Mirage!

IF THERE is anyone who would identify with priest-politician Gov. Ed Panlilio’s continuing dilemma of whether he would abide by the Canon Law or his own political ambition, it would certainly be this Arnold van Vugt, the writer of Inquirer’s Letter to the Editor, “Panlilio for President, why ever not?” published on May 5. 

Apparently, Arnold van Vugt is a Mindanao-based Dutch citizen who came to the Philippines in 1961 as a Carmelite priest. Having fallen in love with a Filipina, he opted to get married on 1988 and is no longer a priest. Instead, he and his wife now play an active role among the Carmelite lay-associate circle as members of the Archdiocesan Apostolate for Good Governance. 

I have not personally met and talked with Mr. Van Vugt, but if I were a priest who has been battling with the Canon Law, although perhaps for a more personal reason like for instance, right to marry, rather than political one, I would also sympathize and would definitely mobilize all the support I can muster for Gov. Ed. 

But then again, if I would want to marry or become a politician, I would never dare enter priesthood knowing that I won’t be allowed to do so. See what I mean?

 Although based only on his writings as a local newspaper columnist of Cagayan de Oro, as a soldier of Christ and a defender of the poor, I respect former-Father Van Vugt. His observations of our country, people and culture are poignant and sharp, having been here in the Philippines and serving our countrymen for almost 50 years, making him more Filipino than some. 

However, I think his support for Among Ed for President is sadly misguided if it is only based on the supposed record of the governor on “honesty, integrity and political will,” ideal characteristics which most Kapampangans know to be nothing more than a mirage created out of despair. 

We Filipinos have become, for very good, urgent and real reasons, so desperate and thirsty for an ideal leader that, almost like a man dying from thirst stranded on the worst desert on earth and begins to imagine seeing an oasis even when there is none. 

If only on the basis of his track record on the governance of Pampanga, Governor Ed does not have what it takes to be the President of this country. Like I always say, it would be good for any avid supporters of Governor Ed to at least learn about the real situation in Pampanga before they pledge their all-out support for him, and not inadvertently do more harm than good to our country and people that is already suffering as it is. 

It would also be wise not to rely simply on the reports of some national daily newspaper that to begin with is guilty of misguiding the Filipino people into believing that priest-politician Gov. Ed is “the one”, the Messiah, the Oasis that we need. 

To somehow prove my point, this published letter to the editor by Mr. Van Vugt was most probably emailed to the PDI on March 25, the day my columnist friend Tony Abaya of another newspaper received the same. For some reason (to spin, most likely), editors of the above mentioned national daily decided to publish it on the same day another letter to the editor, this time by a Kapampangan who believes that Panlilio is nothing more and have done nothing more than any ordinary and traditional governor have for his province and constituent. 

A brief look at the local news in Pampanga would give any one a glimpse on what Panlilio’s governance is all about. It is marred by incompetence, petty projects, disillusionment of most of his supporters because of his arrogance, intransigence, and one-sidedness – mostly in favor of his administrator, Atty. Vivian Dabu. 

An even deeper investigation would not only prove this but would result to frustration to the supporters of Among Ed, as what happened to the group of Patrick Pantaleon who after their consultation with Mrs. Lolita Hizon (Among Ed’s number one financial contributor) and the former supporters of Gov. Ed went tearfully home after they learned that Gov. Panlilio is not what the most read national daily have fabricated him to be. But they still support him. 

Blind loyalty ??? Magic of a Priest ??? 

Yes, once a priest always a priest. I think that is exactly what Apung Oscar and Apung Ceto meant when they said that there is no such thing as a priest on leave and that priests are not of this world, but a spiritual one. If anyone would want to serve the people as a government official, then let that one be not a priest. And if we wish to volunteer anyone to serve as the President of our country, it should be someone who genuinely bears the character of honesty, integrity and political will. 

Published by the Central Luzon Daily, may 10, 2009