Not a lame duck governor

GOV. Amado T. Espino, Jr. was right to direct all local elected officials and employees to remain focused on their work and not allow politics to affect their work.

Unfortunately, it does not seem that things will go his way, not after the die has been cast on who will be the main protagonists in the gubernatorial election in 2016. Whether he likes it or not, politics will now take center stage. Does the situation make the governor a lame duck?  Yes, unless he continues to crack the whip on the bureaucracy and makes mayors account.

The province cannot afford to have a lame duck governor, and we are certain Mr. Espino himself is not willing to accept that his term has practically ended.  There is still one legacy that he needs to leave behind- to make Pangasinan truly illegal drug-free!

Most believe he can still make it happen given his military background and understanding of law enforcement. In this regard, a taskmaster-cum general waging a full war against drug syndicates can never be a lame duck governor.  And without a doubt, everyone wants Mr. Espino to continue to show the way, to stay focused on what’s good for Pangasinan.

We pray he will.

 

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Pope visit

THE announcement of Pope Francis’ visit to the country in January 2015 is a whiff of fresh air as it comes at a time when we are being buffeted by money scams allegedly involving big-time politicians, not to mention we are still reeling from the effects of the deadliest typhoon of all time in “Yolanda” that killed almost 7,000 of our brethren in Leyte and its neighbors.

The last pope to visit us in 1992 was John Paul II, who was canonized only very recently together with John XXIII.  Paul VI, an ardent fan of John XXIII, was the first pope to come to the Philippines in 1970, an event marred by a knife attack against him upon arrival at the airport by Benjamin Mendoza y Amor Flores, a mentally-deranged Bolivian painter.

Pope Francis, a.k.a. Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, is not only a man of prayer but also of modesty, who leads a simple life by riding in simple cars and living in very modest quarters.  When he was chosen pope last year and was asked if he would accept it, he said:  “I am a sinner, but if the Lord had looked upon me, do I have a choice?”

He told businessmen:  “Money must serve, not rule.” He told politicians:  “Those wanting to enter government must ask themselves two questions.  Do I love my people in order to serve them better?  Do I listen to everybody, to diverse opinions, in order to choose the best path?” Isn’t that closer to home?

One time, he left the Vatican to have lunch at the workers’ cafeteria, joined the line for his food and paid for it. Surely, there is more to learn from him.

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