KUBOL PAG-ASA and Among Ed

Fr. Roberto P. Reyes
September 8, 2007
Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

After more than two years, the prayer and fasting group that was born during the forty four day hunger strike at People Power Monument (PPM) along EDSA highway is still kicking and alive. I remember that faithful morning of July 10, 2005 when a handful of us pitched tent on the stage area of the PPM. We were ready for a 24 hour black fast, no food, no water, as protest against the election anomalies that gravely put to question the current Government’s legitimacy. Towards four in the afternoon, we were all glued to the radio intently listening to the reading of the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines statement. We were completely oblivious of our hunger and thirst. We listened and waited, pinning our hopes on a word, a line that will shed light on the spreading moral darkness and give clear direction to the political impasse that paralyzes the land. The word, the line did not come…Instead, something that threw us off completely, “WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO RESIGN!!!”

The statement was long but that was the crux of it. The bishops have decided to give her a chance. The moral, spiritual voice of the land suspended judgment on the legitimacy of the Arroyo Government. And to the consternation of many, she and her family seemed ready to receive the happy news. They were somewhere near the Malate Church. Minutes after the Bishops’ statement was read, they came out on national TV strolling along a part of Mayor Atienza’s Bay Walk. The cameras followed them to a nearby restaurant where they had a merienda (snack). Their faces not only relieved but truly happy and jubilant. After all, life did not stop for them. Life in Malacanang will go on. Thanks to the “statement.” Life goes on…the show goes on.

This little group praying and fasting decided to hole in, fast and pray for as long as necessary. The group called themselves Kubol Pag-Asa. The group has survived and continues to serve God and Country in their many, small but consistent ways of proclaiming the gospel of Hope, truth, justice and peace.

Last August 29, 2007, Kubol Pag-Asa visited Fr. Ed Panlilio, the priest turned Governor of his province. In the past Fr. Ed was fondly called Among Ed. Now people call him Among Gob instead. From Among Ed, Father Ed to Among Gob, Father Gob.

Our appointment was at 8:00 a.m. We arrived at the Provincial Capitol around 7:30 a.m. With us was a five foot statue of the Lady of the Miraculous Medal, a gift from one of my former parishioners.

When Among Gob arrived from one of his many safe houses, I walked towards him and we spontaneously hugged each other, for Ed and I have been friends since we met in 1980 as seminarians soon to be ordained priests. We presented Lola Dahl’s (Mrs. Asuncion Leetai, older sister of Fr. Leetai SJ, first Filipino rector of San Jose Major Seminary, where I studied) gift of our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. The gift is also a prayer that the miracle of Among Gob’s victory may be sustained by his devotion to the Lady and the gift of her gracious and abiding presence and guidance to the people of Pampanga.

After, we were served coffee and sandwiches, we sat down to talk and listen to Among Gob. Our simple message to him was a commitment to pray and fast for clean, principled, uncompromising governance in Pampanga. We also promised to remain in contact with him and find ways and means of helping him and the people of Pampanga give birth to a different and truly new politics. Then it was Among Gob’s turn to speak. Here is the gist of what he said:

“ Ours is a “leadership by example.” From articulation of moral principles to concrete advocacy…from working on the outside to working within. Robert and I were Martial Law seminarians. We were inspired by Gospel values. We asked how we can help inspire by a spirituality that is Christ-centered and Marian. My first 100 days followed a program called HEAL, which stands for Healt-Education-Livelihood program. I immediately began going around the province. I was quite shocked at what I discovered. In the provincial hospitals, there is very little available medicine. Eight hospitals do not have ambulances. Some do not even have electricity. One hospital has a public dump beside it. The education sector needs serious attention. The public school system is not doing very well. The students in general are at the 57% of the General Average Accomplishment. The passing of course is 75%. So we have launched a simple target of 57-75. Slowly, to move, motivate, facilitate the education process using all available means towards at least the 75% level of achievement. Then from there we move higher. Our teachers are a overworked and underpaid. Some schools do not even have textbooks. As to livelihood, we have developed a fund for Micro-Enterprise. Because of the enormity of the work, we have also began an Adoption Scheme, where businesses, rich institutions, rich individuals can adopt a school or a hospital. What is quite a surprise to us is the recent finding of the lahar levy or taxes collected from the lahar quarrying in the province. In the last administration, the declared annual collection of levy on quarrying was P 29 million. Last July, our collection for just a month was almost P 29 million. What was allegedly collected in one year, we collected in one month….”

After listening to Among Ed, a brief period of comments and questions followed. We had to go as the waiting room on the other side was beginning to crowd with others waiting to see Among Gob. We said a prayer, thanked Among Gob and promised to return soon. Fr. Ed has gone a long way from priest to social action director and now Governor of Pampanga. Not only his detractors and political rivals are looking hard at him. Even the less supportive members of the Church are not too keen on supporting him.

Kubol Pag-Asa came to show support not only to a man of God but to a Filipino who wants to burn his candle while he still can. With our prayers, fasting and collaboration in forging the elusive challenge of a different and new politics, we too choose to let our little candles burn as brightly as possible. We left Among Ed…We also left the statue of the Blessed Virgin…Yet, we felt that after that brief but meaningful encounter, we have not really left. Something has begun…something new, different, something worth nurturing and supporting….with the grace and guidance of Jesus and Mary….Amen…