Then and now and what happened in between

(It was 2013. In the dying days of that year when I wrote this particular article). The governor of the province was the well loved Nanay Baby Pineda. Under her care there are no forgotten poor in the province. She is regarded as the Mother Theresa by many.

Nanay takes care of the sick and the poor.

Sheisreallya nanay to all. If only other political leaders of our province will show the same concern like 'nanay', communities will be better places to live-in.

(Many are saying women are better leaders. Her son, the incumbent Governor

Dennis is rendering the same brand of service like his

mom).

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The three connecting cities, San Fernando, Angeles and Mabalacat are connected by Macarthur Highway. It is suggested that the three city mayors should sit down with urban planners and speed towards unobstructed progress. Look up two Eds and Boking. Hear Ryzza Mae Dizon sing Look up, Look up, and be inspired. Don't stare down and 'malayo ang tingin'. 2016 is still two years away. ( Presently we have Mayors Cris Garbo and Pogi Lazatin of Mabalacat respectively. Mayor Edwin Santiago will leave city hall in June next year).

*****

I met John Santos this holiday season in a mall. He was a former provincial board member and now a retired playboy of Mabalacat. In that short meeting he told me a lot of stories about Mayor Boking. He told me that he was losing hope that he will see in his lifetime a new person as mayor of the newly minted city.

Mayor Boking is now working towards the territorial land reconfiguration of Mabalacat which will become the legal basis for all those elected officials to start anew for three terms. Meaning Mayor Boking and Ma'm Ninia will be the Juan and Evita Peron of Mabalacat till 2025. Sorry na lang Cris Garbo! ' Baka tubuhan ka ng buhok, nandyan pa si Boking', said one supporter of Morales. ( Santos was proven wrong by time. Garbo succeeded Morales. Will Garbo be serving mayor with same length of time like Morales? Only time will tell).

*****

The camp of Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan is starting to realize that Senator Lito Lapid aka Leon Guerrero is sneaking into the political scene of the city, minus his galloping white horse. He recently bought a house in one of the subdivisions in Barangay Anunas in preparation for 2016, the year he will mandatorily end his second term in the Philippine senate.

In any case this might be the second attempt of Leon Guerrero to run for mayor in Angeles. He was dissuaded by then First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to run for mayor of Makati instead and was promised a hefty campaign funds.

Unfortunately, FG suffered a heart attack in Baguio City and airlifted to St Lukes Hospital and remained critical, and was nowhere when Lapid squared it off with Mayor Jojo Binay, now vice president.( Lapid miserably lost his Makati bid and also failed in his quest in Angeles City mayoral race. He is back in the senate though. He got lucky when he was made a co-star in that long running and popular TV series Ang Probinsiyano of Coco Martin).

*****

What are the plans of former Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, common friend Bebot Villar of Pangasinan asked me about his 'inaanak'when he dropped by at the new location of Ribeye Steak House in Balibago. Pelayo aka John Lloyd didn't enter showbiz but he is busy attending to many business concerns while at the same time mending his wrecked political fences in the town of the migratory birds.

If he has to face the incumbent Rene Maglanque, he should be ready to match the latter's treasure chest. 'John Lloyd' should forget about Rimpy Bondoc. Let another cabalen, Board Member Ric Yabut worry about him. Ric can always solicit support from his brother, Department of Public Works and Highways most senior underscretary, the unsinkable Fye Yabut. ( Pelayo took his battle in the fourth congressional district but was defeated by Bondoc. Maglanque became mayor. Ric Yabut is now retired from local politics).