2013 lookback: Dynasties, duh!

 

IT IS a surprise that there are still some people getting surprised – aghast! – at members of same families trooping to the Commission on Elections to file their respective certificates of candidacy for the 2025 polls starting Oct. 1.

So, what else is new? I dusted a piece published here May 20, 2013 just after the mid-term elections that year. Then, as now, elections have remained more family affair than exercise of a public right. Here goes:

“NO TO Mag-INDA-Now.”

Punning perfection from Pampanga’s moral minority provided the high definition, indeed, impacted the meanest meaning, to political dynasty in the province. Alas, it failed to catch the imagination, much less inflame the conviction of the electorate. Most miserably, at that.

Did I say minority? Minimality, more aptly, as suggested by their actual number. But that makes yet another story. Anyways… 

The Pineda juggernaut an irresistible force. Among Ed Panlilio’s spirited stand…well, all spirits, amounting to nothing but token resistance.

Not just mag-inda – mother Gov. Lilia G. Pineda and son vice governor-elect Dennis aka Delta winning by the widest margins, but really mi-inda-inda – daughter Mylyn and daughter-in-law Yolly also getting re-elected as mayors, unopposed – veritably for the former, virtually for the latter.

Mag-INDA-Now! A dynasty well-entrenched there. Appended insinuations of the Ampatuans notwithstanding, indeed, lost in the triumphant shouting. Across Central Luzon, reverberating.

Realpolitik now: Matriarchal in Pampanga becomes patriarchal in Bataan, conjugal in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, and fraternal in Tarlac.

All four Garcias won in Bataan: the father, incumbent Gov. Tet Garcia traded places with son, 2^nd District Rep. Albert Garcia; son Jose Enrique Garcia was re-elected Balanga City mayor, and daughter Gila Garcia won the Dinalupihan mayorship.

Laid by the wayside of the Garcia blitz are the Payumos – ex-SBMA chair Tong Payumo losing anew in the first district congressional run; his Harvard-educated son Tonito failing in his bid for the provincial board; his nephew, incumbent Dinalupihan Mayor Joel Payumo, losing in his gubernatorial quest; Joel’s brother, ex-Mayor Jose Payumo III knocked out in his return bout for the mayorship.

In Bulacan, both husband Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado and wife 1^st District Rep. Marivic Alvarado ran – and won, but of course – unopposed.

Though opposed, Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and wife 3^rd District Rep. Cherry D. Umali managed to bury their rivals in landslides.

The once powerful Josons shut out in the races for governor, vice-governor and the first congressional district, managing wins only in their bailiwick of Quezon town and in the provincial board and Cabanatuan City council.

No sibling rivalry but mutuality in competency leading to victory was the case in Tarlac. Gov. Victor Yap lived up to his name anew, in avalanche win over Cojuangco kin Isa Suntay and incumbent Vice Gov. Pearl Pacada.

A walk in the park for incumbent 2^nd District Rep. Susan Yap with 120,822 votes to erstwhile Public Works director Pepe Rigor’s 34,696.

No contest too for San Jose Mayor Jose Yap, Jr. over the substitute candidate for his murdered rival, Rudy Abella.

All is not lost though for the anti-dynasts, taking heart in the fall – and how! – of the House of Gordon and the Clan of Magsaysay in Olongapo City and Zambales.

Incumbent Olongapo Mayor James Gordon, Jr., lost in his bid for the first congressional district seat. His wife, former Vice Gov. Anne Mary Gordon failed to succeed him in an internecine battle with their nephew Bugsy de los Reyes – both losing to Rolen Paulino. Brian Gordon, son of Dick, also lost in the vice mayoral contest.

Kin JC de los Reyes failed in his Senate bid. And with Dick himself finally excluded from the Magic 12, thorough becomes the Gordon debacle.  

Shut out of the Senate too were Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and niece-in-law Mitos Magsaysay. 

Mitos’ children Jobo and Vic-Vic shared her loss, failing in their respective bid for the first congressional district seat and the vice mayoralty post of Olongapo.

Back to Pampanga, all is not lost too for the moral minimality, with aspiring dynasties nipped in the bud this Monday past.

Come to think of it, voters in two towns took heed to calls of “No to Mag-INDA Now,” literally. In Bacolor, Mayor Jomar Hizon got his re-election but his mother Atching Lolet was frustrated in her vice mayoral aspiration. In Magalang, Koko Gonzales won a council seat even as his mother, LP official bet Elizabeth, came in third and last in the mayoral contest.    
No to mag-igpa too, apparently with the father, Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo failing to capitalize on his John Lloyd stock against comebacking Cong. Rimpy Bondoc for the fourth district congressional seat, and the son, Patrick losing in his own run to succeed him.

No conjugal rule in Sto. Tomas: the husband-and-wife tandem of former Mayor Romy “Ninong” Ronquillo and incumbent Vice Mayor Gloria “Ninang” Ronquillo losing to history-making re-elected Mayor Lito Naguit – first three-termer ever, and running mate Mark Arceo.

It’s vote-one, take-out-one in Angeles City in the case of Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. winning a council seat while his senior, Cong Tarzan losing his mayoralty bid. Ditto Atty. Brian Matthew Nepomuceno landing Number 2 in the council while uncle Blueboy losing to Vice Gov. Yeng Guiao in his congressional comeback run.

Though both Pamintuan father – Mayor EdPam, and son – councilor Edu made a successful return. Same thing in Mabalacat City with Mayor Boking Morales re-elected for the umpteenth time, and his son Dwight, now neophyte alderman. Minus, daughter Marjorie Morales-Sambo who got beaten in the vice mayoralty race.     

Now, what does this add up to?

Utterly lacking in the requisite socio-economic, political, even anthropological and psychological background for an exegesis of the issue at hand, I can only guess: It is not that voters love some families less, but that they are mesmerized by other families more. Duh?