On Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, we said farewell to a global shepherd whose papacy redefined the meaning of leadership. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed into eternity at the age of 88. His twelve-year ministry was marked by radical simplicity, unwavering compassion, and a quiet but powerful revolution rooted in humility. For us Ilonggos, who have always prided ourselves on pagrespeto and pag-ugyon, his message holds a mirror to the kind of leadership—and citizenship—we must nurture in these times.

One of the most enduring phrases of his papacy was spoken early, in 2013: “Be shepherds with the smell of the sheep.”Spoken to priests, yes—but its resonance reaches far beyond the clergy. To smell like the flock means to walk among the people, not ahead of them. It is leadership that listens more than it speaks, that kneels before it leads, and that remembers where it came from.

It is a call to humility—not the kind that is performative or self-effacing, but the kind that rolls up its sleeves and gets dust on its feet.

The Ilonggo Way of Humility

We Ilonggos have long known what this means. Our elders practiced it instinctively. Mga kapitanes who led but never lorded. Teachers who carried their chalk like sacred tools. Business owners who knew their employees by name, and walked the pabrika kag balaligyaan before checking their ledgers. This is Ilongo nga pagmaagi—rooted, relational, and responsive.

And yet, as modernity sweeps in—with its glittering promise of progress, influence, and achievement—we must ask ourselves: are we still willing to smell like the flock? Or have we begun to trade community for control, service for status, and compassion for convenience?

Walking With, Not Just Working For

In today’s corporate world, we often measure leadership by titles, salaries, and the size of one’s digital following. But Francis reminded us that true influence is found in proximity. Businesses, governments, and institutions must not operate from glass towers, but from the heart of the community—ara guid sa tunga sang komunidad. That means walking the barangay streets, listening to workers, co-creating with farmers, fisherfolk, youth, and elders.

To truly smell like the flock is to know the fears of a single mother trying to balance two jobs. It is to understand the dreams of a child whose classroom floods every rainy season. It is to sit beside a tired tricycle driver and ask—not what he can do for the city, but what the city can do for him.

Stewardship, Not Ownership

Pope Francis also reminded us that humility is not weakness—it is stewardship. His encyclical Laudato Si’ is a call to care for our common home. In Iloilo, that means preserving our rivers, honoring ancestral lands, protecting marine life in our coastal communities, and weaving sustainability into our local industries.

It also means treating our workforce—not as mere manpower but as co-builders. Let us design inclusive workplaces that affirm diversity, enable the differently-abled, and elevate dignity above deadlines. When we lead with humility, our policies become more humane. Our growth becomes more grounded.

From the Boardroom to the Barangay Hall

Humility is also political. It challenges us to rethink power. In every city council, school board, and cooperative, we must ask: are we governing with the people, or merely over them? Do our decisions reflect the realities of those we claim to serve?

We must resist the tendency to romanticize community without living in it. Let’s go beyond consultations for the sake of compliance. Let’s break bread, not just break ground. Development cannot be dictated. It must be dialogued.

A Legacy Worth Living

Pope Francis was not a perfect man, but he was a present one. He showed up where it mattered—among refugees, prisoners, street children, and victims of injustice. His greatness was not in eloquence or strategy, but in his nearness.

May we carry that same spirit into our own spheres—in our classrooms, businesses, offices, farms, and city halls. May we lead not with fanfare, but with fidelity. May we grow not only in ambition, but in empathy.

And as we build Iloilo into a more progressive, just, and sustainable place, may we never forget: the true measure of leadership is not how far ahead you are, but how close you remain.

Because to smell like the flock is not just an image. It is a way of being. A way of serving. A way of leading that begins and ends with love.

Ken Lerona is a marketing and branding leader with over 20 years of experience. He conducts talks and workshops for private and government organizations and consults on innovation and reputational risk management. Connect with him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/kenlerona.