“…Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus…” –1 Timothy 3:13

Pardon me if this column is a bit personal but I would like to congratulate my brother-in-law Joseph Christopher ‘Concon’ Panotes after he was recently installed as Camarines Norte senior board member. During last Monday’s inaugural address by Governor Edgar Tallado, as the board member to accumulate the highest number of votes, Panotes became temporary presiding officer over the provincial body as the vice governor-elect faces an unresolved protest before the Commission on Elections. This ascension gave him the opportunity to deliver his own inaugural speech, where he emphasized an appreciation for God.
“First of all, I am giving my profuse gratitude to the Lord, our God, who gave me [these] overflowing blessings,” he said. “I have to confess, in embarking on this campaign this year, I was filled with great anxiety; the reason was that I [knew] it would be some sort of a difficult endeavor for me to follow in the footsteps of my ancestors.”
His family has a long history in local politics with his father, Atty. Roger Panotes, previously topping the provincial board elections and later becoming a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention; his uncle, Elmer Panotes, also topped the provincial board elections before serving as a congressman; his grandfather, Wilfredo Panotes, Sr., served as governor; and his aunt, Marisol ‘Toots’ Panotes, won her second term in congress.
Despite asking for a “little support” during the campaign, the final vote count came to 68,814—the highest number of votes for any provincial board candidate in both of Camarines Norte’s congressional districts.
In his speech, he also expressed a feeling of indebtedness to his supporters and vowed to exert more effort to assist and help the needy.
Panotes went on to explain, “People from Camarines Norte can expect quality service tempered with sincerity and integrity at all time.”
I am praying for more blessings, guidance, and protection for Board Member Panotes, Congresswoman Panotes, and all their loved ones from our God and Savior, whose Name is Jesus, Amen!

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