The outcome of the May 9 national and local elections have proven to be a shocker of sorts, most specifically in the province of Laguna.
For the first time in history, many who won seats for local positions in the provinces are “new faces” — up-and-coming candidates who defeated entrenched political machineries and families.
This year’s election results, according to analysts, reflected a genuine clamor for change among Lagunenses who are tired of the “same old faces” ruling over their constituencies for decades.
The May 9 elections also served as a barometer of sorts of how certain local governments administrated their communities, especially in the shadow of a two-year pandemic affecting the province’s health and economy.
Misery and devastation it caused rattled the populace.
Unexpected Win
In the San Pedro City mayoralty race, Vice Mayor Francis Joseph “Art” Mercado pulled an unexpected majority win against Aaron Cataquiz, son of incumbent city mayor Lourdes Cataquiz.
The final results released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed Mercado received 78,255 votes over Cataquiz's 39,529 votes.
It was to majority's amazement that Mercado’s running mate, former Councilor Ina Olivarez, triumphed over incumbent councilor and former Vice Mayor Raffy Campos. Olivarez gained 74,059 votes while Campos had 39,775.
Eight candidates for councilor under the Mercado-Olivarez slate also secured places at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Mercado's win was hailed by some San Pedronians as an end of the Cataquiz family's decades-long grip in the city. The political dominance of the clan of the then Mayor Calixto Cataquiz started in the early '80s.
And for decades, political power in Laguna’s “Dormitory City”, as lamented by San Pedronians, rested between two families — Vierneza and Cataquiz. They decided it is now time for a new generation of leaders to take over the helm at City Hall.
Dynasty Overthrown
A similar scenario happened in Calamba City, one of Laguna’s most progressive cities, after a descendant of national hero Jose Rizal ended the tight grip of the Chipeco family in the city’s political landscape.
For the first time in Calamba’s history, not a single Chipeco was elected to public office.
Incumbent Vice Mayor Roseller “Ross” Rizal won the mayoralty race with 116,777 votes, defeating Councilor Joey Chipeco, who got 78,325 votes, and former Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito with 41,149 votes.
Angelito “Toti” Lazaro, Jr. won the vice-mayoralty race with 126,445 votes, defeating Councilor Rajay Lajara with 100,115 votes.
Meanwhile, Cha Hernandez will represent Calamba’s lone district in the House of Representatives with 113,130 votes. Rival incumbent Mayor Timmy Chipeco garnered 105,723 votes while Emer Panganiban had 6,981 votes.
Other Newbies
In Cabuyao City, Dennis “Denha” Hain, incumbent chairman of Barangay Niugan, defeated incumbent Mayor Rommel “Mel” Gecolea by over 24,000 votes.
However, incumbent Vice Mayor Leif Opina retained his seat, receiving 86,027 votes over Evelyn del Rosario's 84,502.
In Los Baños town, Anthony “Ton” Genuino bested five other candidates, including incumbent Mayor Antonio Kalaw. Genuino's running mate, incumbent vice mayor Josephine Sumanguil, retained her post with 24,829 votes.
And in Pagsanjan, businessman Cesar Areza pulled off a surprise win in a close three-way mayoralty race over incumbent Mayor Peter Casius Trinidad and former mayor Girlie Ejercito.
Status Quo
On the other hand, incumbent politicians and dynasties have managed to maintain their hold in other Laguna towns.
For instance, incumbent Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez was still the choice as governor, defeating incumbent 3rd District Representative and former broadcaster Sol Aragones. Hernandez had 871,749 votes over Aragones’ 629,461.
In Sta. Rosa City, the Arcillas family retained their grip with incumbent Mayor Arlene Arcillas garnering 125,159 over her nearest rival, incumbent Vice Mayor Arnel Gomez's 46,837 votes.
Her brother, Arnold Arcillas, also won the vice-mayoralty race, while incumbent 1st District Representative Dan Fernandez is coming in as the first congressman for the newly-created lone district of Sta. Rosa.
Fernandez’s son Danzel, meanwhile, placed second in the race for members of the Laguna's provincial board for the first district, alongside JM Carait and Bong Bejasa.
Covid-19 A ‘Deciding Factor’
Political analysts have long predicted that the local governments’ responses to the two-year Covid-19 pandemic could make or break the current leaderships’ chances in the 2022 local elections.
In San Pedro City, for instance, the city government has been criticized for its lackluster performance in the early days of the pandemic. The city was cited as one of the “Covid-19 hot spots” in Laguna province at the height of the pandemic.
In fact, it was OpinYon Media Advocacies, Inc., publisher of OpinYon Laguna, which first took the initiative in providing relief efforts to San Pedro City’s indigent communities which were hardest hit by the lockdowns.
By contrast, the current leadership in neighboring Biñan City was hailed both in the provincial and in the national level not only for its transparent and “pro-active” handling of the pandemic and its socio-economic impacts.
Biñan City’s “Big Three” leaders — Mayor Arman Dimaguila, Vice Mayor Gel Alonte, and Representative Len Alonte — received far more votes this year than in the 2019 midterm elections. Supporters and observers credited these to their speedy response during the pandemic.
What Next?
Now that elections are finished and everybody is preparing for the transition of powers to the new leaderships, the big question among Lagunenses is, What next?
While many have hailed these “fresh faces” as a representation of Lagunenses’ cry for genuine change in local governance, some political analysts believe that the province is now about to chart an unknown territory.
Will these new faces be like Pasig City’s Vico Sotto, who not only defeated a deeply-entrenched political family but set an example for good governance and accountability? Or, will they fall back into the “old style” of leadership and become no better than their predecessors, a blow to the people’s clamor for change?
As they say, only time will tell. (With reports by Catherine Go and Kyla Casacop)