NO MERE Galatea to husband Roy David’s Pygmalion, Edna de Ausen-David came into her own being in politics and public service.
Starting off as president of the Pampanga Mayors’ Wives League, which she successfully transformed from a sosyal circle into a catalyst for social causes – from women’s health to child nutrition, onto livelihood and even active participation in local governance, Aling Edna went on to three successive terms as senior board member of the 2nd district of Pampanga, a failed run for the vice-governorship in 2004, a triumphant comeback to the provincial board in 2007 and re-election in 2010.
The governorship, albeit for only six months, in 1999 can well serve as the defining moment of Edna de Ausen-David as politician and public servant,
A take from a column I wrote in The Voice (Feb. 21-27, 1999) from those times goes thus:
EDNA de Ausen-David is but a stop-gap fixture at the Capitol. Hers is but a transition governance. Fixed at six months. Not unless something really damning to the suspendidong magka-kosa of Gov. Lito Lapid and Vice Gov. Clayton Olalia crops up.
But already, Edna de Ausen-David is the object of a propaganda campaign which vile and venom make the bitterest election campaign like a romp through the bush.
The flak makes one conclude that overnight, Edna de Ausen-David has become not only gubernatorial timber but the very “man to beat” for the post.
Inadvertently, these propagandistang pulpol have achieved the very opposite of what they set out to accomplish. Instead of demolishing Aling Edna, they raised her political stock. Binabato ba ang punong walang bunga?
Already, Aling Edna enjoys the full support of the Pampanga mayors. Of all but one.
Already Aling Edna has been hailed as a “woman with balls of iron” with her singular devotion to pursue President Estrada’s uncompromising line against drug trafficking with the creation of the anti-illegal drugs task force.
Already, NGOs and the top religious leaders of the province have manifested their full support to the De Ausen-David administration. Their prayers too…
In her six-month governorship, Aling Edna’s fiscal management of the Capitol received national government recognition.
It was however the conceptualization and commencement of the construction of the Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center in Magalang, arising from her mandated task force headed by Arayat Mayor Benny Espino, that made the lasting impression, now legacy, of her governorship.
And still more. As this excerpt from my column Tailspin in the Nov. 20-26, 1999 issue of Angeles Observer shows:
At the recent medical mission of Fil-Am doctors from Panhandle, Florida USA held at the Bulaon Resettlement, former Gov. Estelito P. Mendoza lauded Board Member Edna de Ausen-David for working for the completion of the Rodriguez District Hospital at the site.
Before a throng of cabalens, Apung Titong reminded everybody that it was at the time of Gov. Edna David that the hospital became truly deserving of its name.
It was not lost on the people at the occasion that Apung Titong’s testimonial to Aling Edna was uttered in the presence of Gov. Lito Lapid.
If that is not one “pitik” at the Bida, I don’t know what is.
The same testimonial was given by Apung Titong during the dinner for the doctors at Café Rustico…
…Aling Edna also received some accolades from the officials of San Simon town. Azor Sitchon’s people take pride in pointing out that the fence around the town hall was constructed with funds extended by Gov. Edna.
“Sa kokonting panahon ng panunungkulan ni Gov. Edna, totoong marami siyang napagawa at natulungan. Hindi kamukha ng iba riyan. Maraming nagawa hindi para sa bayan kundi para sa sarili lamang.” So said a San Simon resident.
An achiever, as short-term governor and full-term board member where health, nutrition and women issues consisted her core competencies, Aling Edna made her mark too in socio-civic affairs via her active involvement in Quota International, and in religious services, having been president of the pastoral council of the St. Catherine of Alexandria parish in Porac and membership in various cofradias.
And a fighter – with as much rage for life as for service to her fellowmen – who battled the dreaded Big C, taking in all the pains it carried.
Ah, the relief of her family and friends when she outlived the initial six-months-to-live prognosis, and then of the until-December-only life term last year.
Ah, how her constituency was gladdened when she took to the hustings anew for her re-election last May, the news of her death at the height of the campaign “grossly exaggerated,” to use the words of Mark Twain.
Ah, the pain, the grief we are now in at her passing. Hurting at this irreparable loss of one woman of faith, of substance, of service.
Ah, how your people shall miss you, Aling Edna.
Starting off as president of the Pampanga Mayors’ Wives League, which she successfully transformed from a sosyal circle into a catalyst for social causes – from women’s health to child nutrition, onto livelihood and even active participation in local governance, Aling Edna went on to three successive terms as senior board member of the 2nd district of Pampanga, a failed run for the vice-governorship in 2004, a triumphant comeback to the provincial board in 2007 and re-election in 2010.
The governorship, albeit for only six months, in 1999 can well serve as the defining moment of Edna de Ausen-David as politician and public servant,
A take from a column I wrote in The Voice (Feb. 21-27, 1999) from those times goes thus:
EDNA de Ausen-David is but a stop-gap fixture at the Capitol. Hers is but a transition governance. Fixed at six months. Not unless something really damning to the suspendidong magka-kosa of Gov. Lito Lapid and Vice Gov. Clayton Olalia crops up.
But already, Edna de Ausen-David is the object of a propaganda campaign which vile and venom make the bitterest election campaign like a romp through the bush.
The flak makes one conclude that overnight, Edna de Ausen-David has become not only gubernatorial timber but the very “man to beat” for the post.
Inadvertently, these propagandistang pulpol have achieved the very opposite of what they set out to accomplish. Instead of demolishing Aling Edna, they raised her political stock. Binabato ba ang punong walang bunga?
Already, Aling Edna enjoys the full support of the Pampanga mayors. Of all but one.
Already Aling Edna has been hailed as a “woman with balls of iron” with her singular devotion to pursue President Estrada’s uncompromising line against drug trafficking with the creation of the anti-illegal drugs task force.
Already, NGOs and the top religious leaders of the province have manifested their full support to the De Ausen-David administration. Their prayers too…
In her six-month governorship, Aling Edna’s fiscal management of the Capitol received national government recognition.
It was however the conceptualization and commencement of the construction of the Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center in Magalang, arising from her mandated task force headed by Arayat Mayor Benny Espino, that made the lasting impression, now legacy, of her governorship.
And still more. As this excerpt from my column Tailspin in the Nov. 20-26, 1999 issue of Angeles Observer shows:
At the recent medical mission of Fil-Am doctors from Panhandle, Florida USA held at the Bulaon Resettlement, former Gov. Estelito P. Mendoza lauded Board Member Edna de Ausen-David for working for the completion of the Rodriguez District Hospital at the site.
Before a throng of cabalens, Apung Titong reminded everybody that it was at the time of Gov. Edna David that the hospital became truly deserving of its name.
It was not lost on the people at the occasion that Apung Titong’s testimonial to Aling Edna was uttered in the presence of Gov. Lito Lapid.
If that is not one “pitik” at the Bida, I don’t know what is.
The same testimonial was given by Apung Titong during the dinner for the doctors at Café Rustico…
…Aling Edna also received some accolades from the officials of San Simon town. Azor Sitchon’s people take pride in pointing out that the fence around the town hall was constructed with funds extended by Gov. Edna.
“Sa kokonting panahon ng panunungkulan ni Gov. Edna, totoong marami siyang napagawa at natulungan. Hindi kamukha ng iba riyan. Maraming nagawa hindi para sa bayan kundi para sa sarili lamang.” So said a San Simon resident.
An achiever, as short-term governor and full-term board member where health, nutrition and women issues consisted her core competencies, Aling Edna made her mark too in socio-civic affairs via her active involvement in Quota International, and in religious services, having been president of the pastoral council of the St. Catherine of Alexandria parish in Porac and membership in various cofradias.
And a fighter – with as much rage for life as for service to her fellowmen – who battled the dreaded Big C, taking in all the pains it carried.
Ah, the relief of her family and friends when she outlived the initial six-months-to-live prognosis, and then of the until-December-only life term last year.
Ah, how her constituency was gladdened when she took to the hustings anew for her re-election last May, the news of her death at the height of the campaign “grossly exaggerated,” to use the words of Mark Twain.
Ah, the pain, the grief we are now in at her passing. Hurting at this irreparable loss of one woman of faith, of substance, of service.
Ah, how your people shall miss you, Aling Edna.
