Never Ever Change! Titles Are Temporary; Power Is Not Forever!

On Dec. 15, 1998, six months after I was elected Governor of the Province of North Cotabato, I summoned the Assistant Provincial Treasurer to validate reports I received that provincial employes would serenade me with the traditional “Mañanita” on the early morning of the next day, Dec. 16, my birthday.
“I heard you are going to serenade me early tomorrow morning, is it true?” I asked Asst. Provincial Treasurer Rose Aguirre.
When she said “Yes,” I had a follow up question: “Will you still serenade me early in the morning when I would no longer be your Governor?”
She was silent and I thanked her for the thoughtfulness but told her not to proceed with the planned “Mañanita.”
“Salamat pero hwag na lang kasi baka masanay ako at hahanap-hanapin ko kung hindi na ako Governor,” I told her.
Born to a family whose parents were both teacher-farmers with barely enough to get us by, all of us 11 brothers never celebrated our birthday with lavish parties.
We just greeted each other “Happy Birthday” in the morning and if there was an extra chicken running around, we would have Tinolang Manok with Munggo and “Ubad” for lunch.
As Governor, I marked my birthdays with a program called “Pasko Alay sa Mga Bata,” where 100 poorest children from each of the 18 local government areas were treated to a party in the provincial capitol gym with games and gifts which included slippers, sandals and toys.
All my life as public servant, I had never allowed power to get into my head because I know that my title was temporary and power is not forever.
That did not make me less of a man. On the contrary, it had kept me grounded and cognizant of the realities around me.
Yesterday, I marked my 70th birthday by returning to the village where I and my brothers grew up, Nueva Vida, Mlang, Cotabato, and joined our neighbors and old friends in a simple gathering.
With the brothers, my children, nephews, nieces and workers in my farm, we treated our neighbors, their children and grandchildren to a day of games, singing contests, raffles and dances.
I danced the Boholano traditional dance of “Kuradang” with an old neighbor, Manang Patring Calib-og who used to sell us “Tuba” when were were younger.
There was love and friendship in the air and my old friends, classmates and neighbors showed me the warmth of our relationship because even with the power and the titles I had, I remained as their “Manny.”
Today, my first day as a 70-year-old, I am a happy man enjoying the true love and friendship of people around me simply because I never allowed power to change me.
Titles are temporary and Power is not forever.

(This video taken by my brother, Mlang Vice Mayor Joselito Piñol, shows me dancing “Kuracha” with Manang Patring while our God-brother, Pablito Zaldivar, displayed his dancing skills.)