You cannot serve two masters at the same time. Many are called, few are chosen. With these lines, I ask, “What did Fr. Ed now Gov. Ed Panlilio hope to achieve when he ran for Governor?”
I think he was confused about a lot of things. First he must have thought that being a priest is also like being a governor. Or that he could bring his priestly duties to his new job. Fact is, that is ideal but highly improbable.
Simple lang po. Pag ikaw po ay pari, lumalapit ang tao sa yo para magkumpisal ng kasalanan. They have acknowledged their wrongdoings and are asking for forgiveness and penance. Mabait na sila. They are also not afraid to confess to a priest kasi di naman sila nito ipapahamak o isusumbong dahil may vow of confidence ang confession, di po ba?
But in a governorship, di ganun ang mga tao. Gagawa pa lang sila ng kasalan. Masama pa sila. At sigurado di sila aamin sa governor kung gagawa o gumawa na sila ng kasalanan. It is very naive to think people are angels and saints all the time.
So see, there are a big chunk of difference there is that what is good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander here. Ang approach ng pari ay iba sa approach ng isang public official. Ang sitwasyon ng simbahan ay iba sa sitwasyon ng kapitolyo o munisipyo. Kaya nga siguro, pag pari, pari at pag public official, public official. Di pwdeng double personality. May conflict of interest kaagad. Many will be bound to be frustrated.
As for the calling, may I ask. Did Fr. Ed heard the wrong calling when he answered the call to become a priest because what he really wanted to be pala ay maging public official. Or he heard wrong when he thought he had a calling to be a public official. He can’t be right in both cases. Ok lang naman ang maging pari o maging governor but you can’t be both and certainly you can’t expect people to see you as both.
I think Fr/Gov Ed is confused and the whole situation confuses people around him.
Reader’s Comment by goldenrule

November 21st, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I apologize for my comments. I apologize for offending Gov. Ed and his supporters as well as the readers of this blog.
I did not realize there was a dearth of good candidates in Pampanga for governorship.
I think if that is the case, his entry to politics is justifiable.
I am just not comfortable about a Catholic priest being in politics, that is all where I was coming from.
Again, apologies. I am not a priest or a politician. Being either is tough enough; to be both is something extra-ordinary.
Am just an ordinary Filipino who probably should shut up. Apologies again.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:56 am
Oops. My mistake in repeating Father Ed’s name twice. I’ll do some penance na lang
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Priests are also being paid to serve the people just like the government officials.
I wonder if Panlilio is still in the payroll of the Roman Catholic? For sure he is now in the payroll of the government..
In my opinion, Mr. Panlilio has a political ambition ever since. Maybe he’s just using his priesthood as a stepping stone.
Cardinal Sin helped the filipino people but he did not run for any government position.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
[I mean, If Father Ed Panlilio Panlilio wins in recall election will the head petitioners bow out, please?]
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
We have one and ever successful Recall. It happened in Payatas, Quezon City in the 80s. Barangay Captain Castello was ousted and replaced by an Employee of then NAWASA, named Belgica. In a recall nobody has to be accused of any crime to be a subject of recall. All it needs is the required numbers of petitioner. Reasons attached to recall like Kurakot, fascist, whatever, are deemed burloloys. The re-election puts a dot to the matter.
I think it serves the people that this Recall against father Ed Panlilio will push through. It’s a test that will prove many things.