Governor Oca
"I THINK Mayor Rodriguez is my candidate for governor if ever I may be recalled by my political detractors or comes 2010 national elections."
So was Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio quoted in the September 4 issue of Sun Star Pampanga. Yes, dummies, I read that paper, Central Luzon Daily too, and all the other weeklies, Banner and Businessweek especially, that I can get my hands on. “I am considering to return to the church or to run for higher government position so that I can help Mang Oca (Rodriguez) in running for governor." The Governor furthered in the news report. “The priest-turned-politician said he has chosen Rodriguez as his candidate because the mayor is "matured in politics" and knows how to govern like how he governs his constituents in this capital city.”
All quotes here are verbatim, shortcomings in syntax and all. Panlilio’s endorsement of City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez for governor was received with more amusement than seriousness, given the dire straits the Reverend Governor is presently in.
“A kiss of death for Oca,” somebody who looked like businessman Rene Romero told me over coffee at Old Manila in Robinsons Starmills yesterday. To which I did not quite agree.
On the contrary, I said, with the Panlilio open endorsement – whether he went back to his previous calling or sought a higher political position – Mang Oca will be a landslide winner for governor in the solid constituencies of the Among.
“And where are these solid constituencies, aber?” Rene’s look-alike sneered.
Why, in Isabela of Grace Padaca, Naga City of Jesse Robredo, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija of Sonia Lorenzo, not to mention Ateneo de Manila of Harvey Keh. Mang Oca would take all those areas by storm.
Canned corn. Am I?
More seriously now, it does not take Panlilio to make Mang Oca best bet for governor where true, working, accomplishing good governance and responsible citizenship are concerned.
“Matured in politics,” Mang Oca truly is: four-term congressman, impeachment trial prosecutor, provincial administrator, but most importantly, his character having been forged in the crucible of martial law.
Mang Oca’s being heralded third runner-up in the World City Mayor search only a few years back is no mean feat, made even more dramatic by his besting the mayors of San Francisco, California and Atlanta, Georgia in the US of A; Vienna, Austria; Munich, Germany; and Melbourne, Australia.
With Mang Oca at the helm of the city, how many awards have come San Fernando’s way, from being most competitive city to most investor-friendly city, to Gawad Galing Pook honors from just about every institution of note be it the academe, business and industry, the government?
Greatest testament to Mang Oca’s actualization of good governance and responsible citizenship is the now-nearing institutionalization of the City of San Fernando in the Public Governance System Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C. A singular honor here as much for Mang Oca as for all the Fernandinos, the City of San Fernando being the first local government not only in the Philippines but in the whole of Asia to be bestowed that award.
The field of good governance makes the endorser Panlilio a mite to the endorsee Mang Oca. The irony cannot be missed there.
Now, were Panlilio as committed, as dedicated, as resolute as Mang Oca in putting his heart and mind to where his mouth is, then he need not go into silly theatrics to dramatize his sorry governorship. And end, most fittingly, in comic relief.
Riding a colorum tricyle followed by two back-up service vehicles filled with bodyguards. Can anything be sillier?
So was Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio quoted in the September 4 issue of Sun Star Pampanga. Yes, dummies, I read that paper, Central Luzon Daily too, and all the other weeklies, Banner and Businessweek especially, that I can get my hands on. “I am considering to return to the church or to run for higher government position so that I can help Mang Oca (Rodriguez) in running for governor." The Governor furthered in the news report. “The priest-turned-politician said he has chosen Rodriguez as his candidate because the mayor is "matured in politics" and knows how to govern like how he governs his constituents in this capital city.”
All quotes here are verbatim, shortcomings in syntax and all. Panlilio’s endorsement of City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez for governor was received with more amusement than seriousness, given the dire straits the Reverend Governor is presently in.
“A kiss of death for Oca,” somebody who looked like businessman Rene Romero told me over coffee at Old Manila in Robinsons Starmills yesterday. To which I did not quite agree.
On the contrary, I said, with the Panlilio open endorsement – whether he went back to his previous calling or sought a higher political position – Mang Oca will be a landslide winner for governor in the solid constituencies of the Among.
“And where are these solid constituencies, aber?” Rene’s look-alike sneered.
Why, in Isabela of Grace Padaca, Naga City of Jesse Robredo, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija of Sonia Lorenzo, not to mention Ateneo de Manila of Harvey Keh. Mang Oca would take all those areas by storm.
Canned corn. Am I?
More seriously now, it does not take Panlilio to make Mang Oca best bet for governor where true, working, accomplishing good governance and responsible citizenship are concerned.
“Matured in politics,” Mang Oca truly is: four-term congressman, impeachment trial prosecutor, provincial administrator, but most importantly, his character having been forged in the crucible of martial law.
Mang Oca’s being heralded third runner-up in the World City Mayor search only a few years back is no mean feat, made even more dramatic by his besting the mayors of San Francisco, California and Atlanta, Georgia in the US of A; Vienna, Austria; Munich, Germany; and Melbourne, Australia.
With Mang Oca at the helm of the city, how many awards have come San Fernando’s way, from being most competitive city to most investor-friendly city, to Gawad Galing Pook honors from just about every institution of note be it the academe, business and industry, the government?
Greatest testament to Mang Oca’s actualization of good governance and responsible citizenship is the now-nearing institutionalization of the City of San Fernando in the Public Governance System Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C. A singular honor here as much for Mang Oca as for all the Fernandinos, the City of San Fernando being the first local government not only in the Philippines but in the whole of Asia to be bestowed that award.
The field of good governance makes the endorser Panlilio a mite to the endorsee Mang Oca. The irony cannot be missed there.
Now, were Panlilio as committed, as dedicated, as resolute as Mang Oca in putting his heart and mind to where his mouth is, then he need not go into silly theatrics to dramatize his sorry governorship. And end, most fittingly, in comic relief.
Riding a colorum tricyle followed by two back-up service vehicles filled with bodyguards. Can anything be sillier?
posted by A.Caesar Z. Lacson at 3:23 PM
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