“HINDI po ito laban ni Vice Mayor Keko kundi laban ng ating bayan at ng bawat isang kababayan dito sa San Simon.”
Thus said Acting Vice Mayor and first Councilor Honorato "Keko" Almario when asked why he decided to seek the mayoralty position of this municipality.
Almario, who was the first among five contenders to file his certificate of candidacy for the mayoral race on October 1, said it was the clamor from his townmates that pushed him to finally run for the local top position.
He said he has been urged to run for mayor since the 2019 elections but decided to settle anew for councilor after ending his nine-year term as vice mayor.
"Dahil gusto ko noon ng pagbabago mula sa dating administrasyon, pinili kong itaas ang kamay ni Mayor Jun Punsalan. Pero noong naupo siya, nakita ko na magulo pa rin at sa gitna ng pandemya, nagbabangayan sila," he said.
He said his candidacy will be a crusade for a more people-centered and inclusive governance who will attend to the needs of indigent and sickly Simonians.
Almario said in his 25 years in public service -- from barangay chairman to councilor, to vice mayor and councilor again, he's been known to attend to the medical needs of indigent Simonians.
His brand of service is driving sick people to hospitals using his personal vehicle and assisting them in different government agencies to settle their bills.
"Sa halos tatlong dekada ko sa pulitika, hindi po ako gumagastos. Ang ginagawa ko po ay umuutang ako sa aking mga kababayan tuwing eleksyon at kapag nanalo, nagbabayad ako ng serbisyo," Almario said.
If elected, the 70-year-old official said he will focus on attending to the needs of marginalized sectors such as workers, farmers, and even women and youth.
"Nandito na ang progreso sa San Simon, kailangan nalang sabayan natin ng mga programa para maramdaman din ng bawat Simonian na umaasenso sila," he said.
First term councilor to vice-mayor
Contrary to his decades of experience, Almario's running mate Mark Macapagal is only a first termer councilor and has no political bloodline.
But Macapagal assured that he has more to offer to Simonians, particularly in initiating a new breed of governance.
"Bilang mas bata, marami tayong naiisip at mas open tayo sa makabagong paraan ng pamamahala kung saan mas mararamdaman ng Simonians na nagtrabaho ang gobyerno para sa kanila," he said.
He added that he will focus on youth and sports development programs as he was a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association prior to his entry to politics.
Also, multi-term Councilor Russel Figueroa, who is the lone candidate for councilor of the team, assured his full support to Almario's administration should they both be elected.
"Matagal na kaming nagkasama ni Vice Keko at alam na namin ang trabaho ng bawat isa kaya maaasahan ang magandang serbisyo mula sa aming dalawa," he said.