"He didn't seek office,

The office sought him"

I finally saw the man in the flesh, not anymore in the TV, not anymore talking in front of a microphone in congress. (I have a hard time pronouncing his family name though - a tongue twister!) Fr. Ed Panlilio, the priest turned governor of Pampanga, was in the LT in the afternoon giving a talk, preaching his crusade for change. You may roll your eyeballs when you hear this politically overused word but again, the most obvious reality we are living in is the constant flux of our world - it changes and Fr. Panlilio asserts the need to change, a change for the better. His very election was a sign of change. People wanted somebody new, they are already fed up with politicians who give lands yet owns almost all estates, politicians who shell out money to the poor yet corrupts the vault five folds, politicians who excel not only in their rhetoric but also in the game of compromise. The people in that province instead chose a priest, a soldier of God, a man with a different support base - a church congregation, a man whose only education taught him to love and serve his God through others. Now that's something new. He gave a strong and inspiring message to the audience that I would like to share.

First, he advocates the idea of "social transformation". In our context, the young people, we may see this as an old person’s job, or a dirty stressful job we just don’t have time to do. You know, that notion is so old school. Social transformation, if I translate it to my own words and as mentioned by Fr. Panlilio is quite fun and fulfilling. Tutoring poor children how to count or read is “ST”. Blogging our thoughts about reality and sharing insights to the world is one of it is “ST”. Thinking about why things are is also “ST”. Telling your younger siblings about the dangers of addiction or perhaps the possibility of them drowning because of global warming is “ST”. The list goes on. We should not limit ourselves from notion of it as a total “one-step re-engineering of our society revolution”, but as a community effort rooted in our personal desire to build a great home one brick at a time upon a strong foundation of justice, peace, love, faith, hope and all the good words found in the last phrase of our preamble.

Second, Politics is a game of compromise. There is some truth to it but what a good leader must be constantly aware of this; to NEVER ever ever compromise principles or values for the sake of power and influence. The system is this kind of game and it is never easy not to play it as he mentioned. Therefore, he urges all people with a position of power to always, constantly, around the clock, take care of their hearts and minds. It is in the heart that one knows integrity, dignity and conscience. It is in the mind that one translates these ideals into action. And always remember that great leadership is rooted in faith nothing more, nothing less.

I think God made him a governor so that people will not grow weary and cynical about the system they live in. God led Fr. Panlilo to this unique “ministry of politics” so that people will see a symbol embodied in his being, as a man who challenges the status quo,a man whose only boss is God through the people he serves, and a man who reminds all of us that change for the better is not impossible, it could be done but must start from the very core of ourselves.