TRIPLE HAPPINESS. All three Carmelo Lazatins (L-R) -- first time congressman Jonjon, former five-time congressman and three-term city mayor Tarzan, and re-elected city councilor Pogi at Talk Widus forum, June 1, 2016, two years before Cong Tarzan died without seeing Pogi set a winning record in the Angeles City mayoralty polls.
SIBLING SUPREMACY is affirmed anew in the 1st District of Pampanga polls with the triumph of namesakes Carmelo Lazatin – Jon retaining the congressional seat unopposed, and Pogi setting the record of first-ever Angeles City mayor to have garnered 100,000 votes (actually 112,947). The dear lamented Carmelo père could only be on cloud nine.
On the other hand, sibling
rivalry took its toll in Sta. Rita – former mayor Art Salalila unseating
brother Dagi; and an even heavier impact in Macabebe – Bobong Flores beating
sister Annette Flores-Balgan; his son Vince besting her daughter Bembong for vice
mayor. A double whammy there.
Siblings-in-law made it in
Magalang – Malu Paras-Lacson reclaiming the mayoralty from Romy Pecson, Norman
Lacson successfully capping his three terms as vice mayor with the top spot in
the municipal council.
Conjugal rule has
descended upon Arayat with Madeth Alejandrino ascending to the mayoralty to be
vacated by three-term husband Bon, stepping down to the post of vice mayor.
Wife-atop-husband, at
least in political positions, is instanced in 4th District
presumptive Cong. Anna York Bondoc-Sagum and San Luis Mayor Dr. Jay Sagum.
How about a long-distance
relationship taken to the political plane with Marjorie Morales-Sambo elected
councilor of Mabalacat City in the 1st District and Johnny
Sambo winning over 2019 conqueror Ninang Ronquillo in Sto. Tomas in the 4th District?
Alas, a similar, if closer
– intra-3rd District – arrangement failed to materialize in the
case of reelected Mexico councilor Trina Dizon and husband Sta. Ana vice mayor
Soy Guevarra losing in his mayoralty bid.
Coupling for a political
dynasty emerged stillborn in Danilo Baylon falling short in his gubernatorial
crusade against what his mentor called “Pampanga’s entrenched dynasty” as well
as in his wife Aniway losing big to Mayor Rene Maglanque in Candaba.
The elections past in
Pampanga also had a slew of fathers not exactly bequeathing their electoral
posts to their scions like the family heirloom it has become hereabouts – being
still in the game, but actually rearing them at this early into it.
In the 3rd District,
unopposed Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales spared no expense, er, effort to make
his daughter Mica not only win a seat in the sangguniang panlalawigan but to
emerge the senior board member with the highest number of votes at 227,603, and
his son Brenz taking the top slot in the City of San Fernando council with
82,006 votes. Preparación, says mi amigo.
Reelected Patrol Partylist
Rep. Jorge Bustos steered the election of Pampanga’s youngest mayor in
Masantol’s Ton-ton Bustos, his 21-year-old son.
Mabalacat City Mayor Cris
Garbo has his heir apparent in daughter Win-Win who graduated from city
councilor to 1st District board member.
In Sta. Rita, elected
along Mayor Art Salalila is his son JR in the sangguniang bayan.
In Floridablanca,
reelected Mayor Darwin Manalansan has his son Darren elected in the SB
too.
Father-and-son who failed
to make the grade are former mayor Ernesto Punzalan, landing third behind
reelected Mayor Teddy Tumang, and his son and namesake Jun-Jun ranking 10th for
the eight-man council.
Worse than the loss of the
Punzalans is the wipeout of once mayor-for-22-years Boking Morales for mayor,
his sons Dwight for board member, and Ike for councilor in Mabalacat City.
Estranged daughter Marjorie won in the slate of Boking's nemesis Mayor Garbo, a
spit on the face of the father there.
Thereby lie the triumphs
and travails that have both blessed and beset political kin at each election.
Lose today, win the next
time. Or vice versa. Win some, lose some too. Political families have had their
share of triumphant hurrahs and mournful whimpers, on the general score. An
exception to this distinctly obtains in the Pinedas of Lubao, ever victorious
through the years.
Gov. Dennis “Delta”
Pineda. Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda. 2nd District board
member Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab. Lubao Mayor Esmie Pineda. Reelected all
comfortably, Nanay and Esmie even unopposed, in the recent polls.
Methinks, there can only
be goodness – competently and compassionately – in what they have been doing –
constantly and consistently – to merit this outpouring of trust and confidence
from their constituents. The family that serves better together, gets elected
over and over.
Troll me now,
anti-dynasts. (Zona Libre - May 17, 2022)
(Third in 6-part series
of previously published articles)
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