Thursday, April 05, 2007 Capillas: Cheapening Jesus' teachings By Stephen Capillas The Lowdown
WHAT'S this about the genuine opposition (GO) doing a Jesus by supposedly washing the feet of their followers at their campaign headquarters in Club Filipino in Manila--or Villa Escudero or someplace else? Don't they hold anything sacred anymore?
Look, while we do find some political gimmicks entertaining one holds the line when it comes to religious events--in this case, the washing of feet by Jesus of his disciples as part of demonstrating the servant role that He and his followers must assume to certify their roles as Christians and people for others.
Obviously this was timed for the annual Lenten observance but this is anything but intended to promote awareness of one of these sacred Christian holidays.
These senatorial aspirants, despite their proclamations of their commitment to service, are anything but servants when they are elected to power. Look, Jesus Christ didn't wash His disciples' feet while campaigning and asking them to vote for Him in the Senate, Congress or even a barangay position.
And Jesus Christ certainly didn't have pork barrel funds in mind when He agreed to wash His disciples' feet. Less gimmicks, more works and bills should be the norm and not the other way around.
People are wont to be offended by this use of Christian imagery and activity and perhaps even charismatic groups like the Iglesia ni Cristo and El Shaddai may be turned off by this obviously blatant attempt at self-promotion.
To think that the Arroyo administration lineup is being accused of cheap gimmickry. The genuine opposition should stop or drop this act and instead just cool their heels in some faraway hideaway while they plan out better promotions in the campaign trail ahead.
Taking advantage
Speaking of timing, the senatorial aspirants took advantage of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) national convention held here in Cagayan de Oro last week to drop by and hold some press conferences with the local media.
First in line was independent opposition candidate Francis Pangilinan, followed by Team Unity candidate Ed Angara and followed by Genuine Opposition (GO) candidate Allan Peter Cayetano and Manuel Villar.
Actually Villar held a press con with national media and only did some town hopping before returning last Monday in Cagayan de Oro for a brief graduation appearance. The same with Pangilinan who was here for a graduation speech at the Mindanao Polytechnic State College (MPSC).
The seeming inconsistencies with the schedules being sent by their public relations people are causing local media to scramble in attending their activities while having to keep tabs with the campaign sorties of local incumbent officials and aspirants at the same time.
A little consideration from these officials, please particularly their public relations staffs. Some of the local media may not be as well-financed, equipped, influential and powerful as the media in Imperial Manila or even Cebu but we do have our audiences.
Contrary to the widely held opinion of some national government officials, the local media especially here in Cagayan de Oro and the rest of Mindanao are not at their beck and call when they do decide to drop in the city for a visit.
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