WALANG SAGRADO SA PULITIKA NI PANLILIO
Kamaikailan lang, naiulat sa mga mayor na istasyon ng telebisyon at radyo at mga pahayagan ang pag-amin ni Mrs. Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, matandang kapatid ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, na ineengganyo siya ni Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio na kalabanin ang kanyang sariling kapatid sa darating na eleksyon bilang Kinatawan sa Kongreso ng ikalawang distrito ng Pampanga.
Ayon kay Panlilio, “Naghahanap kami ng isang posibleng kandidato na naniniwala sa good governance na nakita po namin sa katauhan ni Mrs. Cielo Macapagal – Salgado.” Dagdag pa ng paring-pulitiko, wala na raw ibang pinakamahusay na maipantatapat kay Pangulong Arroyo kundi ito ngang kapatid nito na si Mrs. Cielo.
Teka, hindi ba kailan lang ay nagpahayag si Panlilio ng all-out support para kay Randy David na nauna nang nagpahayag na tatakbo ito kung tatakbo si Pangulong Arroyo bilang Kongresista ng 2nd district ng Pampanga? Bakit biglang si Mrs. Cielo ang “best” na ipangtatapat kay PGMA? Hindi na ba naniniwala sa good governance si Randy, Gob?
Nakakapangilabot na isipin na kung gaano na lamang kaimportante para kay Panlilio ang mangibabaw sa mga labanan sa pulitika kung kaya animo’y ibinaon na nito sa limot ang lahat ng kanyang dating pinaniniwalaan at itinuturo bilang isang paring Katoliko.
Sa wari ko, sa pagkakataong ito, tuluyan na niyang ibinasura ang mga pinaniniwalaan at gawi na kapuri-puri sa Panginoon – lalong-lalu na ang hinggil sa nangungunang pwesto at pagpapahalaga sa pagkakaroon ng totoo at matibay na pagkakaisa’t pagmamahalan sa isang pamilya. (Lalo ko tuloy naintindihan kung bakit ganoon ang stepmother mismo ni Panlilio ay pumirma sa pagpapa-recall sa kanya.)
Ang PAMILYA ay isang sagradong institusyong binasbasan at inaalagaan ng Diyos at direktang daluyan ng Kanyang walang kapantay na pagmamahal sa tao. Inihahalintulad ito sa isang “domestic Church”, at wala ni sinumang tao o anumang secular na kapangyarihan ang maaring gumiba o maging dahilan ng pagkakahati nito.
Kahit saang anggulo tingnan, MALI, IMMORAL at HINDI MAKA-KRISTIYANO ang maging bahagi, lalo na ang maging PASIMUNO ng isang iskemang pulitikal na walang dudang magdudulot ng permanenteng lamat at sira sa relasyon ng mga magkakapatid at ng buong angkan ng Macapagal.
Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, pinatutunayan ang talas ng isip, mahabang karanasan, talino at malalim na pagpapahalaga ni Mrs. Cielo sa kanyang pamilya sa kanyang sagot sa ilang naging panayam sa kanya.
Sabi niya: “Sana hindi na kami maglaban-laban. Ayokong mangyari 'yon. Kahit anong sabihin mo, mahal ko sila, mahal ko mga kapatid ko.”
“Siyempre makikiramdam ka, titingnan mo kung ano ang gusto ng mga tao. Tinatanong ko rin sa sarili ko kung bakit nila ako pinapatakbo after 11 years na retired na ako sa politics.”
Hindi po ba nagpapatunay ng maitim na balak ang pang-uudyok sa kapatid pa mismo ng Pangulo na mahigit isang dekada nang nagpahinga sa aktibong paglahok sa pulitika, 69 years old, at nagpapahinga mula sa matinding pakikipaglaban sa sakit na cancer? Sa kalagayang isang bukas na aklat ang hinggil sa pagkakaiba ng magkapatid sa ilang tindig at affiliations sa pulitika, na sabi nga ng ulat sa Inquirer, ay “strained” ang relationship ng mag-ate, bakit gagawa ka ng mga hakbangin na lalong magpapatindi sa hindi pagkakaunawaan at sisira sa relasyon ng dalawa?
Naku! Kung makakabangon lamang si Tang Dadong mula sa kanyang libingan, tiyak na mas matindi pa ang aabutin ng suspendidong paring ito mula sa ama ng magkapatid na Cielo at Gloria!
Gob, ipagpaumanhin mo pero tila kailangang ipapaala ngayon sa iyo ang ilang bahagi ng Pastoral Statement ng CBCP na THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY: GOOD NEWS FOR THE THIRD MILLENNIUM.
[The family] It is a sign to the world that God is present among us and loves us. It is a sign that Gods is acting in our midst to give life and to bring about the unity of the human race
Every family springs from God. But the Christian family is blessed even more because God has made it the "domestic Church" (LG no. 11), the Church in the home, the smallest form of the Church, the Church in miniature. It is not only a sign of the Good News of God's sacrificing love but also has the mission of announcing the Good News of salvation. It has contributed immeasurably to the development of Philippine society and the spread of the Gospel. Together with the Christian faith of most Filipinos the Christian family can truly be considered as among God's greatest gifts of God to the Filipino nation.
Paki tanong nga po Gob sa inyong sarili kung tama pa ba ang inyong ginagawa? Ano na po ba ang inyong ginagamit na barometro para sukatin ang tama at mali? Ito po ba ay ang Doktrina ng Partisan Politics at ng Liberal Party at hindi na ang Doktrina ng Simbahang Katoliko?
Kung magkagayon, hindi po ba napapanahon na (3 years ago) na magresign na kayo sa pagkapari? Para naman malinaw ang lahat at walang kalituhan, na imbes na priest-politician ay tatawagin na lamang kayo sa mas tamang titulo na politician? ##
RESIGN?
Gusto ng paring pulitiko na si Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio na magresign si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo kung tutugon ito sa kahilingan ng mga alkalde sa mga bayang saklaw ng 2nd district ng Pampanga na humabol upang maging kinatawan sa Kongreso sa darating na eleksyong 2010.
Una, wala sa anumang kasalukuyang umiiral na mga batas sa eleksyon o sa Konstitusyon na nagsasabi na dapat magresign ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas kung magdesisyon itong humabol sa mas mababang posisyon sa darating na eleksyon.
Sa pagkakaalam ko, malinaw ito kahit pa sa mismong bigating election lawyer ni Panlilio na si Atty. Sixto Brillantes. Ayon nga sa interview ng abs-cbnnews.com (“Why Arroyo can run for Congress without resigning,” June 23, 2009) kay Brillantes, aminado siya na walang batas sa ngayon na nagbabawal sa pangulo na tumakbo para sa mas mababang posisyon, at hindi rin ito kailangang magresign kung tumakbo man ito.
Kung hindi si Atty. Brillantes ang nagbigay ng advise na ito kay Panlilio, sinong magaling na legal adviser naman kaya ang nagsabi sa paring pulitikong ito na ito ang dapat gawin ni PGMA? Sino pa nga ba ang magaling na abugado para kay Panlilio?
Dagdag pa, kung masusunod rin ang gusto ng suspendidong paring ito, aba eh di lalo nang nagkagulu-gulo. Isipin na lang natin na kung magreresign si PGMA, ang Vice Presidente ang papalit sa kanya. Aangat ngayon ang Senate President at ito ang magiging Vice President. Magkakaroon ngayon ng botohan kung sino ang magiging Senate President. Haaay, kaunting common sense lang po, Among Ed, please? O baka naman gulo lang talaga ang gusto nyo?
Sinasabi din na kung hindi man legal issue ang dahilan sa pagkwestyon sa hindi pagreresign ni PGMA sa pagkapangulo kung ito ay tatakbo sa Kongreso, ang issue daw ay ethics at delikadesa. Para daw maiwasang magamit ni PGMA ang kanyang posisyon sa ngayon bilang pangulo para makapangampanya at maging patas naman sa mga makakalaban nito, kung saka-sakali.
Sa tingin ko, kung meron dapat nagresign bago nagdesisyong tumakbo para sa anumang posisyon sa gubyerno, ito ay si Panlilio. Hindi lang simpleng ethics at morals ang sinagasaan niya noong tumakbo siya bilang gobernador noong 2007, pati utos ng Diyos at Simbahan ay kinalimutan at tinalikuran niya.
Kung pag-uusapan ang “fairness” sa labanan, masasabi ba nating fair ang naging labanan noong 2007 sa pagitan ng sinasabing “good versus evil”? Habang patuloy na dinemonyo at pinasama ang imahe ng mga kalaban niya, nag-uumapaw naman sa pagkadalisay at pagkabanal ang imahe na pilit ikinabit sa pangalan niya – na sadyang napakadaling gawin, totoo man o hindi, dahil, oo, pari siya.
Siya ang dapat na nagresign sa kanyang posisyon sa Simbahan bilang pari para hindi na niya nakaladkad pa ang Simbahan sa lahat ng kapalpakan na ginawa / ginagawa niya dahil sa kanyang pagtatampisaw sa masalimuot na mundo ng pulitika. Hindi na rin sana siya nakalikha pa ng pagkalito at pagkakahati sa hanay ng mga Katoliko sa kung gaano kasagrado ang pagsunod sa Canon Law bilang isang pari. Mayroon tuloy na mga nakakaisip na “optional” ang pagsunod sa mga probisyon ng batas ng Simbahan, at ang maaring argument ngayon ay, “Bakit si Among Ed hindi naman sumunod sa batas ng Simbahan at utos ng kanyang superiors?”
Kaya sana, Gob, may ilang panahon ka rin namang nalalabi para paglingkuran ang mga Kapampangan. Gawin mo na lang sana ito para hindi naman tuluyang lumabas na nagkalat ka lang sa Kapitolyo at para matuwa rin naman sa iyo ang ating mga kabalen, makuha ang kanilang suporta at pagmamahal. Ito, higit sa lahat ang magiging puhunan mo para sa mga mas matataas mo pang balakin sa pulitika, at hindi ang simpleng paninira at pagbira sa bawat kibo’t kilos ni PGMA para sa lalawigan. #
Hindi “labs” ni Among Ed ang Pampanga
PANLILIO’s LATEST “GOOD GOVERNANCE” STYLE:
Tipirin ang mga mahihirap para tulungan ang mga mahihirap! Ayos!
Noong isang linggo, buong pagmamalaki na inanunsyo ng paring-gobernador Eddie T. Panlilio na “nakatipid” ang kanyang administrasyon ng humigit-kumulang P45 million mula sa kanilang 2008-2009 budget. Hiniling nito ngayon sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan na ilipat na lamang ang “savings” na ito bilang pandagdag sa tulong na ibibigay sa mga biktima ng sunud-sunod na bagyo at baha sa probinsya at sa iba pang items na nangangailangan ng pondo.
Ani Panlilio, “In order to lessen the impact our cabalens have suffered brought by the recent calamities that besieged our province, I have ordered for the implementation of austerity measures in my office and considerably slashed our budget.” [Upang mabawasan ang tindi ng tama ng hirap sa ating mga kababayan dulot ng nagdaang mga kalamidad sa ating probinsya, inutos ko na ipatupad ang mga hakbanging pagtitipid and nagbawas ng malaki mula sa aming budget.]
Sa biglang tingin, parang, “Wow, ang galing naman! Dahil sa pagtitipid ng gobyerno ni Among Ed, mas marami ngayon ang matutulungang mga magsasaka at mahihirap na nabiktima ni Ondoy at Pepeng.”
Makalipas ang ilang minutong pagkatuwa sa “magandang balita” na ito para sa mga biktima ng baha at bagyo, marami ang nagtanong: Paano kaya nagtipid? Ano ang tinipid? Mahusay sana ang pagkaka-kamada kumbaga ng budget nitong si Among Ed para hindi naman matapyasan ang budget na kailangang-kailangan din naman ng ating mga kababayan.
Makalipas ang ilang araw, nalaman natin ang sagot.
Lumalabas na kabilang sa “savings” na binabanggit nitong paring-gobernador ay mula sa pondo na nakalaan para sa Aid to Indigents (tulong sa mga mahihirap) and Aid to Hospitals (tulong sa mga ospital).
Teka, nabawasan na nga ba ang mga mahihirap nating mga kababayan na nagkakasakit at naoospital na lumalapit at humihingi ng tulong mula sa Kapitolyo?
Parang may mali!
Hindi kaya dahil sa sobrang liit o sa sobrang higpit sa pagbibigay ng gobyerno ni Among Ed para sa mga indigent at hospitals for indigents kaya nakatipid ng P4.5million?
O kaya baka tama ang pagtingin ni Provincial Board Member Cris Garbo na sobra-sobra ang hinihinging budget ni Panlilio para sa social services pero hindi naman nito talaga ibinibigay?
Subukan kaya nating magtanong sa mga ospital kung ano ang totoong sitwasyon ng mga kababayan natin doon, at ilan ang mga pasyenteng nangangailangan ng tulong sa pambili ng gamot at iba pang pangangailangan sa pagpapagamot? O kaya tingnan natin ang mga pasilipad at kakayahan at tauhan sa mga ospital na ito upang maayos na makapanggot? Baka malula tayong lahat kapag nalaman natin na kulang na kulang pa nga ang taunang budget na inilalaan ng gobyerno natin para sa mga indigents at mga ospital na ito!
Ewan ko, pero sa pagkakaalam ko, napakarami ng naghihirap nating mga kabalen – sa huling statistics nga ay di bababa sa 40,000 ang pamilyang naghihirap dito, dagdag pa ngayon ang daan-daan libong pamilya na naapektuhan ng bagyo at baha!
Sa tingin ko, hindi na kailangang magyabang pa kapag ginagawa natin ang ating trabaho bilang mga public servants. Lalong hindi na dapat ipangalandakan ito kung palpak ang ating pagtatrabaho. Nakakahiya kasi.
Tama si Vice Gov. Yeng, tama ang “prudent public spending” sa lahat ng pagkakataon – pero not to the expense of depriving the poor of the much-needed funds na talaga namang para sa kanila at kung tutuusin ay kulang na kulang pa nga.
Pero teka, ano nga ba kasi ang ating aasahan pa sa isang administrasyon na pinatatakbo ng isang paring na mas sanay kumabig kaysa magbigay, at ng administrador na nagdudunung-dunungan kaya inaaako ang lahat ng trabaho kung kaya nagkaka-palpak-palpak.
Sana, kahit sa sandaling panahon na lang na natitira para sa Panlilio – Dabu sa loob ng Kapitolyo ay paghusayan naman nila alang-alang sa mga kababayan natin.
The Cost of Doing the Wrong Things
8:05 AMThe Cost of Doing the Wrong Things
THERE are those who seem so sure that they know Gov. Eddie Panlilio well enough to claim that his latest dilemma on the issue of recount is “the cost of doing the right thing”. More than just trying to prove a point, they even went so far as to see Panlilio as the present day Cory Aquino.
I hate burst your bubble, Ms. Eilene Aguila of Kaya Natin! and Kilos Na!, but one of your two favorite governors is not all that you imagine him to be.
If you and your comrades in defense of Panlilio closely followed the promising-turned-disastrous political career of Governor Panlilio, cared to listen to the grievances of the people of what was once a formidable Kapampangan Crusade, or even just spared a few minutes of your time to read the local newspapers of Pampanga as I have, I think you would instead be asking these more objective questions: Can it be that the recount is Panlilio’s problem not only because of the good things he’s not done, but also because of what he didn’t or even failed to do? Can it not be that Panlilio is where he is right now because of the wrong things he’s done?
Think about it.
Panlilio became the governor of Pampanga because the good people of the Crusade who all gave his campaign everything they possibly could – time, skills, talents, creativity, and money. This gave the unknown parish priest a good fighting chance against Pineda and Lapid, and as per official election result (but is now in serious question), he won.
Knowing that the objective of the Crusade did not end with winning the election – with so many things to do and so short a time -- many of the Crusaders continued to pledge their support to the governor in order for him and more importantly, the cause of the Crusade to succeed. Those who could join his Capitol confidence team did, a few hundred became BALAS employees as quarry checkers and supervisors.
Even more others formed themselves into grassroots community-based organizations like those under Kapampangan Marangal, Inc. (KMI) and later Kapampangan Coalition, Inc. (KCI) whose leaders spent hours and hours of their time and also their resources in meetings on how to help in the organizing and consolidation of the people who voted for Panlilio.
Likewise, influential socio-civic groups and NGOs like the ADCL and Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) worked with government agencies to come up with a brilliant research on assessment needs of the province and soon offered the results to the governor as guidance for his own development agenda. The Hizon Family of Pampanga’s Best continued to offer their homes to Panlilio who then thought that his life was in danger.
The above WAS Panlilio’s own solid economic and political base. NOW IT’S GONE.
Soon after the merry month of July 2007 though, it started to get obvious that Panlilio’s appointed Provincial Administrator Atty. Vivian Dabu was the glitch in Panlilio’s expanding base. One blunder after another, worsened by paranoia and a power-puffed head, members of the confidence team and the civil society groups began to question the logic, wisdom and lame excuses of Panlilio in keeping and fighting tooth and nail for Atty. Dabu.
In a year and in succession, Panlilio’s confidence team, most of them in angry tears, left their Capitol posts, their governor, and some even the Crusade altogether. The anti-Dabu sentiment grew into a movement triggered by what she did to the BALAS Boys causing even KMI and KCI to publicly ask Panlilio to remove the Dabu after private consultations and dialogues with the governor failed. At this point, the Crusaders were convinced that Atty. Dabu is not as much a threat to the Kapampangan Crusade as was Panlilio himself.
PANLILIO IS THE PROBLEM, NOT ATTY. DABU, said another priest.
Now ask:
If the governor did not fail in leading and consolidating the people of Pampanga but succeeded instead on losing his allies, making enemies instead of new friends, would he be panicking as he does now about the recount?
Would the P21,000 a day for revisers be an issue? Would he have problems with the legal fees of lawyers?
Would he even need to make unfounded allegations about tampered ballots boxes?
Would it be this difficult for rally organizers to mobilize more than 100 people to attend the protest actions or even need to urge a bishop to attend his press conference in order to prove the immorality and injustice of the recount?
THE ANSWER TO ALL OF THE ABOVE IS NO.
If he hadn’t succeeded in losing majority of his allies and support, the recount would not matter. In fact, there might not even be a recount, with Pineda would see that there was no point to it because the people of Pampanga would fight it, yes, tooth and nail! But as it is turning out, Panlilio does not have a Kapampangan force to speak of. So then!
GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE, MS. AGUILA… as you think aloud in your article as to why bad things happen to good people and painstakingly convince your readers to join KAYA NATIN and KILOS NA! to support Ed Panlilio and your other favorite governor. In fact, it’s what Jesus Christ taught us.
Many are thinking that Panlilio has lost touch of reality. I think now Panlilio has his own reality based on what he believes it to be, no thanks to those who feed him with the wrong brain food.
Shrinks will have a more precise term for it. I can only think of a layman’s version, but I need not say it because you already know it.
For the curious, Ms. Aguila’s article may be found at http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/aug/14/yehey/opinion/20090814opi7.html.
Para kay Gov. Ed Panlilio
3:04 AMPara kay Among Ed Panlilio...
Ang sumusunod ay ang nakasulat na pahayag/paliwanag ni Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio hinggil sa kanyang pasyang tumakbo bilang presidente sa 2010 at ang paghingi nito ng dispensation o pahintulot mula sa Santo Papa na umalis sa pagkapari. Matatagpuan ang kopya nito online sa website ng Kaya Natin!
Minarapat kong i-repost ang pahayag na ito, kalakip ang aking sariling komentaryo para kay Gov. Ed, upang makatulong sa ating mga mambabasa na magbuo ng kanilang sariling pagtingin hinggil sa isyung ito.
Sa tingin ko, ang nakasulat na pahayag na ito ay may layuning ilinaw/ itama ang ilang mga naunang pahayag ni Gov. Ed sa media na nagresulta sa mga headlines tulad ng, “God is calling me to run for President”, “God wants me to run in 2010”, and “Priest chooses politics over God”, bagay na lumikha ng pagbaha ng matindi at negatibong mga reaksyon ng ating mga kababayan. Sana ay hindi mamasamain ng Kaya Natin! at ni Gov. Panlilio ang libreng publicity na ito.
“Panlilio for President?” http://kayanatin.com/blogs/among-ed-for-president/
Noong Martes, inilahad ko po sa isang press conference ang aking hangarin na magpa-file ako ng candidacy para sa pagka-presidente ng ating bansa bago o kaya sa mismong araw ng Nobyembre 30. Mayroon pong natuwa at mayroon namang nagalit.
[Gov Ed, paano naman po matutuwa ang mga nagalit sa inyong deklarasyon eh idinawit ninyo pa ang Panginoon sa inyong political plans nang gamitin ninyo Siyang Top Endorser. Bukod sa nagalit ang mga Obispo ng Pampanga dahil sa hindi kayo tumupad sa usapan ninyo noong pinagbigyan nila kayo noong 2007 sa inyong pangako na tatlong taon lang kayong magpu-pulitiko, aba eh na-question pa tuloy ang katinuan ninyo.]
Gusto ko pong ipaabot sa inyo ang pagpasok ko sa pulitika at pagtakbo sa pagka-presidente ay hindi nagsimula sa akin. Wala naman kasi akong political agenda.[Ano po ang sinasabi ninyong wala kayong political agenda? Hindi po ba ang deklarasyon ng inyong pagtakbo ay isang political endeavor? O non-political na po ba ang pagtakbo sa eleksyon ngayon? Eh ano po ang agenda ninyo, kung ganon? Moral? Spiritual? Parang palabo ng palabo.]
Pinasukan ko ito sapagkat ako ay tumugon sa pangangailangan at sa kahilingan ng mga tao.[Kung totoo man po na hindi nanggaling sa inyo, kayo pa rin naman po ang magdedesisyon kung kayo ay tatakbo o hindi, aalis sa pagkapari o hindi. Sana ay tigilan na natin ang pag-finger point sa kung sino-sino na nagtutulak sa inyo upang tumakbo: una si God, ngayon mga karaniwang naman. Sana, kahit ngayon lang, ay mapanindigan ninyo kung ano talaga ang sa ganang inyo. Hindi po ba para po kayong nag-aaplay sa isang mabigat na trabaho na ang itinuturo ninyong nagtutulak sa inyong mag-aplay ay nanay o tatay, o ate, kuya o kapitbahay ninyo. Pero kayo, hindi nyo naman talaga gusto. Pwede ba ‘yon? At paano kung kayo’y matalo, at tiyak naman iyon, sino ang sisisihin ninyo? Si God? Ang mga nagpatakbo sa inyo? Aba, Harvey Keh at Patrick Pantaleon, maghanda na kayo at baka maririnig ninyo rin sa bandang huli na “Hindi ko naman sinabing suportahan ninyo ako,”, o kaya, “Pinagsisisihan ko na isinama ko pa kayo sa aking team.” Anong klaseng presidente naman ang aasahan namin sa kagaya ninyo kapag ganyan kayo? ]
Noong walang mapiling disenteng alternatibong kandidato sa pagka-gobernador sa Pampanga noong 2007, ako ay nagpasyang kumandidato pagkatapos kong magnilay. Ganito rin ang nangyari sa pagkakataon ngayon. May mga grupo at sektor na wala raw mapiling presidential candidate noong ako ay nilapitan[Gov. Ed, nakakataba nga naman ng puso ang mapili kayo ng ilang mga grupo at sektor na ito na walang mapiling kandidato kundi kayo, ano? Pero teka, gaano po ba kayo kakilala ng mga ito? Ito po ba iyong mga tao na kagaya ko ay hangang-hanga at naluha sa tuwa sa naging tagumpay ng ating Krusada sa Pampanga noong 2007? Alam na po ba nila ang mapait na katotohanan na iilan na lang po sa mga kasamahan natin sa Krusada ang nagtitiwala pa sa inyo? Alam din po ba nila kung bakit ganoon ang nangyari, o your convenient version of truth lang ang nakakarating sa kanila, tulad halimbawa ng “Malakas ang mga kalaban ko, pinagtutulung-tulungan nila ako. Nagamit at nagpagamit ang mga dating supporters at confidence team ko para siraan ako. Ang totoo, I am doing a very good job as a Governor!”?
Gob, sa pagkakakilala ninyo sa iyong sarili, sa inyong mga nagawa, at sa kabila ng nakakalungkot na nangyari sa Krusada at sa Pampanga, hindi po ba nagtataka o nahihiya, kahit kaunti, kung bakit kayo ang napili nila?]
Pagkatapos ko ring magnilay ako ay nagpasyang kumandidato. Kahit pa naman noong nakaraang taon, malimit akong tinatanong kung ako ay hahabol bilang presidente?
Tatlong palatandaan ang aking tinakda:
una, walang ibang nakikitang karapat-dapat na kandidato[Nakapagtataka pero sige na nga, check, sabi ng ilang sektor at grupo, ika n’yo];
pangalawa, suporta ng mga tao[“clamor” at hindi lang simpleng suporta Gov. Ed ang sabi nyo. Nasaan itong “clamor” na ito?]
at pangatlo, kung pagkatapos kong magnilay at nagpasyang tatakbo, kapayapaan ang nadama ko. Ngayon pong nakikita kong nandito na ang mga palatandaang ito, ako ay nagpasya nang tumakbo.
[Simple lang pala ang hinahanap ni Gov Ed na palatandaan para makaramdam ng kapayapaan sa kanyang puso. Aba eh, kahit ilang pirasong tao lang ang magsabi na susuportahan nila ang kanyang kandidatura ay solved na siya, at kahit pa nga higit na napakarami ang galit at hindi sumasang-ayon ay wala siyang pakialam. Ayos yan, Among Ed!]
Sa gitna ng mga nag hihirap at nagugutom na maraming Pilipino, sa paglala ng katiwalian sa pamahalaan at sa paglaganap ng kawalang pag-asa, ito ang panahon na kailangan tayo ng ating Inang Bayan.[Totoo, ito ang panahon para kumilos ang taumbayan upang magkaroon ng tiyak at makabuluhang pagbabago sa ating bansa, maitaas ang antas ng kabuhayan ng mga mahihirap, at buhayin at palaganapin ang pag-asa para sa pagbabagong ito. Pero Gov. Ed, pwede ninyo bang sabihin sa amin: gaano karami po ba ang nabawas sa mga nagugutom sa Pampanga? Mataas po ba ang moral at pag-asa ng mga Kapampangan sa ilalim ng inyong pamumuno? Hindi po ba kabaligtaran ang nangyari sa Pampanga sa inyong inaakalang kayang gawin para sa buong Pilipinas?]
Bilang Pilipino na may malasakit, dapat tayong nakahandang ialay sa bayan ang pinakamainam sa ating sarili. Kung itong pag-aalay ay nangangahulugan na kailangan nating isakripisyo ang ano mang bagay o lahat ng bagay sa atin, mangyari nawa sana ito. Para sa akin, ang sakripisyong tinutukoy ko ay ang paghingi ng DISPENSATION sa Sta. Iglesia sa aking pagkapari. Ito po ay napakalaking bagay para sa akin. Pero maaari ko pong gawin ito. Bakit?
Para sa akin ang pinakapuso ng pagpapari ay pag-aalay ng sarili sa kapwa lalo na sa mga mahihirap at maralita. Ito naman po ay aking ginawa noong ako ay nakadestino sa mga parokya at patuloy kong sinasabuhay nga yong ako ay gobernador. Mas higit ko pa ngang nilalaan ang aking sarili ngayon kaysa noon. Kaya lang po kailangan kong hu mingi ng dispensation upang maipagpatuloy ko ang aking panunungkulan sa pulitika sapagkat ito ang batas ng Sta. Iglesia na kailangan ko itong sundin. Ayaw kong sumuway sa kahilingan ng Iglesia.
Nagpapasalamat po ako sapagkat ang ating Sta. Iglesia ay maunawain. Kung sa bagay naniniwala akong hindi rin naman masama ang aking layunin. Kung ako naman ay bi nabatikos ng iba sa ginawa kong desisyon na ito, nire respeto ko po ang kanilang pahayag at pagtingin. Wala akong galit sa kanila. Tanging hangad ko lang naman ay ako ay manindigan batay sa nakikita kong buhay na dapat ialay upang sama-sama na ting itaguyod ang ating Inang Bayan.
[Gov, kung hindi mo na ramdam ang pagpapari, at ang pagiging pulitiko na talaga ang nasa puso mo, umalis ka na lang, huwag ka nang magpapigil. Huwag mo sanang konsensyahin ang mga kababayan natin para suportahan at iboto ka dahil sa iyong sinasabing “sakripisyo”. Maging totoo ka sa iyong sarili na mas pinili mo na ang buhay sa labas ng Simbahan kaysa sa loob nito. Sana rin ay huminto na rin kayo sa pang-aabuso sa pagiging maunawain ng Simbahan at ng mga Obispo sa ginagawa ninyong paglabag sa inyong mga sinumpaang tungkulin sa Panginoon at sa Simbahang Katoliko bilang isang pari.]
Politics as Vocation, Priesthood as a Fallback Career?
4:30 AMYes, I know all of these are still in the “IF” stages, and I already said much about the infamous “iffishness” of the priest-governor.
My point now is this:
There is nothing minutely spiritual, or moral about Panlilio’s scheme of near-future events. I fail to see his “love for priesthood” over all of this. What is crystal clear is this: Panlilio is, effectively and blatantly trying to make the priestly vocation as nothing more than a fallback career. He wants to get the most out of both worlds!
His decision to seek dispensation for what he claims to be for the “love of country” -- yes, even at the current IF stage -- is the ultimate manifestation that he had chosen the material realm over the spiritual. For Panlilio, the State had become more important than the Church. He now wants to serve the government of man over the government of God. Worldly politics is Panlilio’s new vocation.
In basic organizational principle, to preserve the cohesiveness and unity within, a member who openly violates, no longer believe or adhere to the basic principles of that organization are either asked to resign, or is expelled. In Panlilio’s case, he was lucky to have Archbishop Paciano Aniceto as his immediate superior.
With utmost forbearance, Apung Ceto only suspended Panlilio of his priestly functions despite the latter’s willful disobedience to him as his bishop and for violating the Canon Law.
Back then Panlilio promised Apung Ceto that it will just be for three years.
Also back then, the archbishop must have seen the people’s clamor for Panlilio to run, saw how the laity and even non-Catholics were inspired and were drawn closer to God because of this. There was something positive about Panlilio’s candidacy.
But now, whatever was good about Panlilio’s entry in the political realm in 2007 was already replaced and overwhelmed by the bad. The bishops are very much aware of the growing disillusionment, demoralization, confusion and even the pain that Panlilio is causing the people of Pampanga especially those from the ranks of his once most loyal and committed supporters. They know that something wrong is happening to Among Ed.
Our dear Kapampangan bishops seem to have used every possible means to discourage Among Ed against his political plans. In private, I can imagine that they have done prayer sessions, intercessions, consultations, dialogues. All these obviously did not work.
Perhaps to apply more pressure and to wake Panlilio from his dreamlike state, the Church hierarchy was compelled to openly criticize and reject Panlilio’s plans. (See “Panlilio: It’s back to priesthood if he loses”, PDI, July 21, 2009; “Panlilio angers prelates, Superiors Reject Fr. Ed’s plan to run for president”, PDI July 10, 2009)
Here’s a thought: I think everyone from the Church whose opinion should matter to Among Ed already did what they can to keep him away from the enticing, head-swelling, vanity-building world of politics and of man.
The Gov. Ed Panlilio that you now see is a different man from the Among Ed that we all loved.
I say for the sake of the Roman Catholic Church, for unity and to protect all the Catholics from more shame, shock and demoralization whenever the politician Ed Panlilio blatantly disregard and disrespect you, our dear Bishops, let him be.
Let him be a man of this world that he so chooses to be. Let him learn from his own mistakes and to face the consequences of his own actions.
But don’t, please, allow him to make the priesthood a fallback career.
N.Q. (Not Qualified)
11:51 AMAs of last count, we now have 14 – well, 15 if we include former Pres. Joseph Estrada -- potentially and kinetically energetic aspirants for the May 2010 Presidential elections.
With the latest declarations of intent by KAPATIRAN Party / Olongapo City Councilor J. C. delos Reyes and environmental activist Nicanor Perlas what we now have is a league of one too many presidential hopefuls!
There’s Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, MMDA Chief Bayani Fernando, Sen. Richard Gordon, Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Manny Villar, Sen. Mar Roxas, Sen. Chiz Escudero and Vice President Noli de Castro – all national figures in the Philippine political realm. Also, there’s Perlas and delos Reyes as well as the hoped-fors – meaning still in the process of kumbinsihan -- Chief Justice Renato Puno and Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca. Also, of course, there’s Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, and from the religious / charismatic / Christian movement, Bro. Eddie Villanueva.
Why do I feel as if I am forgetting someone…?
Why, yes, of course, Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, the priest-politician who, four months ago made a startling declaration that he is “open” to run for president in 2010. The same one who, although there’s barely three months to go before the official filing of candidacy begins (November) and less than a month (August) before reaching the Kaya Natin! deadline -- his one and only real offer of support for a somewhat nationwide campaign -- and yet, there he is, taking his own good time to decide if he is serious about his openness or not.
I heard he’s waiting for God’s green light, and he will know this through the following traffic signs:
First, no common reform candidate would arise.
Next, if the people will really clamor for his candidacy.
Finally, if he personally decides to run and find peace in his heart, then he will run.
It is no wonder, the initial media frenzy over the Panlilio for President “movement” (?) was short-lived. Whatever propaganda edge he pulled off over his opponents by using Sun Tzu’s “element of surprise”, it was easily forfeited because of his perpetual dilly-dallying. Now, before he even opens his mouth to let out his once upon a time suspenseful edge-of-your-seat final verdict on his grand political plans, his audience had already grown bored out of their wits and scooted out of the courtroom.
There goes your President, Harvey!
Aside from his indecisiveness, I think it just got too obvious that other than the support of his allies at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Ateneo’s Kaya Natin, and a handful of individuals and organizations here and abroad, Panlilio do not have any reliable base to rely on to sustain a successful presidential bid.
The Kapampangans who should have been his solid political base just isn’t there for him. Aside from the regular praise releases of the PDI for him, what evidence is there of his competence as a local government official and his ability to lead and inspire his constituents in Pampanga, much more, the whole country?
Sadly, he had overestimated his electoral victory in 2007. The loyalty and unbelievable commitment that he then enjoyed from the Kapampangan Crusaders is gone. Whatever support he relied on at that time, he had almost completely squandered. This is, and will always be a huge dilemma for the Panlilio for President prime-movers because there is no hiding of the fact from the rest of the country that Panlilio’s very own kabalens does not have any confidence in him.
Neither could he rely on the open support of the leadership of the clergy and the laity of the Catholic Church. Bishop Ambo David’s latest admonition to the laity was against the pushing of Panlilio to pursue his political plans instead of honoring the 3-year agreement that he Apung Ceto had in 2007. This practically stopped at its track any plans Panlilio might have to maximize for his political campaign whatever’s left of his priestly influence over the Catholic laity.
Consistently, Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz stood ground on his view that priests should not hold any public office. Not only does he believe that a priest-politician is “an anomaly” to the Church, urged Panlilio that he should seek complete dispensation from his priesthood if he will run for president, but more so, Bishop Cruz also questioned his ability and competence as governor. To all these valid issues, Panlilio treated the good Bishop as if he belongs to the “enemy” camp.
Quickly settling the matter, and to Panlilio’s dismay, the CBCP quickly gave its clear-cut pronouncement of non-support for Panlilio’s candidacy and even affirmed Bishop Cruz’ recommendation of seeking for dispensation.
Now, even the dean of Ateneo de Manila University School of Government (AdMU-ASoG) Atty. Tony La Vina, in his recent piece which I by the way stumbled upon in one of my rare Facebook moments, made these observations that I found interesting, considering that the ASoG people knows who and what Among Ed is a governor.
He wrote: “We should acknowledge that, given their lack or limited governance record, the country is also taking a risk with these reformers.”
He said that preferred that Panlilio finish the three terms as Governor (Vina, 2009).
So now, Gov. Ed, in the embarrassing absence of a peoples’ clamor for you to run, with the orders of the Bishops for you to be done with your political adventure and return to the priesthood as you promised, as well as the knowing advise of your ASoG dean who was too kind and diplomatic to tell you that you are N.Q. to be the next president of this country, what does your heart tell you?
NO PUSHING
2:05 PMWith mixed feelings, I am still trying to digest the recent admonition of Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David against those who are said to be pushing Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio to pursue his political plans despite the latter’s foremost desire to return to the priesthood.
For someone who has been so makulit in asking, nay, begging Among Ed to step down from the Capitol and go back to being a parish priest (for the sake of the Church, the province, the country and yes, himself), I was excited to read about it. The truth is, I even did an en mass e-mailing of that news article to the said “pushers”, hoping that since this time it is the Bishop himself who is telling them to wave goodbye to their political illusions for Among Ed, they would surely pay attention and think, being good Catholics as most of them are. Although, just to be super sure, I had my fingers especially crossed and used them to hit my Iphone’s Send E-mail button!
My initial glee was replaced with uncertainty when I had more time to think about the news report.
I thought: instead of pointing the gun, so to speak, at the “pushers”, why doesn’t Bishop Ambo just make Among Ed stop at feeding wild ideas on these poor, in tenterhooks, wide-eyed lot, and once and for all declare that he will no longer run for any public office because he will be returning to the priesthood as soon as his 3-year priestly leave / suspension (?) / term as governor is over? Priesthood is, after all, his “first love”, yes?
Of course, to the “pushers”, that might come out as brutal – like a bride jilted on her wedding day because her groom had ran off with the bride’s maid. But then, somebody tell me, what other choices are there, really?
Unless Among Ed immediately – as in yesterday – stop these hope-yielding stints below, the pushers and prodders will hold on to the belief that Among Ed will indeed run and they will follow his lead.
· Speak about his priesthood in nostalgic mode: “Priesthood is my first love, but I’m really enjoying what I am doing now”;
· Make tantalizing statements like, “I am passionate about governance,” “I am open to taking up the challenge,” “Open ako, noh, sa pagtakbo bilang presidente,”, “I would offer myself again for the province or the country…” , “My entry to the political arena was an answer to a need—the need for an alternative candidate that could govern the province with moral ascendancy. And I might consider running again next year if the same call arises,”
· Making “papogi” threats published by the national dailies that he would push for the prosecution of Pres. Arroyo for corruption; (which he would 2 days later retract at the local dailies which none of his “pushers” probably read);
· He is doing double time in roaming around the country (just like all the other Presidential aspirants) as if he is already on a nationwide campaign trail to make himself known and his presence felt; (note: Panlilio was even quoted to have admitted that because he is doing a lot of work in Manila, he had been failing to do his work properly by “not being aware of the current realities” of the incomplete DBM requirements that caused further delays in the approval of the 2009 provincial budget.)
Ultimately many times more qualified than Panlilio, Isabela Governor Grace Padaca had it so right when she refused to comment on her political plans despite the media prodding. She said she did not want to condition the minds of the voters.
Bishop Ambo, mind-conditioning is exactly what your dear brother-priest Ed is doing to the people, especially his supporters – the very same people who are “pushing” Gov. Ed only because he is pushing them to push him to pursue his political plans.
So yes, please, and hurry, Apung Ambo, do tell Gov. Ed: No pushing!