A Lesson In Humility

WHAT is with Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas letting gubernatorial candidate Among Ed Panlilio seated in the presidential table while Governor Lilia Baby Pineda seated with the audience. It is not only protocol that dictates that a host governor should occupy a seat in the presidential table but should be seated beside the guest of honor. Don't tell me that Secretary Roxas was not aware of the breach. Worse if he designed it that way. It is not only insulting to Governor Pineda, but that's an insult also to the Capampangan.

I found many top government officials of the Aquino administration arrogant. Could it be because the surveys are saying that they have a high trust rating, and that gives them the license to insult people? President Aquino himself and some of his friends in high places should be careful with their mouths. They should remember that power is transitory. And besides that they should be role models of humility.

There was this story about American President Abraham Lincoln, his son and a Negro slave. One day Lincoln was in his carriage with his son touring a cotton plantation. He stopped when he saw Mr. Smith, a Negro slave who was then busy doing the field. When Mr. Smith saw Lincoln, he doffed his hat and said: Good morning Mr. President. Lincoln acknowledging, equally doffed his hat and said good morning Mr. Smith! President Lincoln's son was so perplexed on what he saw, and immediately remarked: Father, you are a great president of a great nation and how come you doffed your hat to a Negro slave?

Lincoln smiled and said to his son: Son, I don't want people to say that a Negro slave is more civilized than the President of the United States.
Most in the crowd were incensed on the apparent rudeness displayed no less by one who comes from a supposedly well bred family, studied in many best schools, held and still holding top government positions. What happened Mr. Roxas?

Many of my colleagues, particularly Deng Pangilinan, chairman of the Mabalacat City Water District and fellow writer Mina Paras can't hold their anger and reacted sharply against Secretary Roxas' display of 'boorishness'.

I think the Pampanga Mayors League of Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo and the Pampanga Provincial Board will not take sitting down that incident. Do I hear someone from Tarlac also declaring Mr. Roxas as 'persona non grata'?
In that incident, Governor Pineda just kept her cool. The other governors as well. I don't know what was going on in the mind of Among Ed Panlilio while he, a private citizen, seated on the presidential table, the one who should be occupying his place was seated with the audience. Maybe he felt some kind of embarrassment, but can't refuse Roxas invitation.

If that was a political gathering it was alright for Among Ed seated on the presidential table, him being the Liberal Party official candidate in the province gubernatorial race. But it was a local government function.
And I presume no one dared to tell Roxas that the governors should occupy the seats at the presidential table though aware of the protocol breach. Well, bawi na lang tayo sa 2016. Sandali na lang yan!

Goodbye Tars. My friend Board Member Tarcicio DC Halili overtook us, his many friends and colleagues, in making a journey to heaven. He was too young to bid farewell at 62. But he may have completed what he intended to do in this earth. I am sure he is now resting in the bosom of the Lord.