An excited man danced with gusto as he held an orange-colored cartolina with the handwritten sign: “Si Carlo ang Aguilar ko.”
The place was a street in Evergreen, Pulang Lupa Uno in Las Piñas City. The man and his friends and neighbors were welcoming the “tropa” of Carlo Aguilar, who were on a neighborly visit. Carlo Aguilar is running for mayor of his city.
The Evergreen resident’s welcome message was emphatic; it had to be, because Carlo’s rival in the race for the position of mayor is also surnamed Aguilar, the incumbent vice mayor, and in fact is his cousin.
It will be Aguilar versus Aguilar in the mayoralty race in Las Piñas come May 12, and voters have been reminded to choose well, and to check and recheck if they are shading the right oval in the automated ballot.
The presence of two Aguilar names in the ballot, presumably one after another since the names of candidates are in alphabetical order, really provides confusion where there should be none.
Warmly received
Carlo Aguilar and his Tropa team were warmly received by the residents in such diverse places as Urbanville, Barangay Talon Tres, and Maritville, Pulang Lupa 1.
Long-time city residents Maica Fernandez and Cherryl Damaso Panong have posted in their FB about how the people received Carlo Aguilar in his townhall meetings and house visits.
They noted that ordinary people would wave their hands, cupped with the big letter C, for Carlo.
Panong wrote that while Doc Eric de Leon and Kons Rey Balanag were singing, she focused the camera of her cellphone on Carlo Aguilar to see how he reacted to the throngs of supporters there. What she captured on video is Carlo Aguilar, teary eyed and overwhelmed with emotions as he gratefully acknowledged the manifestation of support and love by the people.
Maica Fernandez, meanwhile, noted that Carlo Aguilar has been conducting a level-headed campaign, refusing to mention anything negative or bad about his opponent. Maica said Carlo is approachable and kind, and always interested in knowing the problems of the city residents so that solutions may be recommended.
His own man
In a well-written article in the Daily Tribune, writer Alwin Ignacio noted that Carlo Aguilar undertook his professional endeavors without relying on his family name. He was, and still is, his own man.
“When the call of political duty arose, his motivation was simply his desire to serve the people of Las Piñas. He became a councilor for the city and completed three consecutive terms. Of the ordinances he authored, the three he is proudest of are: ‘The ordinance that created the PWD office (persons with disabilities), the enhancement of the Green Card package for hospitalization, more ways and means to address the needs of the health sector, and free movies for senior citizens.”
Ignacio noted that Carlo Aguilar is “a true gentleman of the South — friendly, sincere, family-oriented, and God-loving—a ka-tropa who serves well and brings answers and solutions.”
It is small wonder that Carlo Aguilar is leading the mayoralty race in Las Piñas.