The
Roman family was the basic institution of the Roman people. The Roman
family transmitted morality and social status across generations. The
family educated its own young. The family tended its own hearth, while
the hearth goddess, Vesta, was tended by state priestess called Vestal Virgins.
The family needed to continue so that dead ancestors could be honored
by their descendants and connections made for political purposes.
The pater familias was the head of a Roman family. The term is Latin for "father of the family" or the "owner of the family estate". Roman law and tradition established the power of the pater familias within the community of his own extended familia. He held legal privilege over the property of the familia, and varying levels of authority over his dependents: these included his wife and children, certain other relatives through blood or adoption, clients, freedmen and slaves. The same tradition moderated his authority and determined his responsibilities to his own familia and to the broader community. He had a duty to father and raise healthy children as future citizens of Rome, to maintain the moral propriety and well-being of his household, to honor his clan and ancestral gods and to dutifully participate - and if possible, serve - in Rome's political, religious and social life.
*****
By reason of his grave responsibilities, the pater familias
was expected at all times to act with the diligence of a good father of
a family. This standard of diligence has been the legal yardstick of
ordinary diligence for centuries, up to now.
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In the performance of his public functions, a public official must be
guided by the standard supposed to be supplied by the imaginary conduct
of the discreet pater-familias of the Roman law. The head of a
government unit, from the smallest barangay to the entire country, is
like a father to his constituents and is expected to employ at all times
the diligence of a good father of a family.
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This brings to mind the lamented tenure of a politician who served as
governor of the province after having served as congressman for 9
years. He preferred to stay in Metro Manila, rather than in Catanduanes.
To circumvent the provision in the Local Government Code that the vice
governor shall have the right to assume the powers, duties, and
functions of the governor on the fourth day of his absence, this
politician was reported to have came by plane just to step on
Catanduanes soil, and then fly out on the same plane he came in. By any
measure, he was not a good father of the province. And so, it was not
surprising that the people of Catanduanes finally booted him out of
office during the last elections.
*****
The difference in style of governance was immediately apparent from
day one, when Joseph Cua took office as governor. In contrast, this new
governor is a "hands-on" administrator. He is always at the provincial
capitol attending to his duties as father of the province. You can see
him in even small social occasions in the remotest barangay – proof that
he cares and is catering to the needs of his extended family.
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Now, the pater familias is facing a formidable foe for
the governorship of the province, in the person of the incumbent
congressman. It is not that the congressman had lost his appetite for
the riches a congressional office offers. It is simply that he is now on
his third term, and can no longer run for re-election in congress. A
politician cannot afford to be out of the political limelight even for
one term (three years), because the slightest relaxation of a
politician’s grip on power makes him lose his stature as number one, and
strengthens the competition. It is the perception of every politician
that, to remain in power, he must always be in power. That is why,
"graduating" politicians (those who have already served three successive
terms) are compelled to run for other offices.
*****
The campaign chest of the congressman is mind-boggling --
understandably so, considering the 9 years he has been dipping his hands
on the horn of plenty. But his millions may not be enough. Surely, the
voters of Catanduanes will not forsake their pater familias just because the congressman has nowhere else to go.
*****
Going back to that former governor who was booted out of office last
elections, he is back like the plague, this time running for congressman
again. Haven’t we had enough of him? Fortunately for us, there is a
fresh choice among the candidates for congress this time – Manuel Luis
Santelices Sanchez -- "Manolo" to his friends. He is a technocrat and a
non-politician who, as former Administrator of the National
Electrification Administration, was responsible for lighting up more
than 60 barangays in Catanduanes. He is running on a solid platform of
government, highlighted by his plan to solve the problem of
insufficiency of electricity in the province. If you are already tired
of traditional politicians who are only obviously interested in pork
barrels and "SOP" instead of genuine public service, it might be
worthwhile trying out this fresh face.
*****
For me, the tandem of Joseph Cua as governor and Manolo Sanchez as congressman is the best choice.
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