ACT DUMB

Gov. Ed Panlilio said that it hit him that politicians “get kinder” when election time draws near. It’s but natural for any person, not just politicos like himself, to put their better foot forward when they are after something.

Ito naman si Among oh, parang hindi tao na naghangad,nangarap o umibig.

I am certain that at some point of his life, he did his own share of wooing, and took efforts to look and act his best, make the best impression, especially if there were competitors vying for the sweet “yes” of the lucky lady.

When he was running for governor in 2007, his image makers worked wonderful miracles so he would look his kindest, nicest and cleanest.

Also, back then, I remember he was always naturally very kind to Jun and Lolita Hizon and their children - Darius (his chief security), Barangay Chair Jomar, Doll and the rest of the Hizon Clan in whose houses (4) he stayed during the campaign & after the election, the lady volunteers (Myrna Bituin, Tess Guanzon, Agnes Romero, Leleng Santiago, Tess Briones, Tootsie Herrera, Nina Saplala, Nina Tomen, Janet Mallari, Lilian Limjoco, among others), Rene Romero and all the other big financial backers - of course the Davids of Betis (Bishop Ambo, Atty. Dante David, Randy). The men I saw with him every evening - Marny Castro, Tatang Fer Caylao, the ex-seminarians and youth volunteers - Archie Reyes, Rop Syquia, Alex Pineda, Ave Laquindanum Patrick Guanzon, Noynoy Santiago, John Sambo, and many others.

Sadly, though, like most wooers who make promises of sun and moon, they fall short, and worst, renege.

KUDOS is in order to Atty. Vivian Dabu for finally getting her salaries. So all this time she is not getting her salary, she is a volunteer staff of the government? Double congratulations to her and Among Ed for probably avoiding possible legal repercussions for holding too much power despite the “volunteer” status. Or am I speaking too soon?

POINT IS, THERE IS NO POINT

What really is the point of the well-crafted July 1 PUNTO! story of Panlilio’s friend Ms. Tonette Orejas on “PRIEST in POLITICS: No graft in 2 years”?

That priests are able to resist temptations, they live simply and they are good at making sacrifices? Ok copy. But aren’t these some of the basic traits any priest, not just Among Ed, should have for them to actually become priests? And with his campaign line of moral, ethical and responsible leadership, the Capampangans were made only to expect as much and maybe even more.

That “Pwede pala!”, a graft-free government is doable, or that it is doable because the leader is a priest? Come on, pari nga sya eh. If there is any current government office in any part of this country that should be graft free, it is that one ran by a priest-governor. Why would he allow it?

But wait, why is the leadership standard limited to plain and simple living? Why not excellence, professionalism and effective governance?

CONDESCENDING: By implication, nakakalungkot itong mga realizations ni Among Ed sa dalawang taon niyang paglalaro sa Capitolio. It is a reflection of one or two things about the priest-politician: one, he feigns ignorance about the man’s nature at the expense of others. Two: he probably thinks all the employees of the Capitol are corrupt and inefficient that he is so amazed about the fact the “Pwede pala!” silang maging malinis at masipag.

Ano ba yan!

YOU MIGHT BE A DIE-HARD GOV. ED FAN IF...

You come up with an online survey on your website on whether controversial Provincial Administrator Atty. Dabu should be fired from her job but cancel the same survey just when everybody is checking the Yes answer because well, you didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

You unceasingly cite your favorite Bible story David versus Goliath when people ask how Gov. Ed plans to win the 2010 presidential election without the machinery, money, and the votes.

You question the credibility of a survey on presidential wannabes because results shows Gov. Ed’s name at the very end of the list getting a measly 0.2%.

You vehemently agree that Atty. Vivian Dabu is the ONLY person in Pampanga who can do the job of a Provincial Administrator, and nobody else!

You brag about the “achievements” of Gov. Ed but purposely do not read the local dailies in Pampanga showing the real score there because you believe that all the local journalists are paid publicists of the Lapids, Pinedas and Arroyos.

Grabbing every chance you get, you don’t forget to quote Gov Ed’s P1 million per day quarry tax collection but purposely forget to mention that it stopped being that a long, long time ago.

You feel sorry but hold grudges against the former confidence team members who has left Gov Ed’s side because of Atty. Dabu, thinking, “Oh those poor misguided, incompetent people, they just couldn’t keep up with the pressure.”

You think all the criticisms and bad news against Gov. Ed are untrue, fabricated, imagined and exaggerated because Gov Ed is oh so perfect!

Now, you really are a Gov Ed die-hard fan if…

You secretly accept a brown paper bag full of money from an unknown man while in Malacanang, if caught, hold a national press conference and ask the Office of the President to issue you an official receipt.

You tell the whole world that it seems you were bribed, but only after you spend some of it. Goodbye, evidence!

You are the governor but you are “not privy” to the provincial investment plans. AYOS!

Because you are so humble, you refuse to put your name on the government projects billboards but it’s perfectly alright to put a nice Borj Meneses’ photo shot of your smiling face on all of them.

You enter into a commitment via a dialogue with protesting BALAS employees but four days later forget all about it and ask, “Did I really say that? Show me the minutes!”

You insist on being a priest but you don’t want the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary at your office, and if asked, just say “Oh, I now keep her in my room to get closer to her,” thinking the Mama Mary’s devotees will love that!

Knowing there will be a big rally of incensed truckers against a new Capitol policy, and you know they would definitely demand for a dialogue, you immediately call all the media people available to come to your office and then shut the door and have your bodyguards ready. When the rallyists come up, knock loudly because you just won’t open your double-locked door, go tell the media: “Oh look, they want to attack me!”

You agree to the Governor's move to have former PNP Provincial Director Keith Singian fired because he did not rush to the Governor's Office to "protect Panlilio" from the imaginary "attackers".

(To be continued)

TO the readers: Thanks for the emails and the wonderful ideas and keep them coming! You might also want to email me your own versions of “You might be a die-hard fan of Gov Ed if…”.

TAMA LAGI SILA, MALI TAYO LAGI  

For alledged  illegal quarrying, Provincial Administrator/ "governor" Atty. Vivian Dabu virtually accused City of San Fernando’s well-loved dad, Mayor Rodriguez.  He is the latest victim of the ironhanded couple who manages the province of Pampanga.

 Basta tama sila, lagot tayo!!!

The very same accusation was received by then newly appointed CDC President Benigno Ricafort last September. Nag i-illegal quarrying daw siya sa loob ng Clark Dev Corp.

But the first victim of this outrageous allegation was Cabalantian Barangay Captain Jomar Olalia Hizon who, in his desire to save his barangay from the historical floodwaters of an undesilted Gugu River, was fined by Panlilio ASAP without due process. He was charged with illegal extraction and quarrying and had to pay P105,000 as fine and penalty.

 Habang nangyayari ito noong December 2007, si Governor Panlilio ay nakikitira sa kapatid ni Kap Jomar. Kumakain ng kilo-kilong Pampanga's Best products araw-araw mula noong kampanya hanggang matapos manalo. 

Ano na lang na binulungan at pinasabi na kailangan siyang makausap at ipaliwanag ang perception na nag-i-illegal quarrying sya? 

Bakit hindi tanungin muna kung tutoo ba itong mga akusasyong ito. 

Masama bang tanungin si Kap na anak ng pinakamalaking campaign financier ni Panlilio kung bakit siya pinagbibitangan ng illegal quarrying?? 

Masama bang tanungin ang anak ng may-ari ng 4 na bahay kung saan nagtago si Panlilio sa kanyang mga imagined assasins?

Masama bang tanungin ang anak ng bumili ng bulletproof car para sa kanya kung ano ang nangyayari? 

Kailangan bang agad pagbintangan at hatulan ang isang halal ng bayan na nagmamalasakit lamang sa mga kabarangay na maaring malunod at masiraan ng mga tahanan kung mag-overflow ang Gugu River?

To the non-Pampanguenos like Harvey Keh of Kaya Natin!, Liberal Party stalwarts and other extremist and purist groups, the couple Dabu and Panlilio are doing great in governance of Pampanga as even as the two rigidly implement  the “follow the law i.e. us or we will put you to jail” system.

It is more than unfortunate that they feel that way about Panlilio and lure him for higher political posts.

A very experienced priest, more mature than Panlilio by a long mile, Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr, in his Manila Standard column earlier this month gives us good insights about political and moral realities of our country, about the law of gradualness.

The good bishop wrote: The law of gradualness means that we human beings who are weak and sinful move to moral perfection only gradually. People, especially confessors and counselors should take this reality seriously. The gradualness of the law, on the other hand, means that the law should not be considered binding on those who are still weak and unable to comply with the law perfectly. The Pope rejects this gradualness of the law, while making allowance for the weakness of those who are unable to keep it perfectly.

All right-minded and good-hearted Filipinos will want to eliminate corrupt politicians and corrupt practices immediately, if possible. But sometimes, we have to consider whether the total and immediate elimination of corrupt practices and people may be ill-advised and cause greater harm in the long run. Should we perhaps tolerate some corrupt practices and politicians while working to gradually eliminate them from our political system?

I know that it may not be easy to discern when tolerance of a necessary evil is called for, and when the law of gradualness should be applied. But I submit that being a good political party does not mean that all the candidates of the party are pure, or that being a good governor means that no corrupt practices are tolerated at all. Good politics is the art of the possible, and correct compromises are also part of good politics.

Sa pagkakaintindi ko, ang sinasabi po ni Bishop ay ito: Kung gusto mong maghatid at makakita ng makabuluhan at pangmatagalang mga pagbabago, kailangan mong maunawaan na pahakbang – hakbang mo itong aasahan, pagtutulung-tulngan, at makakamit. Mali na mag-impose ng mga patakaran at maggubyerno ng hindi nagko-complement sa objective realities sa isang takdang panahon, lugar at stage ng moral / political development ng mga tao.

Lalong mali at walang magagawang mabuti ang DABU-PANLILIO partnership kung ang kanilang pinaniniwalang paraan upang maganap ang mga pagbabago ay pabastos. 

Ibang biblia binabasa ng dalawang ito !!!

Nakakalungkot !!!