THE two-bit circus is coming to town, meaning the barangay elections is in motion. The village people will troop to the polls next month, May 14 a Monday which was declared a holiday. It is not yet the big league.
The mid-term poll is scheduled in the month of May next year. But we will know the candidates by October this year when the aspirants will queue to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices. It is still few months away when we will know who filed their certificates of candidacies before the Commission on Elections.
Constantly we hear the names of Alexander Caugiran, Bryan Nepomuceno, Irineo Alvaro, Carmelo ‘Tarzan’ Lazatin as the runners in the 2019 Angeles City mayoral race. In any case that the five will be on the starting line up in October, then there is Angeles City political history in the making. Each of the five has a tag.
Caugiran is a long associate and political partner of incumbent Mayor Edgardo D. Pamintuan. Their partnership dates back in the first quarter storm era when activism was at its height during the martial law regime of strongman Ferdinand Marcos. They were glued by years. If Pamintuan rose to prominence, certain credits should be credited to Caugiran. If Caugiran will be lucky enough to make it as mayor of Angeles, then ANGELES CITY WILL GET ELECTED AS THE FIRST MAYOR FROM BARANGAY SAPANGBATO.
Bryan Nepomuceno s a whispering distance to become chief executive of Angeles City. You may say that Nepomuceno got it all. In Tagalog, ‘anak ng Diyos’.
Tall, handsome, intelligent and mild mannered with a genuine smile for everyone. I saw him in the political hustings in 2013 where I was with him together in the council slate. He is today’s rock star of Angeles politics.
His parents, former Pampanga Vice Governor Robin Nepomuceno and Cecil Cuyugan Nepomuceno tutored him how to deal with the people and he is really particularly nice to the marginalized. His uncle Francis Blue Boy Nepomuceno served also as city mayor.
His grandparents were long time serving Governor Francisco Nepomuceno and Juanita Lumanlan Nepomuceno who served as Congresswoman of the first district. If Bryan will be lucky to get the plum, HE WILL BE ANGELES CITY’S THIRD GENERATION NEPOMUCENO TO BECOME MAYOR.
Irineo ‘Bong’ Alvaro is a highly educated individual, having a sheepskin doctorate degree pasted on his wall. Very focused. Always methodical in his approaches. He has a lucky star in his palm.
Coming from a marginalized family in Concepcion, Tarlac he hit the big time and now part owner of Eagle Sky an on-line gambling casino, Midori Hotel and Casino and the recently opened Aqua Planet, all in active operations inside the Clark Freeport.
He was an outspoken and outstanding member of the city council for many years. The only failure I know of him when he made an unsuccessful run for vice mayor. In case Bong will make it, HE WILL BE THE FIRST MAYOR COMING FROM CONCEPCION, TARLAC.
And last but not the least and most known among the would be aspirants definitely is Carmelo ‘Tarzan’ Lazatin. A former congressman and served an uninterrupted three term at city hall.
At this writing, he is again hitting the campaign trail and is running for village head of Balibago, an oversized barangay. Like a champion boxer, he will always wear his political gloves and will take all comers.
Anytime he goes up the ring he is always the man to beat. The tale of the tape shows he has good record of winnings with only two defeats, one in 1980 and another one in 2013.
The time difference will indicate that Tarzan had been swinging in public service and served with distinction. He is still strong and healthy. He is so humble and nice. Never refused any request.
In case Tarzan will get back to city hall, HE WILL BE THE FIRST ANGELES CITY MAYOR ELECTED IN HIS EIGHTEES.