Carmelo 'Pogi' Lazatin Jr will be winding his second term as chief executive of Angeles City. After serving his two terms, he is now the congressman of the first congressional district. He is damn lucky he run unopposed.His half brother Jonjon Lazatin finished his three terms in the House of Representatives. In the last elections they traded places. Jonjon was properly packaged ( Let’s JOiN na) and trounced his opponent.
You might want to ask who is more popular between the two. The answer is both. Or maybe not. Congressman Jonjon may not be thunderous in the halls of congress but the road and bridge projects he initiated in his congressional district, particularly in Angeles City, are very visible and are very much appreciated. Mayor Pogi on the other hand did something extraordinary during the two years when Covid 19 was raging and most everyone were fearing of contamination that may even result to death. Mayor Pogi's concern pushed him to the limit. He went to several houses in the city, personally visited the sick bringing medicines, food packs, cavans of rice and some cash.
How do they compare as private individuals? I happened to meet and interviewed some of their relatives and their narratives of the two sometimes were sometimes similar and many times contrasting. Pogi is more of an extrovert and Jonjon is the silent,reserve and more serious type. Sino ang chick boy, I asked a nephew. Without batting an eyelash, he triumphantly declared: Si Tito Pogi. Si Jonjon ay mahilig sa mga kalapati. Yaong mataas ang lipad at pang-karera.
When Mayor Pogi Lazatin took office in his first term there were still several challenges he was confronted with, which mostly he inherited from his predecessors. The city was in debt due to those ambitious projects like the construction of a new city hall which was unfinished. Instead, Mayor Pogi preferred the upgrade of the hospital and city college. Incoming Mayor Jonjon maybe in his first year at city hall will be resorting to strict fiscal management which is absolutely necessary, since there were borrowings made. He has yet to assemble a team to help him achieving his set goals.