David and Gloriath
June 27th, 2009 by blackshamaThe irony can never be lost. Randy is quite tall and Gloria is so small. However, Gloria being the seasoned, machiavellian pollie she is, I think the metaphor is apt. Yesterday in one of the discussions at the faculty lounge in my department we tried to make sense if Randy David is a fool or not for declaring his intentions to run for the 2nd district seat in his Pampanga. Some thought he should just be contented cruising Pampanga’s highways on weekends in between birdwatching sessions in Candaba.
Conventional wisdom told us that Father Ed Panlilio couldn’t wrest the governorship from the usual trapos. But we were proven wrong. Despite the largesse that Gloria has dished out to her provincemates, she can’t be sure that her subjects will take the cash, do their stuf f she expects they would or vote otherwise. We call this the Blessed Cardinal Sin prescription. But whether or not that is successful, depends on how “religious” cabalens are.
Pampanga is considered still a jewel in the crown of Philippine Catholicism. This is evidenced in the colonial churches that dot each town which are well preserved. The Aglipayans barely made headway in this province and while the Iglesia ni Cristo has grand capillas in the major towns, Catholicism is still the faith of the Kapampangans. The influence of the Church is still relevant and strong. Randy David’s family has produced not a quite few lay Catholic workers, priests and nuns. The organization and subversive potential of the Roman Church can never be matched by Gloria or any other politician in heaven or hell. In this sense Randy David has a chance.
Prez Gloria has refrained from commenting on her plans but her Mikey says “David is in for a rude awakening”. Obviously this blast of hot air is ill considered. Mikey ain’t as astute a politician as her PhD mom. If David will sling a rock, we expect this to miss Gloria but hit Mikey between the orbits of his eyes! For a much needed dose of schadenfreude, we that hope his most important organ (not the one most people think but the brain!) can be deflated.
Who knows Randy can be King David. But a congressional election is local. But as other commentators have said, the local is actually national. So the race for that seat should be interesting.
And another thing, while Randy may take a lefty stance on some issues, he won’t preach to the converted in the party list route. That itself is significant!
June 27, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Aww, Randy David. I was a freshman and with my blockmates loitering along a Palma Hall corridor near his class. He came out in a a petit holy rage, and scolded us for making such a ruckus, as only snot-faced freshmen in Diliman could. We all bowed in deference of course. Somehow, he reminded me of late, my usually silent lolo, pero kung magalit, matindi!. LOL. No libbie egghead this Randy David! Go go fight the Pandak!
June 27, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Freshies sometimes deserve that treatment!
June 27, 2009 at 3:22 pm
“… while Randy may take a lefty stance on some issues, he won’t preach to the converted in the party list route. That itself is significant!”
what’s truly significant is that the professor is now chair of the u.p. sociology department and continues to refuse prof. sarah raymundo tenure, still WITHOUT saying why, and WITHOUT giving prof. raymundo a chance to defend herself. his excuse, that it was decided during former chair aquino’s term, doesn’t wash, because the case isn’t over, the higher-ups have decided in favor of granting tenure, and prof. david has a chance to right a grievous wrong, but he won’t. so what’s so great about his politics again??? http://wonderdust.blogspot.com/2009/01/who-afraid-of-sarah-raymundo.html
wasnt it you who said: “Supporters of Prof Raymundo says that her department has not been transparent enough in its decision rejecting her application for tenure. At UP Diliman these “tenure problem controversies” are often observed at the College of Social Science and Philosophy. The reason as some CSSP insiders say is that decisions are often influenced by ideological persuasions. Now Raymundo is a known ”tibak”. I wonder why this tibak got the ire of UP’s homegrown “fascists”? Now it should be that in an academic community, tenure should be determined by one’s academic standing. It should matter not if one is a Marxist, Maoist, Fascist, Atheist, Opus Dei, ADD, Iglesia ni Cristo, Born Again, Catolico Sarado, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Metrosexual, Heterosexual etc.” http://filipinovoices.com/the-centennial-partys-over-and-now-comes-the-hard-part
June 27, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Sorry I won’t take your bait. It is the socio department’s academic prerogative to nominate their chair. Now whether that is significant in David’s candicacy, air your complaints when he is on the stump.
June 27, 2009 at 6:33 pm
There are at least 2 issues with R/David’s treatment of “Raymundo tenure” — “Fairness” and “protocol/following of “constitution” of UP-Diliman”, and the two issues relate to Randy David’s fitness-to-service.
June 27, 2009 at 4:14 pm
A lefty Catholic candidate is exactly what the legislature needs, though I replace the adjectives with “progressive principled” candidate. Blocking Ms. Arroyo is a bonus. Getting a principled thinker into the legislature is extraordinarily valuable.
One down . . . ummm, how many legislative seats are there? . . . several hundred to go.
Things are looking up.
Joe
June 27, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Randy David can try his luck in politics. It may be a long shot for
the position. However, miracles can happen.
Pampanga is the bulwark of Catholicism. We like the Cenaculo and the
nailing of the cross of Penitents during Holy Weeks. If Gloria Arroyo
would like to have penance for her sins. Let her be crucified on
Holy Week. Mike Arroyo, Sr. will be crucified on her right. Joc Joc
Bolante will be crucified on her left. The country will finally
have its redemption.
June 29, 2009 at 12:52 pm
kung matalo man…
I predict a 30-70 chance for David. After all, maghirap na ang buong Pilipinas, but I believe Pampanga has had so much of a blessing during her Term- pasko kahit hindi December, ika nga ng ilan.
However, kung matalo man si David, then I think that served the purpose of his running-that we did not just let her take the position without battle.