Thursday, November 08, 2007 Viray: Fr. Ed for President By Atlee T. Viray In and out of the court
THE successor of a Pampangueña President, GMA appears to be a Pampangueño.
We made history. We are making history. We will make history.
Pangasinan tried it with no success. When Fidel Valdez Ramos was President, he anointed Jose de Venecia to take his place. The voting populace flatly rejected the idea of a Pangasinense by another Pangasinense.
Forget about the supposed frontrunners in 2010. Manuel Villar is a trapo. Mar Roxas seems to have lost luster. Ping Lacson could on take place fourth in the last senatorial elections. Loren is fit to be a senator but to be President, is another matter.
The Filipino people are looking for a fresh face untainted by stigma of corruption. We have grown tired of promise unkept by pretenders to political positions. Marcos told us -- “This nation can be great again”. Erap said, “Walang kumpa-kumpare; Walang kama-kamag-anak”. The promise of greatness led to us to the unlamented martial law. The no string attached commitment was never realized as plunder was proven to exist up to the doors of Malacañang.
Whether by accident or design, our dear province of Pampanga is in focus. GMA of Lubao faces a gift giving scandal right in the Palace. Among Ed of Minalin blew the whistle. The Lubao gal face is red in anger and the cause of her anger must have been caused by the priest from Minalin.
Let us call a spade, a spade. The P 500,000.00 contained in a luminous paper bag is a bribe. When cash is given without receipts, it is strictly between the giver and the taker. The taker gets the money to be spent on his vices, not for the public good. The Palace wants those who were called to Malacañang to toe the line. This is patronage politics in action. Money changed hands, Mafia style. This is normal among trapos. But governor is far from being trapo.
He is Catholic priest. He swore to uphold the vow of poverty. He is modest. He does not wear barong. He abhors the “Amerikana.” He has no La Coste shirt. Not unlike Mahatma Gandhi, he wears sandals. His usual attire is a Hanes Cotton white T-shirt. He has no capricious spouse.
Remember, Among Ed ran platform of transparency and good governance. He committed to stop the lahar mess and the jueteng collections. Has he succeeded? Even his detractors would grudgingly admit that our governor is heaven sent. We cannot argue with the figures. He has put to shame the previous regime by enriching the provincial coffers with P1 million a day. This is a miracle unfolding before eyes. Even if Among Ed sleeps the rest of his term, this good deed will never be forgotten by the grateful multitude. As if the daily accounted blessings are not enough, Among Ed is tempted with a bride.
What did he do? He called the press. He showed their cash money. He demanded a receipt. He showed courage. He showed guts. The Pampango is proud. We are proud of Among Ed.
What did our politicians do? They went to the Palace. They showed their canine loyalty to GMA. They shouted to Ed “spend the money or give it to us”. They showed greed. They showed pettiness. We are proud of this kind of politicians.
The newest star in the political firmament in the accidental governor of this province. By putting to shame the trapos Fr. Ed is like a rainbow that provides sunshine of hope. By refusing to accept a bribe, Fr. Ed shows us that he keeps his words. He can be trusted. Honesty is a lonely word but it contaminates. He contaminated Governor Jong Mendoza of Bulacan.
If Father Ed would remain honest to his words, he is the next President of the Philippines. Forget about Sipag at Tiyaga. Forget about Mr. Palengke. Forget the police enforcer. Forget about the pretty face. Pampanga’s loss will be the nation’s gain.
