The Sound of Silence

American President Richard Nixon first popularized this political phrase in 1969 when he claimed that those who did not join the raging debate and the mounting protests against the Vietnam War made up the great silent majority and this majority supported his pro-war stance. 

Nixon believed that this silent majority were merely “overshadowed by the more vocal minority” of the American population. 

Itong silent majority daw po na ito ay ang mas nakararami pero sinasarili lamang ang kanilang opinyon. Samantala, ang “vocal minority” ay mas kakaunti pero maingay sa paglalahad ng kanilang opinyon sa publiko. Kumbaga, ginamit ni Nixon ang strategy na ito upang kumbinsihin ang mga tao na huwag makinig sa opinyon ng iba pa na tutol sa mga patakaran nya. 

I don’t know how the 224,000 who signed the recall petition would take this, but when Panlilio said he has the backing of the silent majority who are for good governance, is he also saying that those of us who want to put an end on his flailing leadership and administration do not want good governance in Pampanga? So what is it that we want? A bad one? One that is corrupt and incompetent? 

Surely, he is not saying that, “If you don’t vote against my recall, I, Among Ed Panlilio, the one and only representative of goodness in governance in Pampanga, then you are all evil.” Or is he? 

Panlilio is banking so much on the silent majority, how can he be so sure that it is his version of “good governance” – one that is believed by many as highhanded, arrogant and pretentious – has the support of the majority and not the good governance that, say, Vice Governor Yeng Guiao espouses? 

Let us be concrete. 

Panlilio, then or now, never really had the backing of any Kapampangan majority, silent or otherwise. He was a minority winner with a little over 1,147 lead against his closest contender. The total number of voters for the position of governor in the 2007 election was 1,128,706. Panlilio was only able to get 219,706 votes or 19% of it. Although running for a different position, more people voted for Vice Governor Yeng Guiao at 293,826. 

Seemingly, it’s a senseless comparison of figures. However, on a one-on-one bout for the gubernatorial post between Guiao and Panlilio, it begins to sound logical.  With the latter petitioned for recall by 224,000 registered voters, less the hundreds of disenchanted former campaigners, minus the thousands of more enlightened voters who will never again dare vote for a priest, how many votes would then be left for Panlilio? Haaayy, if only those who are far away from Pampanga and does not really know about your (un)good governance can vote for a Pampanga Governor… right Among Ed? 

Another point, the majority of those (us) who did give an “all-out, taya-pato” support for Panlilio in the 2007 election maybe silent now, but I can assure you that it is not out of concurrence with his leadership and administration of the Capitol and the province, but because of disillusionment and frustration with him. Well, why not? Instead of firing up their zeal and enthusiasm even further to participate in institutionalizing good governance in the province, Panlilio’s closed-mindedness and self-righteousness as well as his unjustifiable amor for Dabu have absolutely demoralized them. 

Some of them are even opting to stay away from any involvement in politics altogether, including fellow Crusaders and socio-civic-minded Kapampangans. Knowing how hard these men and women worked during the campaign and how much more of themselves were they willing to offer Among Ed for his administration to succeed, this is sad for the Krusada and for Pampanga. 

Here’s one that is for the books: He treated the ORIGINAL BALAS BOYS like dirt. Many of these boys were ex-seminarians who were lured with promises of three golden years for Pampanga. They were the genuine heroes of the spectacular quarry collections. After collecting almost P1 million a day, they were forced to resign or were fired before Christmas leaving their families hungry during the holidays. 

I wish somebody to whom Gov Panlilio really listens to would tell him this: it would be unwise to claim that he has the complete backing of the majority. He never did, and he never will, not while he carries on with the belief that he is never wrong especially in his decision to keep the lady administrator by his side. 

Ang resulta po ng recall election ang tanging makapagsasabi kung ano ang tunay na saloobin ng nakakararami. Kaya naman hindi dapat pinipigilan ang election na ito, bagkus ay pinapabilis pa nga upang agad na maganap. Unless, of course, what Gov Panlilio wants is for the majority to remain silent so that he could keep the illusion that he has their support. 

Enough with the delaying legal tactics and let the people of Pampanga get on with the recall. Let us see if Gov. Panlilio’s silent majority is kathang isip or totoo.