WHERE are the Nepomucenos? Suddenly, it came to mind that the most known political family in Pampanga for several decades are now out in the present-day political landscape. Francisco Gopez Nepomuceno, son of spouse Mariano and Agueda De Mesa Gopez of Porac became councilor, congressman, governor and city mayor.
His wife Juanita Cuyugan Lumanlan was an outstanding member of congress in the sixties and later became governor. Both had remarkable stints and served well Pampanga. Their sons Robin is also known as Bong served as vice governor and barangay captain and Francis also known as Blueboy was elected vice mayor, congressman and mayor.
Robin’ wife Cecil Cuyugan carries the surname Nepomuceno and is still the incumbent barangay captain of Cutcut in Angeles. She carries the surname Nepomuceno by virtue of marriage. The last Nepomuceno who held public office was Bryan. He served as councilor and vice mayor of Angeles.
Politics can be drawn separately in different periods. Of course, we remember the Assistios of Caloocan, Cunetas of Pasay, Yabuts of Makati and many more political families who were consigned into oblivion. Seemingly there is truth that nobody stays on top forever.
There is the popular belief of many that Bryan will carry the torch and banner of the Nepomucenos who were prominent in Pampanga and Angeles politics for decades. But where’s Bryan now? He was not successful in his mayoral run in 2019. Will he be in the 2022 race? Only him can tell.
Throwback: Bryan was destined to become a politician because he was born just a day before the 1980 elections, and the next day his dad, Robin was elected provincial board member. He was an outstanding student from high school days up to the time he finished political science and got his doctor of laws degree at the Ateneo De Manila.
Besides his good looks, and being a perennial dean's lister he was the campus prize catch. Her classmate in law school a beautiful Negros Occidental lass Erika Ana Andrea Cailao Jiimenez equally a dean's lister became his wife.
The husband and wife's law practice flourished when in 2010 politics beckons. Bryan was included in the council lineup of his uncle, then-mayor Francis "Blueboy" Nepomuceno. He garnered the fifth slot. As it was in his studies, and in the many endeavors he got engaged into, the very well-focused Bryan authored several resolutions and ordinances and benefits which cascaded most to the underprivileged.
It is so basic for Bryan to always be focused on whatever he does. All the time he had the mayorship of Angeles City in mind. Then outgoing Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan encouraged him to succeed him and he faced a three-cornered mayoral race against Clark International Airport Corporation President Alexander S. Caugiran and Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin. The young Lazatin won handily, and the rest is history.