POLITICAL FAMILY fortunes -- triple, double, mixed – and misfortunes too, abounded in the 2025 polls in Pampanga.
Perfect three-of-three
scored the family of outgoing House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong”
Gonzales: daughter Mica taking up his post as 3rd District
representative; son Brenz, vice mayor of the City of San Fernando; and wife
MyMy, 3rd District board member.
Four-of-five went the
Pinedas: Nanay and son Delta switching the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial
chairs; daughter Esmie reelected as Lubao mayor, her son Jayson elected
councilor on his first try; younger daughter Mylyn failing short in her CSF
mayoralty try.
Two plus one in Macabebe.
Even before the polls, two Floreses were already guaranteed reelection
unopposed as they were: the legendary Zorro, Mayor Bobong and his son VM Vince.
Winning a seat in the town council is Uncle Bet, though said to be estranged from
the father and the son. So, what else is new among these Floreses?
Two-for-two for the
Lazatin siblings in their post exchange: Mayor Carmelo Jr., famously Pogi,
unopposed for the 1st District; Cong Carmelo II, distinctively
Jon, landslide winner for the Angeles City mayoralty.
Pampanga’s long-running
conjugal politics guaranteed to stay for another three years at least: 4th District
Rep. Dr. Anna York Bondoc-Sagum and husband San Luis Mayor Dr. Jay Sagum.
Winning husband and wife
also: unopposed Guagua VM Jun Lim and 2nd District board member
Claire-David-Lim.
Couples to serve in
separate LGUs are Soy Guevarra at No. 3 in the Sta. Ana council, and Trina
Dizon at No. 8 in the Mexico council.
Separate LGUs likewise for
reelected Mayor John Sambo of Sto. Tomas and wife Marjorie Morales-Sambo, No. 6
in the Mabalacat City council.
Speaking of Marjorie, she
will serve in the same local legislative body with half-sibling Ike Morales
(No. 1). A third progeny of once-forever Mabalacat City mayor Boking Morales
was elected to the Bamban, Tarlac council – Bap Morales at No. 6.
Despite the legal
entanglements over the POGO yoke around his neck, Porac Mayor Jing Capil made
not only a highly convincing win but even lifted his daughter Jen to the vice
mayoralty.
Can’t talk of Porac
without any mention of the Lapids. Aye, Senator Pinuno aka Supremo, aka Leon
Guerrero held on the 11th spot in the Upper House. Son Meynard
taking second spot in the town council.
Still in Porac: Number 1
board member of the 2nd District Fritzie David-Dizon, her
brother Dexter David coming back to the town council at No. 5.
Father and son in Bacolor:
unopposed Mayor Diman Datu, No. 2 councilor Jude Edward.
A variation of the same in
Sta. Ana: first-time Mayor Dinan Labung, reelected 3rd District
board member Lucky.
Mother-daughter in Sto.
Tomas: VM Gloria “Ninang” Ronquillo, first time councilor Ara at No. 5.
Ronquillo son Raymond though lost in his mayoralty bid.
Uncle-niece in Masantol:
Returning Mayor Dan Guintu, first time VM Buday Guintu.
Their double victory
spelling the wholesale defeat of the Bustos family: Patrol Rep. Jorge
avalanched in the 4th District congressional race; son Mayor
Ton Ton losing after a single term; nephew Joshua, also-ran for the vice
mayoralty.
Double whammy in Mabalacat
City: “sure winner” Mayor Cris Garbo upset by “upstart” Atty. Geld Aquino;
Garbo daughter Winwin losing in her vice mayoral bid against Jun
Castro.
Twice the impact of a
double loss obtained in couple Danilo and Aniway Baylon: As in 2022, so in 2025
– the husband failing in his gubernatorial bid, the wife in the Candaba
mayoralty. Both, miserably.
Father-daughter under the
losing column: Rolly Macalino 4th in the 3-seat 3rd District
provincial board; Doc Ayzel 13th in the 10-slot CSF council.
First try unlucky for
Architect Alex Tumang in the Mexico mayoralty race and his niece Dr. Hazel
Tumang for the 3rd District congressional seat.
Double loss for siblings
Paul Quiwa, third and last in the 3rd District congressional
race, younger brother Perico 14th in the CSF council race.
And then, the instances
of unosinotra – a Spanish term – alternate, staggered,
one-for-the-other – finding common ground in the disparate world of
engineering, cockfighting, and yes elections in the Philippine political
setting.
One wins, the other
loses. Suerti nang Pedru, malas nang Huwan. Mipa-pamilya la man. So,
we Kapampangans are wont to say.
In Magalang, Mayor Malu
Paras-Lacson was reelected, her brother-in-law Norman lost in his comeback bid
for vice mayor.
In Sta. Rita, Mayor Art
Salalila was unseated by newbie Reynan Calo; his brother Dagi, with whom he has
had win-loss contests for the mayorship, won as vice mayor.
In San Simon, his multiple
suspensions from office notwithstanding, Mayor Abundio “JP” Punsalan was
reelected; his daughter Janice aka JP lost in the vice mayoralty
race.
Win some, lose some. Wax,
wane. What is there to see?
Political families are
here to stay.
So, you’re mad about it?
Look at just the three
elections past and be dismayed.
Look further back and
despair. (May 16, 2025)
(Second in 6-part
series of previously published articles)
No comments:
Post a Comment