the very start, he gave its leadership full freedom to plan, decide, and implement its own programs and priorities. He didn’t micromanage or second-guess every move. He set the direction, offered guidance when needed, and then stepped back to let the leaders take responsibility.
That takes confidence — not just in himself, but in others. He believes that when people are trusted, they rise to the challenge. They grow, they learn, and they lead with integrity. That’s how he builds leaders: not by giving orders, but by giving confidence.
This same philosophy defined his time as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Martin Romualdez never acted like a commander barking orders.
He embodied what “Speaker” truly means — first among equals. He understood that in a legislative body, authority doesn’t come from control. It comes from coordination, from respect, from the willingness to listen.
He gave House leaders and committee chairpersons the space to perform their duties with independence and dignity. He trusted them to use their experience, to act in good faith, and to serve the people responsibly.
It would be impossible, and even wrong, for one man to decide everything for everyone. That’s not how a healthy Congress works. Real leadership means trusting others to lead — and expecting accountability in return.
Ask anyone who worked closely with him and they’ll tell you: Martin Romualdez is a listener.
He doesn’t rush decisions. He consults. He builds consensus. He prefers dialogue over directives. Every major decision in the House went through genuine discussion, marked by respect for differing views.
He valued unity, but not uniformity. He wasn’t driven by ego or ambition. His goal was always the same — to do what was right for the institution and for the country. Those who accused him of acting out of self-interest missed the bigger picture.
His influence didn’t come from control. It came from trust — trust earned through consistency, humility, and fairness.
You could see this leadership style in action during his term as Speaker, especially in the national budget process.
The Chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations was always given full authority to lead. That was true under Cong. Zaldy Co, and it remained true under Cong. Mika Suansing.
But more than the personalities involved, what really defined that time was the system itself. Under Speaker Romualdez, the budget process was open, transparent, and deeply participatory.
The Minority wasn’t treated as the opposition to be ignored. They were seen as partners in shaping national priorities. From committee hearings to floor deliberations, their inputs were heard, their insights valued, their concerns respected.
It wasn’t about silencing anyone; it was about making sure every voice had a seat at the table. That’s what true democracy looks like — debate without division, collaboration without compromise of principle.
That’s the kind of environment Speaker Romualdez cultivated. A House where every member mattered. A team where everyone had a role to play.
His job, as he saw it, wasn’t to dictate every move but to make sure the process stayed fair and functional. He didn’t micromanage. He managed to trust. And that made all the difference.
At the end of the day, every act of delegation is an act of faith. When the Speaker entrusts authority to a committee chairperson, it’s a vote of confidence. And with that confidence comes responsibility.
Each leader becomes accountable for their own choices, their own actions, their own results. That’s what shared governance means — power distributed, responsibility shared, accountability personal.
Martin Romualdez’s leadership didn’t need to shout to be heard.
It spoke through trust, calm confidence, and results that quietly proved his point. He led with steadiness, not showmanship.
He built trust instead of fear, and raised leaders instead of followers. Most of all, he led by listening. He listened before he acted, listened before he judged, and listened because he believed that wisdom often speaks in many voices.
In a time when many equate leadership with control, he offered something deeper — empowerment rooted in listening. Because when a leader listens, he earns trust.
When he trusts, he empowers. And when he empowers, he builds people, strengthens institutions, and helps create a nation that leads with integrity and serves with heart.
