WHO stands tall in this political season?
It’s both Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak and basketball hotshot Donaldo “Dondon” Hontiveros, whose height disparity was never more obvious than when they stood beside each other as they filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) yesterday.
Tumulak, 5’1”, and Hontiveros, 6’3”, are both running for councilor in the south district of Cebu City under different parties. The district picks eight councilors.
Tumulak, 47, is seeking reelection under the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), while political newbie Hontiveros, 41, is with Barug PDP-Laban.
While inside the Comelec office, Tumulak and Hontiveros, who was accompanied by some opposition city officials, greeted each other. Tumulak then got a chair and stood on it and matched his now elevated height with Hontiveros’s.
Hontiveros lifted Tumulak and hugged him. The two candidates had a good laugh over that.
Tumulak said he knows Hontiveros from way back since the athlete’s parents live in Barangay Basak Pardo, where Tumulak was barangay captain for years.
In his COC, Hontiveros indicated he is a registered voter in Barangay Labangon and is an assistant coach of the basketball team of University of Cebu.
He played in the professional leagues of the Metropolitan Basketball League under Cebu Gems, then the Philippine Basketball Association suiting up for San Miguel. He was one of the best in both leagues.
Hontiveros filed his COC yesterday ahead of his group because he will be out of Cebu until Friday.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who will run for mayor, and suspended Councilor Jose Daluz III accompanied Hontiveros to the office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
All other political aspirants under Barug PDP-Laban will be filing their COCs today.
In an interview, Hontiveros said he wants to use his experience in the field of sports to inspire the youth.
Tumulak filed his COC a day after his colleagues in the BOPK did because his certificate of nomination and acceptance (Cona) had not arrived by Monday.
Tumulak is running under the Nacionalista Party of former senator Manny Villar as his national party although the BOPK will be running under Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP). (RVC)