With the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy now behind us, we only have to worry about the Oct. 30 deadline for biometrics registration and the Dec. 10 finale for substitution of candidates.
There are two lessons for both candidates and their followers to keep in mind the next time they sign up for public office three years from now.
First, don’t make any sortie or campaign announcement inside a church. That’s sacred space and off-limits to the theatrics of a miting de avance.
While the Catholic Church is known to issue statements related to politics when it touches on matters of values and faith —such as the Reproductive Health Act—it doesn’t endorse candidates.
That reminder was given after the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) camp of mayoral aspirant Tomas Osmeña had an on-the-spot program after Mass in front of the altar of the San
Pedro Calungsod Chapel. There were introductions of candidates made to loud applause, a group victory pose with hands lifted in the air, and a lot of selfies.
Osmeña was quick to apologize when the issue was brought up, saying he didn’t mean any disrespect. Yes, people can get carried away when election fever starts.
It was a mild episode compared with the severe blunder in Bogo City in 2009, when campaign posters of then mayoral candidate Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung were brought to the altar during
Mass at a parish church as offerings by fervent supporters. The Cebu archbishop, Ricardo Vidal, had to close the church awhile and conduct special rites to undo the effects of desecration.
“Please be reminded that the church is solely for the celebration of the Mass (and the other sacraments). It is a place of worship and its solemnity must be preserved at all costs. Anything that disturbs the solemnity and sacredness of churches, particularly partisan politics, is improper,”said canon lawyer Msgr. Esteban Binghay after the BO-PK episode this week.
Cebu Archdiocese officials said it’s time to set guidelines to prevent partisan political activity within the premises of their churches.
Politicians and their followers need to be reminded about boundaries – not gently, but with emphasis – because in the heat of electoral battle, combatants put a premium on exposure, not delicadeza.
Being considerate goes out the window, for example, in the case of filing of COCs where students of the Mandaue City College had to suffer the boisterous presence of candidates and their followers who flocked to the nearby Comelec office to file their candidacies.
Both the Liberal Party in Mandaue City and the One Cebu party slate were guilty of disrupting classes with their partisan noise. Students found it hard to concentrate on their exams. The Comelec’s rule of limiting three visitors per candidate was ignored.
For this election season, being top of mind should be a goal for every candidate but this should go hand in hand with being mindful of respecting the space (and peace) of others who don’t want to hear their spiels.
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