As ironic as this might sound to most people, I’m a big fan of Pampanga Governor-elect Ed Panlilio. It takes guts to man up against the wife of an alleged jueteng lord and incumbent in a hotly contested election, but that’s not the reason why I admire him. Yes, he’s a priest. And yes, I know he believes in the higher power that Catholics are taught to accept. Those issues take the backseat compared to how he ran his campaign and how he has kept his humility and political correctness in his success.
Unlike other pretentious clergy men who have the despicable urge to inject every holier than thou statement when being interviewed by the media *cough Robert Reyes cough* *cough Eddie Villanueva cough*, Panlilio shows eloquence, maturity and composure in handling his business. I never heard him say things regarding uniting people under a religion or one god. He doesn’t invoke his priesthood as a means of making himself more ’suitable’ or more ‘closer to god’ unlike that douche bag Eddie Villanueva has done repeatedly since 2004. He is constructive in his comments and never will you hear him blaming people for all the wrongs that they’ve did. If you’ve heard him talk, you would see that his ideas are clearly inclusive and sincerely cooperative. He is not a mere whiner who invokes random concepts regarding abstract things like moral compass and takot sa diyos when faced with difficult questions on his qualifications. There was nothing fundamentalist about his stance and he’s sensitive enough to treat everyone nicely even if certain people are in the minority.
Other than his tasteful and tactful way of handling interviews, it is very apparent that he knows what he’s talking about. He’s not just some guy whose stock knowledge exclusively consists of mere psalms. He has consistently articulated his plans on his first and (supposed) last term as governor. With little nuggets of information he has hinted on how well-read he is on economics and public administration.
I am absolutely in awe of his courage. I admire his intellectual prowess. Most importantly, I appreciate his conscious effort to keep his interviews as secular as possible. He keeps himself from crossing the distasteful line that Eddie Villanueva has crossed and the boundary that the Ang Kapatiran christian Fundamentalist Taliban Party have zealously stepped over. He knows he has clout inside his religion, but he didn’t abuse it. He recognizes the differences among people and he chooses to pay respect to everyone by being politely unassuming and politically correct.
It doesn’t come as a surprise to me that most of my Atheist friends are also huge fans of his.
Mabuhay ka Among Ed!
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It’s no surprise that he won. As a priest, he had mass support, hahaha.
God, that was corny. I apologize
To have Ed Panlilio in the Pampanga government is definitely better than to have a jueteng lord’s wife or a Lapid heir.
Now that he has won in the Pampanga elections, I hope he’ll do the province a good turn and lead it towards to progress.
However, if he’d do good as a governor, I’m afraid the people won’t let him go back to donning the priest robes again. I don’t know if that’s good or bad.
Well articulated observations on Pampanga’s Governor.
He is certainly well qualified for this position and has 26 years of experience working with and empowering the poor folks in Pampanga.
It is so wrong for some officials of the Catholic Church to say “Priest are not trained for politics” in reference to ‘Among Ed’, give the ‘Holy Dude’ a break, he has been eating dry salted fish with the poorest of the poor while spearheading microfinancing for more than a decade. Give the ”Holy Dude” some credit…if not, he will give you credit by his micro-loans….heheh
This man is ready for the job, he is qualified and has shown results.
All those who do a lot of talking, SHUT YOUR TRAP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
joyful chicken: I’ve read your articles, I’m used to it. SNAP! haha
I wasn’t at all surprised that he won. But I’m glad all the same. He’s certainly better than Lapid (especially Lapid!) and what’s-her-name-again? Yeah.
Funny, I really thought you hate the thought of some priest running/winning. :p
i am sure he is the best candidate to deserve the gubernatorial seat in my dad’s home province and it’s about time that Pampanga should rise from the many disasters it has encountered since more than a decade ago.
personally though, i think Amang Ed Panlilio has his own ambitions— “worldly” ambitions. it may be difficult for you to understand my point, benj, but being called into priesthood should already shut the idea of holding any “worldly” office/responsibility.
When Bishop Cruz mentioned that governor-elect Ed Panlilio “has become a shame on the lay people”, he might be giving more value to their calling as “God’s servant”, which is but natural.
anyway, having him as Pampanga governor for the next three years should be the best thing to happen right now but completely trusting his motives for vying the seat is another story.
my observations is that he is different from all the other “robed” people who mix religion with politics. when he decided to campaign for governor, he did not capitalize on his being a priest. believe it or not, i see a miracle here, he was up to against 2 giants, and he won with just 1,000 votes. i just hope he will be true to his promise in initiating change.
my observations is that he is different from all the other “robed†people who mix religion with politics. when he decided to campaign for governor, he did not capitalize on his being a priest. believe it or not, i see a miracle here, he was up to against 2 giants, and he won with just 1,000 votes. i just hope he will be true to his promise in initiating change.
Yeah, ironic nga.
I’m so glad that Among Ed won over Lilia Pineda, wife of Pampanga’s alleged gambling lord and Lapid. From what I see, he has better credentials than his competitors.
Now, what we should watch for next is the progress of Pampanga, sana meron akong makitang progreso ngayon, lalo na at ang tag line ni Among Ed noong election ay “YES to a good Kapampangan leader.”
A big slap to Pineda’s machinery and Mark Lapid’s… ugh, who’s Mark Lapid BTW?
You hit the right spot. I’ve been a fan of Among Ed. Each time the media document his electoral status on TV, I can’t help but pose a wide-eyed look at the scrupulous watchdogging of those who think he is the hope of Pampanga (magaling magaling ang mga may kinikilingan
). Heard of Pineda’s allegations that there has been a wide padding of votes in Mabalacat? Ha, screw you, Pineda. An underdog like Panlilio to create such expensive mockery? Hahahahaha! You’re making me laugh.
And oh, even if Pampangos cheated for the benefit of good governance in their province, I DON’T CARE. Their cheating cannot be matched by Pineda’s dirty old tricks. A jueteng lord’s wife. A trapo for 20 years.
She’s treeing the wrong bark.
Isn’t volunteerism an act of selflessness? The INC supported Mark Lapid for some reason. I think this austere and supposedly “unworldly” definition is a bit passe for our times. The world has changed – and Panlilio was dynamic enough to adapt to it.
People are divided over the issue of Panlilio victory. I’ve read a blogger say that priests in government positions are a a bad idea and that people voted for him just because he’s a member of the Catholic clergy. Of course it’s more than that and time will tell if he’s really a breath of fresh air or simply the least of all evils.
Your approval of Panlilio’s win only goes to show that you don’t generalize against people who are religious. That’s good.
Eugene, come on man, was that ever in doubt?
I never generalize.
Benj, well, you did say that your approval of Panlilio *might* sound ironic to most people. If there wasn’t any doubt at all, then it wouldn’t as ironic now, would it?
thing is, we can’t even guarantee that Panlilio will be “less evil” than the two other candidates. what are we holding on to believe that he is, him being a priest? hehe..
anyway, just like most of the Kapampangans, i believe he is better than the other two. we just have to take a gamble on a fresh “public servant” than live with the former two who have proven nothing for public interest.
I was glad that Ed Panlilio won for two reasons. It’s time for a non trapo leader and to show to GMA that his wards are losing left and right.
I voted for Eddie Villanueva in the last presidential elections. But after he lost, he started accusing GMA of cheating, even joining rally against the goverment which is unbecoming of a Christian. He should not have not done those things.
Though i still respect Edde V. I saw him visited our church. If i ever i meet him i will greet him with respect.
Hi Benj,
What so worrisome with the new poster is the fact that hell yeah, people these days aren’t looking for fundamental reforms but rather hangs on the messianic hang-up of religion.
Imagine at the recent partylist canvassing, religious group with cultlike following are leading namely BUHAY and CIBAC which in the same manner reaffirms the fact that religion is an opium of the masses.
VT
Naks, I must admit, I am surprised that you like him. Hehe.
I agree on every word that you said.
Obviously, I voted for him. I even attended his Meeting de Avance.
Here are my own thoughts on his candidacy, being a Kapampangan myself.
http://kingofchocolates.blogspot.com/2007/05/yes-to-good-kapampangan-leader.html
And my, do I hate that Oscar Cruz, haha! Nangingialam, anlayo naman niya sa Pampanga. Now if that kind of priest ran, I would even campaign against them, hehe.
Hi Rex,
Hehehe hate mo na ang anti-jueteng crusader na si Abp. Cruz. Literally at figuratively, malapit lang si Abp. Oscar Cruz sa Pampanga dahil Pangasinan lang siya. At the same time, si Among Ed ay dating Secretary ni Abp. Cruz nung nasa Pampanga ba ang archdiocese ni Cruz.
VT
he sounds like an okey guy, and it might be true that he is the best candidate, but it still stands. what are his qualifications?
> INC supported Mark Lapid
thats because INC would always support the perceived winner ..
VT,
Oh talaga? So close pala sila ni Among Ed, haha! I didnt know that.
Well, malayo for me ang Pangasinan, ehehe. Although kung tutuusin nga, Tarlac lang ang pagitan. Basta ang point ko lang, ayusin niya ang flock niya sa Pangasinan. Pati teritoryo ni Paciano Aniceto, pinakikialaman.
Speaking of Mark Lapid being the perceived winner, his camp released Inquirer Libre type of tabloid, aptly titled “Pampanga Libre”. It was a 4-page piece that has seemingly Lapid-biased artiks. There was even the front page survey on all towns of Pampanga, where Mark Lapid is supposedly preferred by 60-75% of the voters, with Pineda and Panlilio getting 10-20%.
What’s suspicious is that while the edition was supposedly Volume 2 already of the publication, wala naman editorial box. hindi mo malalaman kung sino ang editorial staff, publisher, etc.
[...] Atheista is impressed over Father Ed Panlilio’s victory as governor in the home province of the president. Panlilio is the first priest to win in the elections in modern Philippine history. “I am absolutely in awe of his courage. I admire his intellectual prowess. Most importantly, I appreciate his conscious effort to keep his interviews as secular as possible.†[...]
This one makes sence “One’s first step in wisdom is to kuesstion everything – and one’s last is to come to terms with everything.”