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CONTINUITY OVER change, disruptive change that is, appears to be the general idea, if not the very reason, behind the total absence of opposition in a number of elective positions in Pampanga for 2019.

No truer proof to this than the incumbent Gov. Lilia G. Pineda all by her lonesome in the vice gubernatorial contest. But for the three-term limit, the Capampangan electorate would have most certainly welcomed her uninterrupted for-as-long-as-she-wants stay as governor. Having been touched for close to nine years now by the beneficence, by the excellence of her governance by motherhood.

Far removed from some dynastic succession then, the switch at the governorship with her son VG Dennis G. Pineda makes – to the Capampangan – a warranty of the continuity of the Pineda brand of selfless dedication to the welfare of their cabalens.

In effect, opposition to Delta, already but token, gets further diminished to the quixotic for one, reduced to the idiotic for two.

Aye, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? If it runs smoothly, why brake, much less break it?

Thus, the zero opposition to Nanay’s Kambilan incumbents and newbies in the provincial board from the first, second, and third districts not only manifests a fearsome well-oiled political machinery but moreso, attests to an awesome level of performance beyond contestation.

So, there are an equal number of rivals to the two incumbent board members in the fourth district. Yes, one pushed to run out of spite. The other, no more than the district’s perennial pest, polls or no polls.

Going by the Commission on Election’s certified candidates’ list, it is in Lubao – the Pinedas’ hometown – though where recorded the absolute tabula rasa where any semblance of opposition is concerned – a blank slate. No candidate for mayor, vice mayor, all eight councilors other than those in the Kambilan ticket led by Esmie Pineda and Jay Montemayor. Definitely a first in Pampanga, arguably in Central Luzon, if not in the whole Philippines too. Less a proclamation than a coronation the Comelec shall undertake here.

Solo candidate for mayor too is Masantol’s incumbent Dan Guintu.

By their lonesome in the vice mayoralty races are re-electionist Doc Pangan in Mexico and term-ending mayor Annette Flores-Balgan in Macabebe.

Step-down

Balgan’s step-down to the vice mayorship appears to be the political trend in Pampanga for 2019.

Three-term mayor Leonora Wong of San Simon is running vice to her predecessor-patron Digos Canlas.

After but a single term, Apalit mayor Peter Nucom is ceding his post back to Jun Tetangco, backstopping him anew as running mate. 

Then, there’s Mabalacat City’s once-forever-mayor Marino “Boking” Morales, removed from office only in June 2017, now seeking a return, only via the vice mayoralty route.   

Former Masantol mayor Peter Flores has also chucked his mayoralty comeback in favor of a run for vice.

San Luis’ incumbent mayor Venancio Macapagal though bucked the trend by opting for the even “lower” level of councilor in next year’s polls.

Also “lowering” herself to a council seat is Sta. Ana vice mayor Mediatrix Nolasco. 

Leave it to Boking though, to take centerstage in two other trends in next year’s polls: family feud and name game.

Facing Boking in the vice mayoralty race is his own nephew, councilor Gerald Guttrie Pineda Aquino. No stranger tides here for Boking, having faced and vanquished his own daughter Marjorie Morales-Sambo for the mayorship in 2010.

Sibling rivalries

The feud even gets higher in the family totem with sibling rivalries in Macabebe and Sta. Rita.

Former mayor Leonardo “Bobong” Flores failed to wrest the Macabebe mayorship from sister Annette Flores-Balgan in 2016. Bobong will try anew in 2019, this time against brother Edgar “Gang” Flores, president of the town’s association of barangay captains. With Balgan as VM and her daughter councilor Bembong by Gang’s flanks.

Former Sta. Rita mayor Art Salalila has trained his sights on his former seat now occupied by his brother Dagi.

Aye, politics makes the better blood thinner than aspirin.  

In contrast, it’s not only familial, but precisely conjugal, love that obtains in Arayat with incumbent mayor Emmanuel “Bon” Alejandrino taking his wife Ma. Lourdes “Madir” Alejandrino as running mate.  

Talk conjugal, and it invariably gets back to Boking, for whatever reason. But not in the other trend we earlier impressed upon him – name game.

To his Marino Morales, there is alias “Marin Morales” running for Mabalacat City vice mayor versus Boking.

In Apalit, there is a Gus Manlapaz of PDP-Laban and an independent Gas Manlapaz both running for mayor against returning Jun Tetangco.

In Guagua, thrice-suspended-but-still-sitting mayor Dante Torres has one Pogi Torres among his three rivals.

In Sasmuan, a Bong Velaso of the Liberal Party is challenging incumbent mayor Nardo Velasco. But it was the first name entered in the mayoralty race that kept the town abuzz – Cabrera, Lina Mendoza – who turned out to be the reinvented Catalina C. Bagasina, former mayor, board member, partylist representative, the once and future Cinderella of Sasmuan, by the looks of it.

Politics as usual, a run though the gamut of the sublime to the paralytic. A most entertaining run, if anything.