"Serbisyong Da Best sa Distrito Tres".
This is the promise of incumbent Mayor Mark Cholo Violago of San Rafael, Bulacan as he eyes to deliver only the best services to the province's third district municipalities of Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, and his beloved hometown where he fulfilled almost all of his vows that benefited the people.
Running for the third district congressional seat under Lakas party, Violago has only been at the helm of the municipality for less than three years but has delivered so much that San Rafael rose to prominence, keeping up to its battlecry "kayang kaya."
As a testament to this, on December 14, 2024, the municipality set a Guinness World Record for the "largest gathering of people dressed as angels,".
There were more than 2,000 participants in the event, which was held at the Victory Coliseum.
With pride and honor, Violago conceptualized the gathering as part of the annual Angels Festival and the town's more than 103,097 people (as of 2020) boasted: "Ganito kami sa San Rafael!"
Violago administration's programs covered way beyond the ideal, primarily guided by his principles as a successful entrepreneur. He took on everything from education, health, infrastructure, tourism, youth and sports development, senior citizens' affairs, peace and order, agriculture, and primarily, economy, business, investments and livelihood.
His administration saw the concreting of roads and construction of a day care center in Barangay Callos; renovation of old barangay hall, and the rehabilitation of Gulod and Sulucan roads and construction of drainage canal in Barangay Maronquillo; putting up of a perimeter fence, reconstruction of collapsed road, concreting of two roads and repair and maintenance of MRF building in Barangay Coral on the Rock.
Under his health program, the local government unit partnered with different medical and diagnostic centers for free laboratory services for the people of San Rafael.
He also led the distribution of free medicines in partnership with various pharmacies and drugstores in the town.
Violago also ordered the acquisition of ambulances for barangays; and the opening of the San Rafael Hemodialysis Center.
In education, Violago believes that "responsableng kabataan, pwede pala!, leading him to award scholarship grants with accompanying seedlings they will plant and nurture until they finished their studies; sent young skilled students under the San Rafael-Taiwan scholarship program; had 12 new classrooms constructed in Pulo Elementary School with the help of the Ferdinand Marcelina Valderama Foundation; and implemented the "Libreng Hatid Eskwela" via school buses provided to public schools.
"Hindi na lamang sa bayan ng San Rafael namamayagpag ang galing ng ating mga Kabataan, dahil nabigyan na rin po natin sila ng pagkakataon na maibahagi sa bansang Taiwan ang talino at gilas ng mga batang San Rafaeleños. Sa mga susunod na panahon, lahat naman ng gustong mag-aral ng kolehiyo ay makatatanggap ng scholarship program sa ating distrito. Walang pipiliin, dahil ang 'Kaban ng ating Bayan' ay hindi dapat ipinagkakait sa mga kabataang nangangarap na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral," shared Big Brother Cholo as he is fondly called by the youth, who also benefit from the vast improvements made in sports facilities, playgrounds and town recreational hubs.
Violago also worked on peace and order by establishing the 24/7 San Rafael Command Center; supporting barangay tanods with quarterly allowance subsidy, free radio communication devices, uniforms, training and seminars, topped by the provision of new barangay patrol vehicles to the town’s 34 villages.
"Bilang ako po ay tatlong termino na naging Punong Barangay at minsan din pinamunuan ang 569 na barangay sa buong lalawigan ng Bulacan, alam ko ang mga proyekto at programang kinakailangan ng aking mga nasasakupan. Kaya naman sa bayan ng San Rafael, bukod sa mga bagong Barangay Hall, Day Care at Health Center, at pagbili ng mga lupain na siyang tatayuan ng ating mga proyekto, tiniyak din po natin na may sapat na mga kagamitan tulad ng ambulansya."
In Bulacan’s 3rd district congressional race, a survey shows a margin of 55% separating San Rafael Mayor Cholo Violago from the neophyte Vic Silverio, son of incumbent Congresswoman Lorna Silverio.
The survey was conducted from April 6-10, 2025 by Top Notch Inc.
The results stated that Violago holds a wide edge with 55.1% of the vote, up by 21 percentage against Silverio, who trails at 34%.
In another recent survey, the third district electorate was asked: "Which of the following reasons why you will vote for [candidate]?" more than 135,000 respondents said they will choose Violago because because of his experience in the management of government--58%; easy to approach and communicate with--61%; helpful and generous to our community--63%; intelligent and well educated--20%; has a projectin our place/city/community--21%; and is not corrupt/has a clean record--15%.
That trust and confidence is further reflected in another recent voter preference survey of 257,762 voters interviewed in the district which showed Violago most preferred by 132,213 voters or 51% followed by Kuya Vic Silverio (NUP) at 38% or 98,146 and JG Agojo (independent) at 1.0% or 1,876. In the same survey, 4% (10,231) said "don't know."; 5% or 12,020 "refused to answer"; and 1.0% (3,275) replied "none" to the question "if the 2025 elections were to be held today, whom will you vote as congressman of the third district?" (JTD)