Monday, March 26, 2007 Aguilar: Mark his word By Ed Aguilar Commentary
THE grapevine has it that the lady gubernatorial aspirant does the rounds of the province to hold so-called consultative meetings at the same time to throw money as bait to catch votes.
It is also whispered around that a number of municipal mayors has turned their coats to cash in on her bankroll or capability to underwrite campaign expenses.
True or not, Pampanga Governor Mark Tadeo Lapid does not give a damn about the rumor. For "his faith in the wisdom of the Kapampangan remains unshaken."
Mark his words: "The report of her unbridled spending worries me though: not because it may adversely affect my chances of getting reelected. It is not money but the conscience our fellow Kapampangans who will decide the outcome of the elections, but because the devious political maneuver of flooding the province with money might distort the people's sense of value. I cannot bear to see that happen."
And, with his high regard to the intelligence of the Kapampangan, he said, "KUNIN ANG PERA, SUNDIN ANG KONSENSYA."
Is Baby buying her way to office? Your guess is as good as mine. In fairness however, I can vouch for her generosity. I know that she has been lending her hand to those in need since her days as mayor of Lubao town. At the Capitol, a motley crowd waits for her arrival to attend the Provincial Board session every Monday. Seldom does she come. But when she does, they who waited won't leave her office empty handed. Not wanting to hurt the feelings of her Cabalen, she might have said, "BIGAY TULONG LANG PO ITO, MATAGAL NA ITONG KAWANGGAWA KO."
Nevertheless at her words, many badmouthed her untimely spending spree as politically motivated. One of the many may be Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto. During his birthday celebration, Apo Cetu urged "voters not to sell their votes or allow their selves to be bribed with political favor." I dare not argue with the Catholic bishop in going to the pulpit to take up the cudgels for Mark. He should know better than anyone among the flocks to have made such a cutting remark.
In his press statement, the youngest governor in the Philippines said: "We will campaign on our own merits, performance record, and vision for the province; we will not allow ourselves to be financially beholden to any person or family. Naniniwala po kami na walang Kapampangan na ipagpapalit sa pera ang kalayaang mamuhay at magsalita ayon sa kanyang nararamdaman at iniisip,"
On the other hand, GO Babies have been telling the people about the messianic temper of the Kampi gubernatorial candidate. In particular, former board member Rosve Henson often asked the audience during their sorties: "Nung ing Imang tatangis manyad yang saup kang Lilia, pamisali ne ing boto na? Nung ing ortelanong makakutkut a utang keng 5/6 manyad yang panyaling fertilizer, pamisali ne ing boto na?" "Iti yang sangkan obat mekitalamitam ya y aling Baby keng pulitika; buri nalang saupan deng dakal a manigapu ban mipanuanan."
Mind you, Mark is not only concerned about the alleged vote-buying escapade of his political foes. He also "rues the day when we would rather keep our silence simply because we fear that what we express may displease those who govern us. Ours should be a province where its citizens could criticize the leaders they elect into office without fear of reprisal. "Ang gusto natin ay isang malayang lalawigan." In all the elections they ran, the Lapid never relied on "guns, goons, and gold." The senator and the governor won all their fights because the Kapampangan "choose their own leaders according to their own conscience."
Whether or not it rings the bell, Mark had positively responded to the call of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and Commission on Elections (Comelec) for peaceful, clean and honest elections. He is willing to sign a covenant with all the candidates to that effect. I suppose Baby and the man who does not know how to play the numbers game will sign it too.
