I HAVE no ability to predict the future. I hope it matters not to many my analyses about what can happen in case. I repeat, just in case it will happen. Murphy’s Law, you know. It is extremely important to make a search --- look backward, make a wide look around and look what might happen ahead.
Let it be said that political families in our province can be credited on so many progress that people now enjoy. The Nepomucenos and the Lazatins for example. I have told their stories many times before. On the part of the Nepomucenos, Bryan Nepomuceno , the last man standing is running for mayor in Angeles City. On the Lazatin side, the two Carmelo juniors, Pogi running for mayor and incumbent Jonjon trying to get re-elected as member of congress. If Bryan will lose, it will end the Nepomucenos political participation. If not, the ‘dynasty’ will continue in many more years to come.
If the two Lazatins will not make it, it will also end their era. However, in some places in Pampanga and elsewhere political dynasties are very much alive and kicking, so to speak. In Mabalacat, the Moraleses headed by their patriarch Marino aka Boking is still very much part of the city’s politics. After a series of terms as mayor, he is now staging a comeback as running mate of mayoralty candidate Christian Halili. His son Dwight is a member of the city council while daughter Marjorie is a barangay captain.
In Macabebe town, the Floreses have a tight grip. From the time of their father Domingo serving many years as mayor, then to the son Bobong and passed on to daughter Annette. Now Bobong will make a second try and will face younger brother Edgar. In Porac, the Lapids started their dynasty when actor Lito Lapid started his political career as vice governor, three term governor and two term member of the Philippine Senate. His son Mark served also as governor and now running for mayor in Porac and Maynard the son as member of the town council.
The Pinedas have Lubao as their domain while the Salalilas, Arthur and brother Dagi claimed Sta. Rita. The Hizons of Bacolor wanted to assert their own. Mayor Jomar is running for governor, while sister Angie is gunning for vice-mayor in the City of San Fernando. Derek is running for mayor in their hometown of Bacolor.
I am no social scientist, but the latest developments bothered many observers. It is bothering many, including me. Unprecedented in the political history of Pampanga. There are three congressional districts where nobody wanted to participate as candidates. In the first, second and third district of the province, the candidates for provincial board members are running unopposed.
Who’s to blame? We can point our fingers to several directions. The electorates who exchange their votes for money. The new election laws which make it expensive for candidates. Exposing the candidates from October to May, and that’s more than seven months as fair games. The Commission on Elections for being so inutile in not strictly enforcing elections laws, etc etc.
TIDBITS: In case you forgot it. It is the Piyestang Apu in Angeles City on Friday, October 26. And for two days in Barangay Balibago, Thursday and Friday, there’s the Tigtigan, Terakan King Dalan...Kudos to Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Director Rosseller “Dong” Tolentino for acting fast. I phoned him regarding the traffic lights on the Porac-Angeles intersection and the slow paced construction of the Friendship bridge. He immediately made an inspection and took to task the contractor to speed up. Including the construction of the road that will wind up to “Paning’s”.