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MABUHAY ANG PANGASINAN!
June 30, 2016 Message
Today let us thank the Lord for the gift of politics. Politics is a gift of God to His people. Politics helps people attain peace. Politics helps people to progress. Politics helps people to reach better lives. Politics as a gift of God is a veritable mine of gold and diamonds. Politics when conducted with altruism and godliness is a bottomless mine of gold and diamonds. But in the context of our times, in situations repeated in many parts of the nation, politics has become not a mine of gold and diamonds but a filthy septic tank of waste and dirt. It happens because men and women use politics for their enrichment and not for the good of others.
How does it happen that politics becomes a septic tank rather than a mine of gold? It does not happen in a flash. It happens when values are eroded and virtues are compromised.
Politics becomes dirty and filthy when there is administration without accountability. Public servants are employees of the people. Civil power and authority is stewardship not ownership. Stewards account. Caretakers report. Servants know their limits. When accountability is forgotten and transparency is frowned at, administrators become bosses and the mine becomes a septic tank.
Administration without accountability leads to another filth which is governance without godliness. There is separation of Church and State and that is a law that both religion and government must respect. But there must be no separation between God and man. Governor Espino is our governor but Christ alone is our King. When governance has no ethics and plays blind to the precepts of godliness, politics starts to stink.
The third leg that leads to dirty politics is eloquence without example. Speeches are easy to write and smooth to deliver but what society needs now are not eloquent speakers but inspiring examples of life. Let lifestyle be inspiring. Let private lives shine forth as examples of integrity. When lives become examples, speeches become more empowering.
Can politicians be saints? Yes. Kings have become saints serving their kingdoms. Politics can be a mine of sanctity for leaders and their peoples. Politicians are called to be saintly like all of us.
Serving the same people at the service of the same God, we promise collaboration for the sake of our people. Pursuing the same vision as Filipinos and as Catholics, we will be vigilant because vigilance is the great price for freedom. Dreaming of a better world, we will offer our critique and denounce error but kindly look at us, not as enemies wanting governments to fall, but as brethren and friends wishing politics to succeed.
Mabuhay po ang Pangasinan!
+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan
