Reelectionist Mayor Chevylle Fariñas of Laoag City and son, city administrator John Michael “Jamie” Fariñas, her running mate for vice mayor, were the first of any aspirants to file Certificates of Candidacy at the city Comelec on Oct.11 for the forthcoming 2019 midyear local elections.
The early bird catches the worm, the old saying goes.
Whoever challenges the mother-and-son tandem must have a well-oiled political machinery to wield a good fight.
Those, I see, to fit as strong challengers are the mighty ones.
If that happens, the Laoageños may see a very exciting political showdown.
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Salvador Pillos, the controversial mayor of Ilocos Norte in recent years, said he will run for councilor in his hometown of Marcos to give chance to the younger politicians to run for the mayorship.
Ex-mayor Pillos, still non-user of anti-aging pills, talked cum sense and substance with the above statement.
If other old politicians would only follow Pillos’ line of reasoning, I think, the younger ones out there with great potentials should be elected into office to serve as better leaders of the community.
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A news analyst says that politics divides families when its members become rival candidates for same one electoral post.
None wants to give way for obvious reason.
When the election is over, the winning relative rejoices while the losing family rival turns bitter and enraged.
Sad to say, sportsmanship is not in their vocabulary.
It may take several years to wait until they would settle their political differences in a bid to heal the wound.
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Last-termer Senator Chiz Escudero is running for governor in his home province of Sorsogon.
He will be a sure winner, I guess, with the help of the charisma of his beauteous wife movie-TV actress Heart Evangelista.
Speaking of Sorsogon, I remember a guy named Juan “Johnny” Frivaldo, a humble newspaperman-turned politician.
He served as governor of Sorsogon for 8 terms with interrupted years (1950s-1990s).
Notably, he never enriched himself in office.
His unblemished record and virtue of honesty as a public servant had endeared himself to his constituents.
According to a confidant, Gov. Johnny never received any kickbacks or SOPs from government projects or transactions.
When reporting to work in his office, he preferred to ride on jeepneys and other public transportation instead of the governor’s staff car.
At the height of his political career, he survived two bloody assassination attempts staged by ambushers.
He was known for a simple living.
Gov. Johnny Frivaldo got sick and died a poor man at age over 80. #
