Saturday, May 03, 2008 An imaginary letter By Atlee T. Viray In and out of Court
Dear God,
What have I done? All I wanted is to serve my people. Did you not say "as long as you do it to the least of my brethren, you do it unto me"?
Why I do I find myself with a lot of heartaches? The people of Minalin have thrown brickbats at me. They do not understand that I am the elected leader not only of that town, but the entire province. I know I cannot be a prophet in the place where I was born. You know the priority of my thoughts and loftiest goals I have for this people whom I once served as their parish priest.
My vice-governor does not see eye to eye with me. He says: "I want to serve the people of Pampanga the best way I can". That is exactly what I want to do and what I am doing. Yet we are like two carabaos tied to each other. The first one heads to the right and the second one pulls to the left. Nothing much is accomplished because of the tug of war. Bless him but please make him see the light so we can work together for the people of Pampanga.
The Provincial Board wants to impose itself. They want to fire my administrator and legal counsel. They want the powers to choose the most outstanding Pampanguenos. They want to dictate upon me on how to spend the quarry fees. They even challenge me in court as if to show I do not know what I am doing. If I hurt their feelings, I ask for forgiveness. If they do not like my style of leadership, we can disagree without being disagreeable. Bless the members of the Board and their families. Please, help me placate their feelings of dread.
The Mayors especially Bacolor's Buddy Dungca swore to the heavens that I make it hard for their people to live safely. That is far from the truth. Buddy says that I don't want to desilt Gugu creek. I do but I want orderliness in doing it. He dares and taunts me every step of the way. God, you know that I want the people of the province to live safely and to sleep soundly. Please make the mayors realize that proper implementation of projects require regulations and legal requirements. All I want to do is to coordinate with all of them so that our collective oath to alleviate our conditions does not remain a promise.
What have I done to my most enthusiastic supporter to deserve what she says? She said that her biggest regret is she helped me. Am I that easy to regret? She says that I do not deserve to be elected and words that are like daggers to my heart. I die a thousand times. I try to keep my silence and not retaliate in kind. Please help me to restrain my feelings so I don't say anything that may hurt her.
Why is politics like this? Is not good politics equated to good government? Why are the people, who rose in unison to catapult me to the capitol, turn their back on me? What have I done to live in this state of loneliness?
God, what is honesty? Did you not teach us to return what is not ours? I want to return the P500,000 I received in Malacanan but some people hate me for it.
God, give me strength to go on. I have to admit that in some moments, I want to leave the Capitol and return to Betis. I feel disappointed. Why am I beseeched by multitude of problems? As a priest, I was taught to be humble. But I also experience a feeling of hurt. I am down trodden so I need you guidance.
Finally. God, give me the kind of support thru my people to rise above these adversities. I need your guidance so that I will have the strength to conquer my fears and serve the people of Pampanga as their elected leader.
(May 3, 2008 issue) Write letter to the editor. Click here.
