Running solo

THE CIRCUS came to the grounds of the Angeles City hall Friday, last day for filing of certificates of candidacy by aspirants for local positions. In three acts of slight yellow, concentrated red and expansive green, the first two blending and then fading, the last one for a time remaining. Each out-noising the other with drums and bands, as well as shrieking clowns.

Soon as it came, the bedlam just as soon over, the din dying down with the last flash of cameras for the reglamentary mug shot of the now-official-candidate, his/her COC close to his/her breast.

In the intervening quiet, soft strains of divine praises – purihin ang Panginoon, umawit ng kagalakan… -- crescendoing – sa ating pagkabagabag, sa Diyos tayo’y tumawag, sa ating mga kaaway, tayo’y kanyang ililigtas.. – and rising to the heavens.

It was a beautiful day, to consecrate to God the totality of one’s being, to surrender to God one’s becoming.

So it was but city councilor Jesus “Jay” Sangil that sought the Almighty’s blessings  before going about the affairs of Caesar – celebrating the holy sacrifice of the Mass with hundreds of his supporters before walking the short distance between the city hall fire station and the office of the Commission on Elections to file his COC for city vice mayor.

Heartened at sight of the congregation of persons with disabilities, senior citizens, urban poor, laborers, tricycle and jeepney driversand the general masa that comprised Sangil’s core constituency, Msgr. Jun Mercado, the celebrant, could only exclaimed how the aspiring vice mayor lives his servitude to God in the service of his fellowmen.

“As God speaks through those He loves most – the last, the least and the lost, our presence here most manifests Jay’s commitment to God’s word,” the curate of Lourdes parish. “Go then on your journey, God is with you.”

So, who among the candidates for mayor, vice mayor and councilors of Angeles City did as Sangil, consecrating their candidacy to God, as a vow to serve His people?

Running independent – neither in Partido ABE Kapampangan, despite his being party vice president nor in Team Lazatin – Sangil is given not so much as the proverbial Chinaman’s chance or the idiomatic luck of the Irish.

Which perfectly augurs well for the three-term city council member who was always ridiculed as also-ran in all the elections he won.

On his own, Sangil is. But alone. He is not.