IS LOCAL politics in Pampanga warming up this early? Despite that our mornings, we are already feeling the cool breeze. Christmas is just few sleeps away. If ever there are positionings, it must be in the City of San Fernando. Talks are spreading like wildfire that former mayor Oscar Rodriguez is giving a deep thought about a comeback since the incumbent Mayor Edwin Santiago is "graduating" after completing the three terms. To recall, Rodriguez preferred to oppose his inaanak (godson) Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. in a congressional race instead of him running for mayor. Unfortunately, to his much surprise, Gonzales won. Rodriguez was forced to take a garden leave. He maybe now in his seventies but he is still healthy that he can survive a three-round sparring session with Senator Manny Pacquiao. It's also being whispered that Provincial Board Member Rosve Henson has his eyes moist, and wish again to make a run in the 2022 mayoral race. He once made a run in one mayoral race sometime ago but Dr. Rey Aquino led the race. Well, you may say that's still more than a year for the elections and early to make a discussion about it. Not true though. Anyone who's an astute politician, next January this coming year is just the correct time to mend political fences.
On the surface, Angeles and Mabalacat politicians are seemingly quiet. In every once in a while though, we hear murmurs from certain groups opposed to the Lazatins, but it is still something to sneeze about. It will be a different landscape if both cities will be declared lone congressional districts. Not too few politicians, the likes of Angeles City Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting and former City Councilor Maricel "Marang" Morales, wanted to see the day that Angeles City will be a lone congressional district. I bet even former Mayor Ed Pamintuan and former vice mayor Bryan Nepomuceno will like that. I believe it is the same thing for the City of San Fernando. I believe the two cities in our province are both qualified to have their own congressman in the House of Representatives. The two cities are both bigger than Marikina City. Even in terms of size, population and incomes. They already breached the threshold of what's required under the law. What happened to those past efforts to have the two cities to have their own congressman?
Early on, there were joint efforts by then Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid and the late Mayor and Congressman Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin for the declaration of Angeles City as a separate district. I don't know now if the Lazatin brothers are keen in separating Angeles from Magalang and Mabalacat as a lone congressional district.
Ask former congressman Yeng Guiao if he agrees on the separation, I am sure we can see an immediate nodding. There are so many who wanted to be a member of Congress.
I remember the year 1987, when strongman Ferdinand Marcos was already in exile and Corazon Aquino was swept to the presidency. This was the year when elections held after a long years of Marcos' strong rule. In the congressional race of the first district in Pampanga, there were more than 10 aspirants. Notable were Tarzan Lazatin, Arlene Buan and Lawyer Lorenzo "Lolong" Timbol. I was one of those 10, including the late Romeo Taruc, who failed miserably because voters in the district heard my name the first time. It was Lazatin who emerged winner in that contest.