WHICH FAMILY?

Voted with the candidate for president or city mayor will be the family members.

Marcoses or Robredos

A NEW president will take with him or her the family of the country’s highest official. Images of members, who’ll be reported about along with the president, will seize attention across the land and fill the nation’s consciousness.

If it’s Bongbong Marcos, it’s déjà vu for the Marcos family and the governed. His father Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ruled the country from 1965 to 1986, or 22 years, 14 years of which were under martial law with himself as dictator. It’s entirely new for the Robredos if Leni Robredo wins. Dad was Cabinet secretary and mom the vice president but they didn’t occupy Malacanang.

Ramas or Osmenas

AT CEBU City Hall, neither Margot Osmena nor Mike Rama is a stranger to the local seat of power: Margot was acting mayor for 45 days (May 17, 2016 to to June 30, 2016) and city councilor for three terms (2016 to 2019). Margot’s husband Tomas was mayor for 19 years (1988-1996; 2001-2010; 2016-2019).

If Margot wins, City Hall watchers quip, the City will have in effect two mayors or “at least a conjugal rule.” Tomas was accused of “kibitzing” or “meddling” with BOPK administrations that had another person for a mayor (in 1995 when Alvin Garcia was mayor and in 2010 when Mike Rama was mayor). Margot in her 2022 bid repeatedly said she would’ve her own way of managing the City but didn’t totally exclude her husband from it.