ABS CBN News has this story recently, Governors Ed Panlilio (Pampanga) and Padaca (Isabela) are handpicked as presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2010 election by the PPP Movement for reasons they want a change in leadership but only with people who are morally upright.
Here is an excerpt of the news:
A group supporting the candidacy of Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio and Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca in the 2010 presidential elections was launched Sunday.
Panlilio-Padaca para sa Pagbabago Movement (PPP Movement) said it is convinced that only Panlilio and Padaca, if elected president and vice-president, respectively, can deliver the needed change in the country.
PPP Movement was launched by various organizations namely Kaya Natin! Movement, Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka and the Philippine Alliance of Ex-Seminarians.
Running priest Fr. Robert Reyes is also part of the newly-formed group.
Members of the PPP Movement said they remained unfazed that the chances of Panlilio, a Catholic priest on leave, and Padaca winning in the elections are slim.
They added that they were inspired by the recent victory of US president Barack Obama.
The group also urged the public to contribute at least P1 to help in the campaign.
Reports said Panlilio was not closing his doors to the possibility of him running in the 2010 polls with Padaca as his running mate.
Saying that he is not afraid to lose, Panlilio admitted that he is more afraid to win “because it will be a big responsibility.”
Panlilio’s running for president was criticized by the CBCP however as something divisive to the Catholic Church. But as far as Panlilio is concerned, he’d rather return to priesthood after his term rather than running for president. This reminds me of the statement, “is there no other good man else?”
Abraham Pleads for Sodom (Genesis 18: 26-33)
26 The LORD said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”
32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
Like Abraham we are also pleading to the Lord to give us the wisdom to select our leaders. May the Lord give us not just one or two names who have the courage and moral integrity to lead this country but a number of them. But if there is only one good person standing there who lead and free this nation from the hands of the greedy and corrupt politicians/ leaders may He lead us to the light. I believe there are other good people there who can be used by the Lord to lead this country into moral and financial recovery like Moses.
KLINIKA BOBONYO @ your service 