Gov. Ed Panlilio, popularly known as “Among Ed”, is the Inquirer’s choice for Filipino of the Year for 2007.

Panlilio got the highest number of votes — 20 — among Inquirer editors and assistant editors. He bested Chief Justice Reynato Puno (15 votes), the Sandigabayan justices who tried and found former Pres. Estrada guilty of plunder (4 votes), Sumilao farmers (2 votes), Filipino mountaineers who reached the summit of Mt. Everest (2 votes), and the solar car Sinag (1) vote.

The “miracle” that was Panlilio’s win of the Pampanga gubernatorial post and his continuing fight with entrenched interests in the provincial capitol impressed most of the editors.

Thumbnail courtesy of Inquirer.net