Cinderfella

QUICK WAS the retort of beleaguered Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio to news that his stepmother signed the petition for his recall.
“We weren’t really close ever since,” said the Reverend Governor of stepmom Maria Restinia Regala, principal of the San Pedro Elementary School in Minalin town.
Regala took the place of Panlilio’s mom, Catalina Tongol, in his father Gervacio’s heart in 1995 reportedly. Catalina died in 1992 and Gervacio sometime in 2007 before Panlilio entered politics.
It was precisely because of that – “turning his back to God to enter the world of politics” – that Regala signed the recall petition. Plus, Panlilio’s having reduced administration at the capitol to “one-man rule.”
“That is her opinion and this is a democracy,” conceded Panlilio, who however did not stop there and took a swipe at his mommie-not-dearest: “Mas mahigpit pa yata siya kaysa mga bishops.”
Finding cue from their idol, Panlilio’s minions lost no time in trying to dull the impact of his stepmom’s recall signing on the perception of the Kapampangan. At least, this is what we are getting from the turn of the stories circulating around.
The madrasta syndrome was quickly dusted off the fairy tale archives and a lachrymose plot line contrived to tug at the Kapampangan heart – poor orphan boy Panlilio persecuted, oppressed, treated like a slave by a witch of a stepmother with poor Papa Basyong too tired from his work to know.
Never mind that at 63 today, Regala is but eight years older than Panlilio at 55. Not too old to be his mom, or maybe an aunt, but young enough to be an elder sister.
Never mind too that when his mother crossed over to the Great Beyond to rest in the bosom of the Lord, Panlilio was already into his first decade of priesthood. Quite possibly, he was a co-celebrant in the Requiem Mass for his beloved mom.
Still, the Cinderella story is too universally appealing to ignore in this case of a madrasta siding with the “sworn enemies” of a stepson. A sort of a Cinderella Man, no – with that title already appropriated in a Russell Crowe movie about 1930’s heavyweight champ Jim Braddock – make that Cinderfella.
So that is how it goes now with rumors – mongered most probably by Panlilio’s propagandists – gone really, really wild in many a coffeeshop at the malls, whether in San Fernando or in Angeles.
No big deal really that Panlilio’s stepmom signed the petition for his ouster from the governorship. The Reverend Governor would want us to believe. They never were close in the first place.
No big deal really that Panlilio’s stepmom signed the petition for his ouster. Panlilio’s propaganda would want us to think. She was a cruel, mean stepmom to him in the first place.
So should we weep our hearts out for the poor little orphan boy Eddie?
Not with his putative provincial administrator he can always turn to. Cry mama? Call Vivian. Got to stop here. Or someone may cry libel too.