The moral alternative

“O my people, you know that I have never wanted to intervene in matters of state: do you think I would do so now, if I did not see that it was necessary for the health of your souls?...Your reform must begin with the things of the spirit, which are above the material, of which they are the rule and the life; and your temporal good must serve your moral and religious welfare, on which it depends. And if you heard say that states are not ruled by paternosters, remember that this is the rule of tyrants, or the enemies of God and the commonweal, the rule for oppressing and not for raising and liberating the city. If you desire a good government you must restore it to God. Surely, I should not meddle in state matters, if this were not so.”
AN image of a resurgent Padre Damaso loomed large in Pampanga amid indignant cries of Church and State separation in the wake of the announcement of the Rev. Fr. Eddie Panlilio that he would run for governor as the “alternative moral choice.”
On my mind though, it was the image of the Dominican reformer Fra Girolamo Savonarola that flashed, with full recall of his compelling mission – quoted above – in taking over the government of Florence in 1494. Most pointedly so, as I read Fr. Ed’s take on his new vocation: “I have heeded the clamor of the laity to serve God’s people by running for public office. An extraordinary situation like that in Pampanga requires a radical option.”
First, a crash course on one of the most colorful men of the Renaissance.
A gifted preacher, Savonarola, the Prior of San Marco, electrified and terrified the Florentine faithful with his fiery sermons warning of an impending doom, a castigo de Dios, for the moral corruption, decadence and degeneracy of the people.
Riding on the French intervention in Florence in 1494 that ousted the ruling Medici family – in fact deeming it as God’s retribution – Savonarola attempted to establish a theocratic government, seeing himself as a prophet sent by God himself to pronounce judgment on Italy, on Mother Church herself.
Of Pope Alexander VI, the Friar reportedly wrote: “I testify, in verbis Domini, that this Alexander is no Pope, nor can be considered such, since, leaving aside his most execrable sin of simony, by which he bought the Papal throne and daily sells ecclesiastical benefices to the highest bidder and his other manifest vices, I affirm that he is no Christian and does not believe in God, which passes the limit of every infidelity.”
The Borgia pope promptly caused his excommunication in 1497 which validity the Friar vehemently denied.
It was this intransigence and defiance that turned popular feeling against him, leading to his arrest, torture, trial and conviction. Condemned to death for heresy and schism, he was hanged and then burned on May 23, 1498, four months short of his 46th birthday.
No, I am not saying that Fr. Ed is Savonarola’s second coming.
Though not my contemporary in the minor seminary, he has long been a good friend. I chose him to be the godfather of the most scholarly brilliant of my children, who, incidentally, has ceased to believe in the Catholic Church. Through no fault of Fr. Ed’s, though.
The contest between Gov. Mark Lapid and Board Member Lilia “Baby” Pineda has been looked at, ab initio, as a fight between two evils – illegal quarry collections against illegal gambling. Leaving the electorate no option but to go for what they perceive as the lesser evil.
Religious and civil society groups believed Pampanga voters – for all their vaunted intelligence and moral uprightness – deserve the best, not among evils, but of the bests. Thus, what better candidate than a revered Father.
Even casting aside the Savonarola story, there still obtains fear in my heart of hearts. With Fr. Ed’s joining the political fray, there could be polarization – schism would be too strong a word – not only among the clergy but in the Church in Pampanga herself. And the increasingly heated debates on the separation of Church and State are mere manifestations of a widening partisan divide among the faithful.
Already there are a number of priests who have expressed disapproval of his decision to run.
One canon lawyer even went to say that Fr. Ed should “have himself defrocked before entering electoral politics.”
Fr. Ed has said that he would ask Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto to grant him a “temporary dispensation from priestly ministry while I try to fulfill this obligation.”
It is an open secret too that a great number of the clergy support the candidacy of their “Nanay Baby.” How will they now position themselves vis-à-vis Fr. Ed’s gubernatorial aspiration.
I dread to hear from Fr. Ed the lamentation of Savonarola over the inter-monastic jealousies of his time: “Filii matris mea pugnaverunt contra me” (The sons of my mother fight against me)?
Then comes the most important question: Are the people of Pampanga – with all their dissatisfaction over their political leaders – ready for a Reverend Governor, err, Governor Reverend?
And, lest we forget, consider the requisites to winning elections: money, men, money, machinery, money, money, money. How will Fr. Ed fare?
Of course, firm believers as we are, miracles can – and still do – happen. Godspeed, Fr. Ed.

A remarkable woman

THAT Madame Maria Teresa A. Laus was declared Franchisee of the Year 2007 in ceremonies attended by no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself did not come as a surprise to me and to the other trustees of the Society of Pampanga Columnists.

The wonder is why the recognition of our acclaimed Muse came only now.

Before Madame Tess, any mention of Max’s in Pampanga referred only to whatever belonged to that popular mediaman surnamed Sangil, who was also top Angeles City councilor and one-time city mayor by-succession. Mr. Max is currently director of both CDC and CIAC, among other positions of prominence.

With Madame Tess, Max’s referred only to that restaurant that served more than sarap-to-bones fried chicken most-frequented by families, friends, lovers and other strangers in search of the finest Filipino cuisine.

There’s the Midas touch in Madame Tess: anything she gets her hands into turn to surely profitable enterprises. Look how Max’s mushroomed in Pampanga – from Villa del Sol along the GSO Road to Dau in Mabalacat, SM City San Fernando, SM City Clark – and beyond – Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija.

Of late, Madame Tess has replicated her Max’s experience with the Japanese specialty food restaurant Teriyaki Boy, now at the two SM malls here.

Madame Tess being franchisee of the year is remarkable enough. That is long given, the late recognition notwithstanding.

But Madame Tess is more than an outstanding creature of commerce. It is in the social – diametrically opposed to the sosyal -- field of human endeavor that makes her a truly remarkable woman, yes, a woman of substance, as I heralded her in that 2004 commentary in Sun Star Pampanga when I tried, in vain, to convince her to give the City of San Fernando mayorship a try. That was before Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez decided to make a go for it himself, if I may add.

It really makes the heart grow fonder of this exalted woman, seeing her cross the societal divide to interact with a street urchin selling boiled peanuts, in animated talk with a buko juice vendor by the roadside, or on first name basis with the green mangoes and bagoong seller at the streetcorner.

So, how often do you see the perfumed set mingling with the great unwashed?

In Madame Tess, there is absolutely none of the effete snobbishness that is a shibboleth of wealth, new-found wealth particularly. Else, she would not have been made the darling of the mostly paisano Pampanga press.

A woman of independent means too, Madame Tess is deeply involved in the preservation of the city cultural heritage as well as in tourism, being head of the City Tourism Council.

Pride in the Fernandino, of his glorious past, of his prospering present, of his brighter future is the core value imbibed by Madame Tess in these endeavors.

A remarkable woman. Madame Tess would make the best Laus in politics. In the most positive sense of the word – in the service of the body polity.

‘Tis pity, indeed, she ain’t running. But the son is. And that makes another story.

How to lose

AT this early, when the campaign for local positions is yet to start, there are already a number of candidates seemed destined to lose. No thanks to campaign inanities and plain stupidities.
How would you make of this political dwarf whose sole reason for running is: Subukan yu na ku man pu. Makiliwas ku mu, emblazoned in those large white, blue and yellow streamers.
No legislative agenda, no program of government. Just plain give-me-my-turn. As if he had a right to the position. As if the congressional post were a matter of reliyebo.
Try something more imaginative, boy. Like Malunus na ko pu. Patakmanan yu na ku mang panyambut. Sinawa na ku pung masasambut. Unoriginal, yes. But it worked wonders for John Santos to the provincial board in 1992 and Jay Sangil to the Angeles City council in 2004.
The Goebbelsian dictum on the lie – that which is constantly repeated becomes truth – works only in the realm of idiots or those deprived of the means to information, as in the totalitarian milieu .
Thus, the salutations to Gov. Mark Lapid for making Pampanga among the “Top Ten” provinces in the Philippines in “good governance” fell flat as bare-faced deception. The period covered in the report – as checked in the internet by Joel Mapiles and a thousand others – was 2002-2003. Before the reported impregnator of a far-from-famous starlet became governor.
So, go on with the lie. But remember the truth will never be far behind, in the cited case, a mouseclick behind.
Corollary to the lie is the practice of local politicos to arrogate unto themselves – impact upon their sorry mugs, pointedly – the handsome faces of movie stars.
So Mayor Boking Morales always gets away with his Gabby Concepcion-look-alike teasers. So, not every politico is like Boking, in ways more than one. Who could ever approximate his four successive terms in a republic that limits these terms to three? Sige nga.
“Deadringering” the countenance of an abnoy to that of actor Bong Revilla or Richard Gomez is the ultimate in suspended disbelief. Not to mention the grandest insult to the actors, nay, to beauty itself.
You, aesthetically-challenged, learn from Mayor Tirso Lacanilao. The self-effacing pogi parlayed his un-beauty to three full terms in Apalit. A sampler: “Sasabyan da pu deng kalaban ku, lupa kung kabayu. Mangalaram la pu ren. Ikayu mismu, akakit yu, kalupa kung tsonggo.”
Go down to earth guys, accept the face God gave you. You have no one to blame but your genes. Or, go to Belo or Calayan before facing the electorate.
Then there is the comebacking mayor who wanted to consolidate into his camp a group of tricycle drivers who believed they were “deprived” of their waiting shed by the incumbent.
With the enticement of gift checks from a supermarket – no, not SM or Robinsons – the trykies gathered at a village green and patiently tolerated the hour-long harangues of the wishful returnee against his opponent. At the end of an eternity of vitriol, 50 pesos were given each of the hundred or so attendees, a raffle was held with 20 plastic bags of pebble-strewn low-quality rice and 10 gift checks worth P300 each as the prizes.
No need to guess the utter consternation, err, dismay, err, wrath of the tricycle drivers against this comebacking fellow. The once hated incumbent now the more desirable candidate.
“Sinira na neng dok ing aldo mi, ininsultu na ke pa,” spat Emoy, the TODA treasurer in my subdivision.
As the campaign period approaches there will be more unraveling of idiocies and scenes of comedies among the candidates. This is a circus, remember?
++++++++
BACK ON AIR. Taking off from our Alas 4 Na! in 2004 to 2005 which went off dead with colleague Ody Fabian, Alas 8 Na! started broadcasting March 12, 8:00-9:00AM over 792 DWGV-AM. This paper’s editor Ashley Manabat is my co-anchor.
Also coming on-air is Pulitika at Iba Pa dusted from 2000 vintage with the dear departed Roy David and Ody. To be simulcast over GV-AM and FM Mondays and Fridays, 9:00-10:00AM.
Your feedback, opinions, say-so are all welcome.

The never were

JUST like the martyred Ninoy Aquino before him, Raul Roco – it was so lamented – was the best president the Philippines never had.
It seems like every field of endeavor, politics primarily, is peopled with never weres. Meaning those who could have made a hell – or a heaven, more likely – of a difference, but for some twists of fate or turns of destiny did not.
The erudite Estelito Patdu Mendoza would have been easily the best senator of the country, law being the very essence of, well, his being.
Bar topnotcher Lorenzo “Lolong” Timbol could have been the best elected mayor Angeles City ever had or Pampanga’s best representation at the Batasang Pambansa.
Gentleman Abong Tayag would have given Lolong a run for his law books on the best-mayor-Angeles-never-had title
The charismatic Cicero J. Punzalan would have made the best elected governor of Pampanga, the best congressman of the third district, the best re-elected vice governor of Pampanga, the best vice mayor of San Fernando.
The regal Cielo Macapagal-Salgado without doubt would have been a shoo-in too as best governor of Pampanga. Ditto the late Virgilio “Baby” Sanchez who could also have made a best City of San Fernando vice mayor, circa 2004.
Andrea Dizon Domingo, the brilliant immigration commissioner and one-time congresswoman, would have most certainly made best City of San Fernando mayor. Didi’s son, Doc Eric, best third district congressman.
Of course, perennial vice mayor Ely “Tiger” Lagman could have contested Aling Didi’s best mayor title, being a breath away from the mayorship for the longest of time.
Sometimes, no, oftentimes, things that happened just were not meant for some people. Lost opportunities and untapped potentials being as much integral in economics as in politics.
Alas, poor Don Pepito, we can only find solace in that elegy of Thomas Gray: “Full many a gem of purest ray serene, The dark unfathomed cave of ocean bear: Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness in the desert air.”
Indeed, Atty. Arlene Buan, as one forgotten poet wrote: “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these ‘it might have been’.”
Might have beens. Never weres. Still, hope springs eternal. Ang umaayaw ay hindi nagwawagi. Ang nagwawagi ay hindi umaayaw. So said Manuel Uy, he of the charity sweepstakes ticket of yore.
Thus, No Retreat, No Surrender for Anthony Dee. No matter Boking Morales’ unprecedented, unbelievable, unmistakable, four consecutive terms in the town of Mabalacat.
Thus, Dinan Piñon Labung trying again to be third district congressman. This time against the galloping Dong Gonzales. This time – and again – in vain?
No matter, the supreme optimists that they are, for the also-rans the best is ever yet to come.