Losing an election Sunday, 18 March, 2012 19:00 Written by Ranhilio Callangan Aquino 4 I ran for the presidency of the

Cagayan State University, and according to the count of the Board of Regents, I lost by two votes to Dr. Romeo Quilang, twoterm president of Isabela State University. But that is the last part of the story. Four years ago, I was living a rather placid life as Rector of the Ermita de San Jacinto, a 17th century church in the heart of Tuguegarao City, and Dean of the Graduate School of Law of San Beda College, a well-paying job that did not require full-time presence in Manila. I was approached by Dr. Roger Perez, then president of the Cagayan State University. Dr. Al Narag, my assistant, was present. Dr. Perez asked me to re-join the university (since I resigned some years earlier to be part of the first set of executive officials of the Philippine Judicial Academy). He said that he trusted me to take over from him, that there was no one else he could rely on to be honest who would not profit from the position. He promised that not long after I would join, he would go on indefinite leave, paving the way for my succession. I trusted him and I joined Cagayan State University, after having asked the Civil Service Commission whether it was legally permissible for me to do so. The promised indefinite leave never came. As the end of his term drew near, he urged me: Tell me when you have the numbers (the votes of the Board of Regents members I could count on), and I will step down, so that you can take over. That too never happened. Instead, Romy Quilang was groomed to take overfor reasons I do not yet understand. It is difficult to lose, especially when you know that you meet all the qualifications and suffer none of the disqualifications. It is even more difficult when people you had relied on to be on your side, who smiled sweetly and spoke even more sweetly eventually unsheathed their daggers. But I really do not hate them. I am just sad. I understand that they have to survive, and one does not side with a loser. That is too dangerous, although real friends do. And that is the beautiful part of my story. It showed me my true friends even those who encouraged me on Facebook. Students and teachers rallied to my cause and encouraged me, keeping me constant company. My mother ceaselessly prayed, not really for my victory, but that what God thought best for me would come to pass. Judge Jet made a pilgrimage to Piat and on the day of the elections, took Koli, my nephew (who was my baby in his younger years) to Mass for my intentions. My friends who were left in Tuguegarao gathered for Mass on the day of the elections. Earlier in the week, to send me

off happily, a group gathered in my house for lunch. You should know their names, but I will not mention them here, lest I omit some. Als wife even made me a rooster amulet, since I was born under the sign of the Rooster. They are many; look them up in Facebook. I must also make special mention of CEO Jun Rabanal and CEO Perfecto Vivit who had also made a bid for the presidency. We had agreed that among ourselves, it would be a friendly, fraternal competition and it was, and it has remained so. But I must make special mention of my father, Justice Hilarion Aquino. When Dr. Roger Perez saw him at the CHED on the day of the elections, although they had known each other and worked together for a long time, there were no more smiles for my dad on Dr. Perezs part, no more of the fondness that used to be there. It was clear that he was not going to vote for me. But Daddy stayed through the process, and saw me lose the vote. I would have wanted to give him my triumph as a gift; unfortunately, it was not mine to give. My sister for her part had only one magical word for me: If they do not want you, she chimed in, deadma...with all that the cryptic word implies! I sought the support of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for one simple reason: He founded the Cagayan State University and wrote its charter. He has helped the university in so many ways, and I thought that it was only proper that a candidate assure him that his vision for the university would be brought to fruition. I must thank him here for his unwavering support. Until the very end, he made it clear that he shared my vision, that he supported my plans for the university and that he trusted me. So did Governor Alvaro Antonio, so did the Sanggunian Panlalawigan of Cagayan that passed a resolution in my favor. I am celebrating the many friends I have, and the many friends I still have who will take the risk of being identified with me, even when it seems that those who do so are marked men and women. My choir will go on singing. In fact today, I will be performing at a piano recital on the Anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination of Archbishop Sergio Utleg. Life is bigger than a lost election. That is not
sour grapes. That is perspective!