N.Q. (not qualified)
four days before Panlilio again declared that he "might" be running for president...)
As 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?
As 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?
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