THE Angeles voters will face the difficulty of whom to vote as their vice mayor. It is an interesting race. Two beautiful ladies and an amiable good looking fella. In the race are Vicky Cabigting, Maricel “Marang” Morales and Edu Pamintuan. All of them are close to me. I had the opportunity of working with them in the city council. Had lunches with them. Shared stories with them. Laugh with them and all of us dreamt together for the betterment of our beloved city. I admire all of them. Who’s ahead in the race? Too early to predict. Any of the three is a potential winner. No one is certain of victory.
*****
It is the same thing in the mayoral race. It is an equally interesting three-cornered fight. Each week, different pollsters are coming out with different scores, though Bryan Nepomuceno is consistently on top followed closely by the two others, Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin and Alex Caugiran. Same thing. Too early to predict the outcome. The X-factor is the support of the powerful voting bloc of the Iglesia ni Cristo. Whoever will get it, he will have the big advantage. I believe in my heart that this is a fair assessment.
*****
According to dopesters congressional candidate Yeng Guiao's may face a strong opponent in incumbent Carmelo “Jonjon” Lazatin Jr. to many the outcome is almost predictable. Lazatin has the upper hand. It might be recalled that in the 2016 congressional race, the two already slugged it out and Lazatin trounced Guiao who was then the incumbent. He even got the support of ABEKA, the local party founded by both Mayor Ed Pamintuan and Alex Caugiran. Now it is it possible that Guiao who is seldom seen in public due to his tight schedules in coaching basketball teams can turn the table vs. Lazatin? I believe this is another fair assessment. Place your bets.
*****
I remember when I wrote recently my list of possible winners in the Angeles City council race there were some reactions. Of course that’s expected. It was read out of context by few thinking that my basis was a survey. No I didn’t base my choices on any survey, but I based it on what I feel and what I believe who are front runners. My list is disputable. But it is my list. You can have your own. May I repeat the names not necessarily in order. Alfie Bonifacio, Pogs Suller, P.G. Ponce, Among Sonny Pahed, Amos Rivera, Jay Sangil, Dan Lacson, Jae Flores and Tony Mamac and Edward Laki. Not far behind are Jay Pelayo, Thelma Indiongco, J. C. Parker and Angelo Lopez.
*****
Rivera, Bonifacio, Lacson and P.G. Ponce are running under the Nepomuceno ticket. Pahed, Sangil, Flores, Mamac and Laki under Caugiran’s ABE team, while Suller and Lopez under Pogi Lazatin banner. I firmly believe that Pahed will have the backing of lay organizations like the CWL, Holy Name Societies, Mother Butler and Pastoral Councils. This is aside from his many years as chaplain of universities like HAU, AUF and Jocson College, it would mean a lot to his candidacy. Meanwhile Laki is the “supremo” of Greek letter societies and is a member of the Philippine Guardian Inc. With backing like that, any candidate is in contention.
TIDBITS: Happy birthday PDEA Deputy Director I.C. Calaguas, Feb. 20, RC Angeles Past President Alvin Alfonso Feb 21 and Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan Feb 23. If you are planning to go up to Baguio City, please reconsider. There’s the Panagbenga festival in high gear. The city is choking with visitors. You might as well spend it in Clark Freeport or in Subic. What’s happening with the Flores family of Macabebe? The nephew who is the incumbent vice mayor of the town traded fists in public with his uncle who is running for mayor against the vice mayor’s father. This is how when politics and ambition get in the way.