Apology

“I'm not going to apologize for my success. How I live is no secret.”

—Ed Schultz

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT would have looked good for his family and father if Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos faced the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in a live stream instead of executive session which was hidden from public.

Anyone accused of being involved in flood control project scandal shouldn’t be afraid to livestream their performances during the ICI hearing if they are really deep-eyed, profoundly clean and immaculate like Caesar’s wife.

We aren’t saying Rep. Marcos isn’t clean because he chose the executive session over an open face-off. He may be guilty or not guilty. Nobody knows, so far.

What we are trying to emphasize here is total transparency, not half-transparency or transparency with condition.

A request for executive session may be a safer option, but it does not make Rep. Marcos and all others with similar tactic ballsy and indomitable.

 

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THE core of a genuine apology is “I’m sorry” or “I apologize.”  It’s the stake in the ground to communicate that we truly regret our behavior and wish we had acted differently.

No apology is complete without it.

Leaders who apologize aren’t necessarily weak, saying “I’m sorry” does not make anyone—leaders included—namby-pambies.

Rev. Deb Koster said an apology takes great courage. It is not for sissies to admit how we have hurt others and to ask for forgiveness. Apologizing involves claiming ownership over how we have intentionally or unintentionally brought pain into someone’s life. Being willing to face someone we have hurt and to ask to restore the relationship takes a special bravery.

 

 

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THE apologies made recently by Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for the casualties caused by Typhoon Tino in Cebu and for the pain the public has experienced due to a large corruption scandal can’t be compared to the apology made by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the “Hello Garci” tumult.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo’s “I’m sorry” was more personal after she was caught calling a Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner in the aftermath of the 2004 presidential election.

She was embroiled in the scandal involving wiretapped recordings, or "tapes" that allegedly captured her speaking with the Comelec official about manipulating election results to her favor. It was ugly and the controversy destroyed her reputation

 

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In November 2025, during a situation briefing in Cebu, President Marcos Jr. stated he was "very, very sorry" for the high number of casualties and widespread destruction caused by Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi).

He acknowledged that many victims were swept away by quick, strong flash floods and promised government assistance to the affected families.

In early December 2025, amidst a major corruption scandal within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Marcos apologized to the people who were suffering because of it.

He described the situation as a "cancer" that required major "surgery" to fix, a painful process he felt was necessary for the country's long-term health.

 

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Erika Anderson of Forbes suggested that once we said what we regret about our actions or words, we must not water it down with excuses. 

That can blow the whole thing. The former manager of one apartment building once said to Anderson, “I’m sorry we haven’t gotten back to you about your security deposit, but you have to understand we’ve got hundreds of tenants.” 

She said, “I definitely didn't feel apologized to – in fact, I felt he was telling me I was being inconsiderate to hold him accountable! Just let the apology stand on its own. “

“I’m sorry we haven’t gotten back to you about your security deposit.”

Say how you’ll fix it, Anderson suggested. This seals the deal. If we genuinely regret our words or actions, we’ll to commit to changing. This needs to be simple, feasible and specific. “I’m sorry we haven’t gotten back to you about your security deposit. We’ll have an answer to you by this Friday.”

Let’s do it, she added. I know some people who don’t have a hard time apologizing but seem to have a hard time following through on their apologies. If you apologize and say you’re going to behave differently and then don’t – it’s actually worse than not having apologized in the first place. When you don’t follow through, people question not only your courage, but also your trustworthiness.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)