FROM the shortlist of the names from where the next President would be selected by the Filipino electorate is a lesser known but definitely among the most qualified Norberto Gonzales.
Oh yes, he’s not the sensational type but he definitely walks his talk – without much fanfare or publicity stunts as others would often do.
In the province of Bataan where he comes from, he made the unthinkable by helping a non-partisan sector, where there is no guarantee of any political support that he badly needs today.
He set up the Santuario Diocesano dela Sagrada Familia, a new religious shrine located at the foot of Mount Natib in Barangay Tala in Orani town.
Gonzales, who hails from Balanga City doesn’t stand to gain anything from putting up a religious shrine. In the first place, the Church is deemed as apolitical.
That alone is laudable – if not totally unmatched by other presidential contenders embarking of well-oiled political machinery.
Just a background check, Gonzales had stints in the government. He was a former National Security Adviser and at one time was a Defense Secretary. During these government stints, there was never any controversy dragging him into corruption.
It was perhaps for this reason that the Catholic Church chose to approach the low-key Gonzales for what was then a tall order – the Santuario Diocesano dela Sagrada Familia.
Fact-checked, Gonzales didn’t just donate the land. He went farther by bankrolling the cost of its construction and development of the shrine, thus earning the admiration of the Catholic Church which has since been operating it.
I would not have known Gonzales that far if not for Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos and his peers who told local journos how a man by the name of Norberto Gonzales helped the church without ifs or buts. In short, no strings attached. The priests went farther by tagging for the former government bigwig as “God-sent,” a moniker that is hardly a description for government officials – or at least former government officials.
I’ve been at the shrine myself. In fact, I am among the thousands of believers who dropped by to pay respect, pray and had selfie at the grotto of the Virgen Milagrosa del Rosario (30 meters below the barangay road) before heading back home.
To set the record straight, at the time the shrine was officially inaugurated, the former Defense secretary never mentioned about his political plan.
To Gonzales and his family, it was no more than just paying back what the good Lord has done to him and his family.
The religious shrine is only about 1.7 hectares wide, but Bishop Ruperto Santos hinted on a plan to expand it up to 500-hectares, in God’s time and if only to ensure that the adjacent mountains are protected from poachers donning business suits.
As if what he has done isn’t enough, Gonzales told the prelates to always consider him for help.
In the event that the Church decides to beautify and expand what is now referred to as “Tagaytay In Bataan,” the son of Balanga City expressed willingness to shell out more if only to ensure that the place keeps it form – cool, green and free from poachers.
From its apex, one could actually breathe fresh air while taking a glimpse at the fascinating Manila Bay – without actually spending a dime because entering the facility is free for public for as long as the minimum public health safety protocol is strictly observed.
To date, Gonzalez hasn’t been picking numbers in political surveys. But if there’s one thing that other presidentiables should be cautious about – never underestimate the voting power of the Catholic Church.
