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Catholics will say that God is involved in everything, but this miraculous win, a shocker by any political standard, seems to have a stamp of the Almighty Himself. The headlines in The Inquirer says it all, “A Miracle In Pampanga“. Was this a miracle or was it just time that corrupt politics gave way to a new day in Pampanga?

Whatever it was, the fact is that we are seeing the first priest in The Philippines become a Governor. And hopefully, Jueteng and illegal gambling, including other illegal practices, will soon end.

The Votes

Panlilio = 219,706 votes (Won by 1,147 votes)
Lilia Pineda, incumbent board member = 218,559 votes
Reelectionist Gov. Mark Lapid = 210,875 votes

Church And State?

What does this mean for separation of Church and State? Will Fr. Ed Panlilio rule in such a way that the focus will be on Catholic practices? Will he mandate that everyone go to church in Pampanga?

I still don’t even know what to call the guy. Should we call him Governor Father or Father Governor? GovPa or PaGov? Some of his supporters are calling him Among Gov, so I guess Father Governor is the answer to the previous question. It does sound funny, and in any other country, this may not even have happened, but in a predominant Catholic nation, only in The Philippines can a Miracle such as this happen.

I think some are asking and pondering why no other such candidate, aside from a priest, could have emerged in this election for Governor. And maybe a little worried, because in politics, compromise is the name of the game. And how does a Priest compromise with such issues as Abortion? But in these times, maybe, just maybe, unconventional and honest candidates are what we need. As to the capacity of Fr. Ed Panlilio to govern Pampanga, we will have to wait and see if he makes good on his promises — priests have to make good on their promises, right?

Related Videos

Pampanga: Supporters hail Fr. Ed Panlilio as governor-elect

Panlilio vows to crush jueteng in Pampanga

Interview with Fr. Panlilio

Closing Thoughts

In the end, I think the people of Pampanga are sick and tired of all the corruption that has been taking place. And this was a case in which supply heeded the demand, and Fr. Ed, a 53-year-old priest happened to be the man to heed that demand. As in the case of Trillanes, sometimes a campaign based on the people’s initiative is the best type of campaign to run. And when the people who volunteer are as passionate as its candidate, then it becomes destiny of sort, that the Cinderella candidate will find a way to win.

So, congratulations are in order for the people of Pampanga, may God Bless the term of Fr. Governor Ed, and let’s also pray for the rest of the candidates who win in this election. Is this a new day, I don’t think so, but maybe it’s finally a good start…

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