I ONCE wrote that politics can be drawn separately in different periods of local history. In my last article, I presented the kind of mold the Lazatins are made of. If you write about them, the next interesting item must be the Nepomucenos. So timely because an offspring is about to take the limelight.
And it’s no other than Bryan Cuyugan Nepomuceno, the handpicked candidate of incumbent Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan. Shall we say that in Bryan a star is born?
Let’s retrace the Nepomucenos political history. Bryan’s political career cannot be compared to her Lola Saning and Lolo Quitong’s years in public service. Lola Saning was the late Congresswoman Juanita Lumanlan Nepomuceno and Lolo Quitong was the late Francisco Gopez Nepomuceno, who became board member, congressman, mayor and governor. The young Nepomuceno is currently Angeles City vice mayor.
He is just in his first term as the number two man, yet his sights gleamed on the day he was sworn as the city council’s presiding officer towards the upstairs’ office of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan. Pamintuan is on his last and final term. He will aspire for a seat in the House of Representatives via the party list Abeka.
Who among us wouldn’t want to follow a colorful career of anyone in the family? So it is the popular belief of many that Bryan will carry the torch and banner of the Nepomucenos who were prominent in Pampanga and Angeles politics for decades.
Looking back, and that was in the early fifties, Bryan's Lolo Quitong was elected first as a town councilor of Angeles, then served few years as a board member and served one term as member of congress, became governor upon prodding then of President Diosdado Macapagal. His last public office was mayor of Angeles City as he won in a tight contest in 1980.
Bryan was destined to become a politician because he was born just a day before the 1980 elections, and the next day his dad, Robin was elected provincial board member. He was an outstanding student from high school days up to the time he finished political science and got his doctor of laws degree at the Ateneo De Manila. Besides his good looks, and being a perennial dean's lister he was the campus prize catch. Her classmate in law school a beautiful Negros Occidental lass Erika Ana Andrea Cailao Jiimenez equally a dean's lister became his wife.
He and wife Erika were invited by many prominent law offices in Manila and served for while with the Romulo, Mabanta, Buenaventura, Sayoc and De Los Angeles law offices but Bryan persuaded his wife to establish their own law offices in Angeles City in order to extend free legal services to those who could not afford private lawyers. The husband and wife's law practice flourished when in 2010 politics beckons. Bryan was included in the council line up of his uncle, then Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno. He garnered the fifth slot.
As it was in his studies, and in the many endeavors he got engaged into, the very well-focused Bryan authored several resolutions and ordinances and benefits which cascaded most to the underprivileged. It is so basic for Bryan to always be focused on whatever he does.
Today, his focus is on the mayorship of Angeles City, and observers are all one he is the man to beat. He will face in a three cornered mayoral race Clark International Airport President and former Angeles City Councilor Alexander S. Caugiran and Councilor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin. Two tough opponents. The two also have both chances of scoring a win. Too early for that. (next issue, Alexander Caugiran, the boy from Barangay Sapangbato).
Tidbits: The towns of Sta. Rita and Macabebe have something in common. Siblings rivalry. Mayor Dagi vs. Art Salalila, the older brother... In Macabebe it will be Bobong Flores vs Edgar, the younger brother... It is showdown in Magalang. Former Mayor Romy “Roels” Pecson will exert every strategy and will raise issues against the sitting Mayor Malou Lacson.
It’s worth watching the political developments in that town... The Yaps of Tarlac are too damn lucky. Congressman Vic Yap and sister Susan Yap Sulit maybe running unopposed. The Yaps have the support of Boss Eduardo Cojuangco... In Capas town former Mayor Antonio “TJ” Rodriguez will stage a comeback. Businessman JC Aguilar will throw his hat in the Bamban mayoral race.