The lost shepherd

BRIMMING WITH idealism, they came to the capitol with the singular mission of helping their revered leader impact his gospel of good governance in the psyche of the Kapampangan.
Broken by disappointment and disheartened by the turn of events, they stepped down from the capitol, one after the other.
Thirteen of 22 individuals who joyfully went up the capitol with Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio that glorious Day 1 of his administration have cleave official ties with him, highlighting some internecine wrangling within that innermost sacrosanct circle of the governor.
The 13th to leave – Panlilio’s own chief-of-staff Archie Reyes – made a most affirming revelation: “Pampanga does not deserve a bickering and divided leadership…It does not need division and disharmony especially within its own executive team.”
Division and disharmony do indeed stick out like the sorest thumb, with those who have left Panlilio’s immediate side now taken collectively. A roll call now:
Andy Alviz, of the original Miss Saigon London Westside fame and the moving spirit of the new-found source of Kapampangan pride ArtiSta. Rita once overseer of the capitol’s culture and tourism initiatives.
Corporate Vince Dizon who was appointed head of an economic enterprises department .
The beautiful broadcast personality Dalsa Hizon in and then out of the provincial information office. Ditto her “replacement,” Rochelle Aguilar, once of Workers Alliance Region III.
Capitol systems analyst Bel Katigbak and money whiz Marylou Tolentino of the finance department. Tolentino was the accountant of Panlilio’s foremost financial supporter Madame Lolita Hizon.
Putative provincial legal officer Atty. Ma. Elissa Velez, her assistant, sangguniang panlalawigan-accepted Atty. Joseph Quiambao, and one Atty. Atty. Arnel Manaloto. That’s three lawyers off the team in one fell swoop.
Political liaison officer Rey Deang, rumored to have been an understudy to the position of provincial administrator.
Social action mavenTess Briones and Roperly Syquia.
What gives at the Reverend Governor’s holy circle?
“Since I am one of those who support the clamor for the replacement of Atty. Dabu as provincial administrator, I believe that I can no longer be of help to his administration.” Reyes – capitol insiders concur – well spoke for all the others including Panlilio’s supporters outside his official realm – most notably, the tocino and tapa queen of Pampanga, the president of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the so-called Betis Group.
To the point of nausea, our favorite line had to be vomited anew here: It’s Dabu, bobo.
So those who joined the Reverend Governor have disassociated from him. So what?
We have here – as my seminary elder, the parable-teller Luis Rivera says – the story of the Good Shepherd reversed.
“Ing istorya na ning melilyu na, melili pang pastul. The shepherd kept that one sheep in his tight embrace, losing the rest of the herd.”
Feeling biblical now: For what does it profit Panlilio to regain the support of his estranged followers, even gain the trust and confidence of all of Pampanga’s political leaders, if he should lose Atty. Vivian Dabu in exchange?
Amen.