How do you solve the problem in Pampanga?

The province of Pampanga is very close to the heart of the President. For obvious reasons: she had spent her childhood years in Lubao, Pampanga and her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal came from there.

During the present reign of La Gloria many developments have been made in the North of Luzon toward Pampanga. To begin with, we have a very good highway called the North Luzon Expressway (NLE or NLEx), also called North Diversion Road. It is a limited-access toll expressway that connects Metro Manila to the provinces of the Central Luzon region in the Philippines. The expressway begins in Quezon City at a cloverleaf interchange with EDSA: a logical continuation of Andres Bonifacio Avenue. It then passes through Quezon City, Caloocan City, and Valenzuela City in Metro Manila. Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, and Pulilan in Bulacan. San Simon, San Fernando, Mexico and Angeles City in Pampanga. The expressway currently ends at Mabalacat and merges with the old MacArthur Highway, which continues northward into the rest of Central and Northern Luzon.

I just do not understand why the development seemed to have stopped in Pampanga and did not go onward toward Tarlac, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and the Mountain Province where up to now many accidents occur due to poor infrastructure.

Yup! Many have already accepted the fact that the NLEX was made to favor La Gloria’s hometown (Pampanga) while the SLEX still stays the same "rickety bumpity" road. Mind you the SLEX is as important as the NLEX. It is also called South Superhighway (SSH). It is a network of three expressways that connects Metro Manila with the provinces of the CALABARZON region where the bulk of the Luzon economic trading zones are located.

Remember CALABARZON is composed of five provinces, namely: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. The region’s name is an acronym of the names of these provinces. (CALABARZON and MIMAROPA were previously combined together as Southern Tagalog, until they were separated in 2002. Palawan was subsequently moved from MIMAROPA to the more logical Western Visayas, turning the former into MIMARO.) Now, CALABARZON connects us to MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan). The evidence of the importance of SLEX is quite clear but to date, nothing is being done.

Now what does this have to do with the problem in Pampanga? Well, to begin with, you already have a prelude as to how Pampanga is much loved by our President. I did not even mention the International Airport which has already been set up in Clark Development Corporation ha. If you ask me, the government should have improved the airport in Boracay first (both Kalibo and Caticlan or even our own Domestic Airport in Manila) before developing the one in Clark because Boracay is already an international and world class destination – but airport there stinks. I mean it literally stinks – go and see it for yourself you’ll be ashamed to promote the island (attention Mr. Ace "WOW Philippines" Durano – it is not WOW! but YUK!).

Anyway, what is the problem that lurks in Pampanga? The problem is that of a moral issue. In fact, many have speculated that the reason why the province has been the center of so many natural calamities (earthquakes, lahar, floods) and disease is due to KARMA. I will not elaborate further. I can only surmise so much but when you hear the local people talking about their hometown and the problems that linger the province, you can’t help but feel a tingling sensation of coldness rush through your spinal cord (nakakataas talaga ng balahibo). You will end up with a question mark on the top of your head asking yourself, "why does she allow these things to happen?"

A major dilemma of the Kabalens is who to vote for as Governor. They cannot seem to understand why GMA is very close to the two contenders – the Lapids who are accused of having pocketed multi-millions of quarry money and the Pinedas who allegedly are jueteng lords (although both allegations have not been proven). Being close to these families already breaks the public’s trust in her for moral ascendancy. And so, they have no choice but to push Father Ed Panlilio (a priest) to run for Governor. Even if it means for him to leave his Congregation to save their province from all the evils, he would do so.

A little history of Pampanga shows us that the Kapampangans take pride in their province having produced two presidents, three chief justices, a Senate President, the first Filipino Cardinal and many outstanding personalities in public service, education, diplomacy, journalism, the arts and sciences, entertainment and business. Not too long ago, five of the sitting fifteen magistrates of the Supreme Court were Kapampangans. Do not forget that Pampanga is one of the eight provinces in the country to revolt against Spain. One of the eight rays in the Philippine flag is symbolic of Pampanga. There you are! A province full of pride in history, culture, people and progress. The Kabalens will never give up, they will never take things in stride – they will rise up in arms to save their land.

It was against this backdrop that Father Ed Tongol Panlilio, parish priest of Betis, Guagua threw the gauntlet to challenge two politically-entrenched and moneyed families to provide Kapampangans dismayed with having to choose between Mark Lapid (LAKAS NUCD) and Lilia Pineda (KAMPI), a third moral choice.

The public has been curious about who this priest is. We also have been caught between his choice to lead the people and leave the Church. Father Ed was born in Minalin, Pampanga on December 6, 1953. In December 2005 he celebrated the silver anniversary of his sacerdotal ministry. According to his Kabalens, he has an impressive track record as prime mover for social development and community building. In 1999, Father Ed was given by the provincial government a "Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award for Community Development" and two years ago was bestowed by the Archdiocese of Pampanga the Archbishop’s Award for Social Services.

Father Ed has the staunch support of the upper and middle class families in Pampanga. Whether his idealism and love for Pampanga backed by his Kabalens who want to change the province’s political, social and moral landscape will prevail over traditional politics, the results of the May 14 polls will show. I can surely smell a new People Power Movement rising in the province of Pampanga. Abangan!