Never in the history of the province has that election for its lone congressional district is this crowded. As of today, among those who have filed are the former city treasurer, a successful businessman, and Rotarian, a lawyer daughter of a known political clan in the province, a controversial DPWH engineer, an incumbent Sangguniang Panlalawigan member, and the current vice-governor.
Here are the 6 registered HOR contenders that you need to know: Peter Alfaro, Manuel “Noli” Leycano, Josefino “Jojo” Melgar, Mark Philip Ramirez, Leody “Odie” Tarriela, and Mariliza “Bunny” Villarosa-Kalaw.
I am publishing this blog entry believing that the heart and soul of elections is an informed electorate.
The guessing game is on!
Peter (PDP-Laban)
Peter J. Alfaro is the sitting vice-governor of the province. He had been in the local political groove since he was just 20 years old when he served as Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) president from 1993-1996 and a former successive three-termer Sangguniang Panlalawigan from 1998-2007. He was a protégé and close political ally of Congressman Josephine Ramirez-Sato but not chosen recently by their groupmates to be her successor in the HOR.
After his SK stint, Alfaro worked as Computer Operator – I and got employment from the Provincial Government of Occidental Mindoro from 1996-1998. During his tenure as an ordinary employee, he was able to learn the trade and was considered by many as worthy of the position because of his readiness and for his all time-presence in the province immersing with the people even in far-flung communities. His longtime experience as a local legislator is one of his winning edges in the forthcoming polls. He is already a household name in OCM politics. He once worked as Provincial Agriculturist that is why he banners environment and agriculture.
Alfaro finished his Master in Public Administration at Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC), he also took the Licensure Examinations for Agriculturists and passed with a score rating of 82.83%. I just do not know how his former union or latest separation (at least on paper?) with his former patroness would play in his bid.
Noli (Partido Para sa Demokratikong Reporma)
Dr.
Manuel “Noli” Leycano is the former treasurer of the City of Pasay and upon his
retirement in September 2020, he launched an organization called KNL or Kilusang Nagmamalasakit sa Lalawigan as
his wagon to move onward with his candidacy as a congressman. Leycano was the
provincial treasurer of Laguna for 14 years before he took over Pasay’s
treasury in April 2010. He took up a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce Major in Management at the Divine Word College of San Jose and later finished his Masters and Doctorate Degree in Public Administration at MLQU.
Leycano was a former president of PHALTRA or the Philippine Association of Local Treasurers and Assessors and was strongly elected by 2,000 out of 2,700 of its members nationwide. He is married for 43 years to Maria Teresa "Tess" Santos Boongaling, granddaughter of the late Mayor Juan G. Santos of San Jose.
Noli Leycano was born and raised in Brgy. Barahan, Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro, and an up-and-coming businessman in the municipality and served as OIC treasurer of San Jose and was assigned in Calintaan for the same position for about 6 years and assistant treasurer in his hometown Sta. Cruz for 2 years. He is a brother to incumbent Mayor Meriam Leycano – Quijano of Sta. Cruz.
Jojo (Nationalist People’s Coalition)
Josefino
“Jojo” Melgar was once district engineer of the Department of Public Works and
Highway (DPWH) and known for distributing pandesal
to residents to woo voters since early this year. This is what I know about
him as of yet.
Philip (Liberal Party)
Board Member Mark Philip Ramirez is an incumbent member of the Provincial Board and a relative of his running-mate Congressman Josephine Ramirez-Sato who is an aspirant for governor. In his Twitter account, he described himself as, “A public servant and pro-active legislator at (sic) the Province of Occidental Mindoro.” My information about him is limited at this point.
Odie (Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan)
Leody “Odie” Tarriela is the President/CEO of three more companies, the Triple 8 Auto Seat Cover, Inc., JC Leonie Holdings Inc, and the Tarriela Agri-Aqua Ventures Corporation. He is the Vice President and Treasurer of DAKKI Classic Concept Inc., creator of quality vacuumed-packed pillows in the country.
Overwhelmingly chosen by 120 Rotary Clubs from Manila, Pasay, Cavite, and Occidental Mindoro, he is the first Rotarian from the Occidental Mindoro Area who was elected as Governor of District 3810 until he finished his term lately. He showed exemplary leadership in the said world-acclaimed organization and successfully led various programs and projects for Rotary International.
He completed his Elementary Education at Looc Central School and Secondary Education at Looc National High School in Occidental Mindoro. He finished his college education with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Accounting at the Far Eastern University in Manila. After completing his degree, he started working as an Accountant and rose from the ranks to become an Accounting Manager and eventually as General Manager. He was a greenhorn in politics but he is expected to get high numbers in the two municipalities of Lubang and also garner big votes from the province’s municipalities in the north and elsewhere.
Bunny (Lakas-CMD)
Atty. Mariliza “Bunny” Villarosa-Kalaw is the eldest daughter of former Governor/Congressman Mayor Jose T. Villarosa and previous Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Calimbas-Villarosa. Her husband is Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV from the lineage of Teodoro M. Kalaw and Senator Eva Estrada-Kalaw. She is a lawyer with an MPM from the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy, an MBM from the Asian Institute of Management, and Juris Doctor from Ateneo De Manila University. Working as chief of staff of her mother at Congress way back then, she's in a way familiar with what she aspires for.
Atty. Bunny believes that connectivity between towns is important. She said if elected, she will legislate a Mindoro Railway System to promote and increase and craft laws on education, governance, health care, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and business.
She is new to politics but JTV is out to support her. Atty. Bunny has her intact voting base she inherited from his politician parents. That is certain about her, as certain as her sweet smile and pretty face and she is the only rose among the thorns, by the way. And the only lawyer on the list.
Imperatives
It’s
a tall task ahead of them all for reasons that we are still in the pandemic
therefore there will be great changes in the campaigns. Already now, sure thing
they are building personal relations and linkages, making a personal presence
at their most important occasions or events, having a personal touch in every
way conceivable.
As aiming to represent Occidental Mindoro in Congress, each one of them must understand community issues, problems, and challenges and think of legislations with national relevance other than delivering basic public services and providing local employment and means of livelihood and other oversight functions.
The campaign period is just around the corner and rightly so, they are now in the process of saying relevant things to the right audience, crafting every propaganda or persuasive activity to each class and specific group of voters. They are now grinding their axes to come up with good and viable issues and messages or narratives coming out when the campaign period starts.
Their work ahead
We
voters and citizens should base our opinions and decisions on things we know
about them but we must first remember that, among other things, let us use the
lenses of character and capability when we vote for any of them in due time.
So, happy hunting, but remember, we are voters, not fans!
Congress is a deliberative body so spot for a congressional candidate who can communicate well and can discuss and articulate burning issues of the day. Also, their ability or capacity to explain their stand and concerns for public debate is the main meat in having their authored legislation passed in Congress, if ever.
Though our 6 congressional aspirants don't know how the campaign will unfold, they're keeping their powder dry. I am sure of that.
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(Photo edit: John Wenfred Mercene)
Sources:
http://nanovio.blogspot.com/2021/01/ex-future-congressman-peter-alfaro.html
https://rotary3810ry20202021.org/our-governor/
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