I HAVE written several articles about the Lazatins in the many years that I pursued a career as a journalist/writer. In the same manner, I wrote materials about the Nepomucenos. I love to remember when I described my late Cumpareng Tarzan Lazatin as perhaps one of the best political strategists hereabout. Only two loses and several poll victories from 1980 to 2013. (He was not really interested in his first plunge to politics but deferred to his old man, the well revered Apung Feleng. He had a sorry loss vs Ed Pamintuan in the mayoral race of 2013).
If only he is alive today, he will be overjoyed to see his two juniors winning their separate races with flying colors. Jonjon the congressman protected his turf against the comebacking Gilas Coach Yeng Guiao. And Pogi is a revelation. He beat the well stocked organizational structures of both Mayor Ed Pamintuan and the Nepomucenos. Despite all those black propaganda thrown throughout his campaign, he remained focused. Retro: The last time I had dinner with Tarzan in one of those high-end restaurants at Marquee Mall with Pogi and his dependable political lieutenant IC Calaguas present, he said he will take a last crack for the mayorship. But death overtook him.
When he was still alive, he made moves designed to secure the political future of his two juniors, Jonjon the congressman and Councilor Pogi. And it paid as shown by the success of the two juniors.
Now that Jonjon and Pogi are well ensconced, both the constituencies of the first congressional district and Angeles City are with high expectations that the two will make a good accounting of themselves and served with distinction along the fine traditions of Apung Feleng, their grandfather and their father Tarzan.
What about the Nepomucenos? Maybe Bryan can take a garden leave. He is still young. He maybe just continue his legal profession and plunge to politics when the season is favorable. As it is, the Nepos have been losing steam in Angeles politics quite a while now. It started then when Mayor Blueboy Nepomuceno faced a surprising and shocking loss to Yeng Guiao. Luckily enough, Bryan was saved by an influential businessman when he requested Pamintuan to take him as his running mate in the 2016 elections and the latter obliged despite the fact that Bryan was not his real choice. It should have been Alex Caugiran, his long time political chief of staff. Alex composed the triangle in the last mayoral race. He took his defeat graciously. If I know Alex he can move on with his life. He is a survivor.
TIDBITS: My ex-colleagues' wives, Jericho Aguas and Alex Indiongco will inherit their seats in the Angeles City Council. JC. Parker Aguas and Thelma Indiongco will take over the husbands' seats, while Echo and Alex will be assigned at SBMA (Sa Bahay Muna Ako)...Mayor Cris Garbo chalked a landslide victory. What surprised many was the loss in the vice mayoral race of former Mayor Boking Morales against a neophyte politician in Geld Aquino...Porac has a new mayor in the person of Jing Capil, the medicine man. As predicted, former Governor Mark Lapid only polled more than 9,000 votes. Dexter David placed second...It wasn’t a good year for the Hizons. All four running for different positions weren’t lucky enough. They fought a good fight. Jomar was no match against the Pinedas. He knew it at the very start when he told us in one dinner he hosted for Monday Club members. Angie faced both the well entrenched machines of both Mayor Edwin Santiago and Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin. I can see in the next elections when both Edsa and Jimmy are no longer eligible, Vilma Caluag teaming up with Angie for another crack. Both those ladies are molded with strong character.