But Jamjam doesn’t sink

“Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.”

— Mao Zedong

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE main worries of the Treñas political bandwagon in Iloilo City nowadays is that it appears it has failed to convince many political leaders and allies in the barangays to shift their allegiance to Raisa Treñas-Tiu or Raisa Treñas two months after Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas announced his breakup with former protégé, lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda.

The Treñas camp was expecting a tsunami to hit Baronda after that shock announcement of parting of ways, but what happened was a drizzle.

Based on most recent developments, there are pro-Treñas political leaders and allies, including their supporters, who are adamant to junk Baronda for Raisa.

In fact, the efforts to isolate and jettison Baronda may have backfired; the lady solon apparently continues to enjoy immense popularity among the women and young voters who have found no major reason to dump her.

This is a bad start and definitely a potential major headache for the Treñas camp.

 

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If city hall can’t halt Baronda’s surge despite the sustained carpet-bombing these past weeks, Treñas might indeed be forced to swallow his pride and face Baronda in the congressional battle, instead of risking everything by forcing his daughter to tangle versus the more popular and charismatic Baronda.

If Papa Jerry, who has an amazing string of political victory, will take the driver’s seat against Baronda, daughter Raisa will understand. She can pave the way and wait in 2028.

But if Papa Jerry really thinks daughter Raisa is ripe for the coveted congressional job despite the handwriting on the wall and they can hack the win against the “silent” Baronda, father and daughter might decide to cross the bridge together with bated breath.  

Politics has always been full of surprises and tense moments.

It’s too early to speculate and many things could happen before the serious campaign kicks off for the 2025 local election.

 

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MORE former Department of Health (DoH) secretaries and high-ranking officials have been implicated in plunder and charged with violation of anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

From now Iloilo first district Rep. Janette Loreto-Garin to Dr. Francisco Duque III, among other health department bigwigs.

In the list of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) for the most corrupt departments and agencies, the top three were the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs.

DoH could be in the top 10 along with Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Philippine National Police (PNP).

What happened to the big names from the aforementioned departments who were implicated in graft and corruption or those who enriched themselves while in office?

  

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(Ika-004 nga Binalaybay sa serye nga tag-ilinit. Ginbalay ni Ambassador, Leo Tito L. Ausan, Jr., sa Kaagahon sang ika-11 sang Mayo,2024, sa Dhaka, Bangladesh.)

 

BISAN PA NGA MABUDLAY

I

Ang mga ginaatubang nga kahimtangan kag bagay, Agud indî ka dayon magtigulang, mahapos lang kag tuman ka halay,

Atubanga lang ini nga nagayuhom kag may kalipay.

II

Bisan pa gabi tuman ka gin-ot,

Indî ka gid magbinuringot,

 Kay madasig lang sinâ ang hitsura mo maga kulurinot,

Ari ay laygay ko nga lusot,

Kabiga lang ini nga tion sang Kaham-ot,

Kay bulawanon ini nga tion kon san-o,

Tanan kita makapaindis-indis sang aton mga ilok, magpahamot-hamot!..

 

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FIRST CONTRACEPTIVE. The first known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by the Egyptians in 2,000 B.C. It was replaced with elephant droppings when they realized it wouldn't work.

CALORIES BURNT. The more intense the sex, the more calories are burnt: up to 10,000 calories annually. How? Having sex 3 times a week burns 7,500 calories per year. That's the equivalent of jogging 75 miles (120.675 km).

PREGNANT AFTER ORGASM. If a woman experiences an orgasm during sex, she's more likely to become pregnant, since orgasmic spasms in pelvic muscles can help move sperm up the vaginal canal to the uterus.

INFERTILE. Although it only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg, a man whose ejaculate yields less than 35 million sperm is considered infertile.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo. — Ed)

Time for Treñas to say thank you

“None of us got to where we are alone. Whether the assistance we received was obvious or subtle, acknowledging someone's help is a big part of understanding the importance of saying thank you.”

—Harvey Mackay

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE expect Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas to thank the 229 solons, including Aambis-OWA partylist Rep. Sharon Garin and House Bill 10464 author, Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda, for the approval on December 13 on third and final reading in the House of Representatives of the bill that seeks to establish the Iloilo City Hospital.

No more hard feelings and animosity.

The bill was the genesis of the boisterous tremor that erupted between the city mayor and Rep. Garin recently owing to the delay of its passage in the Lower House.

Now that Baronda had nothing but a piece of good news for Treñas and the Ilonggos in Iloilo City in general, it’s also time for the city mayor to also thank House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez, Appropriations Committee Chair Eric Yap, Health Committee Chair Angelina Tan for their support for the bill.

Baronda, who described the approval of the legislative measure as “an early Christmas gift to the people of Iloilo City” in a statement, also formally put to a closure the controversy that almost shattered the political relationship of the Garins in the first district of Iloilo and the city officials sympathetic to Trenas and Baronda. 

All’s well that ends well but the hurting words, which are expected to heal by the passing of time, hopefully.

Baronda beamed: “We pray that the counterpart measure in the Senate is also passed real soon. We are doing our best to strengthen the healthcare system by putting up our own hospital so that the Ilonggos will have an easy access to affordable and efficient medical care."

 

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Government officials in the Philippines who attach their names and photos on projects financed by the taxpayers are ridiculed as “epals” for their inappropriate action.

In fact, a Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum circular no. 2010-101 dated September 23, 2010 bans them from placing their names, initials, photos and other images in the billboards and signages of government programs, projects and properties.

And while we laud the Commission on Audit (COA) for stumbling into Passi City’s P629,564.21 worth of “irregular expenditures” in it’s audit observation for the calendar year 2020, we aren’t sure if chiding local officials of Passi City, Iloilo “for plastering their names and faces on certain government projects, programs, and properties and on procured goods” was part of its mandate.

If it is, then COA deserves another accolade even if it may have duplicated DILG’s function and power to lower to boom on all “epals” all over the Philippines.

 

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In Section 2 (1) of Article IX-D on the Commission on Audit of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, COA shall only have “the power, authority, and duty to examine, audit, and settle all accounts pertaining to the revenue and receipts of, and expenditures or uses of funds and property, owned or held in trust by, or pertaining to, the Government, or any of its subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters, and on a post-audit basis…”

COA’s constitutional mandate clearly doesn’t include berating the “epals”, but the state auditors can always assert that pointing out the “epals’” transgressions will justify their findings of the “irregular expenditures.”    

COA scored Passi City officials saying the “practice of putting up of billboard and signage’s and other information materials bearing the names, initial or pictures of government personalities on all government projects, and government properties (fire truck, ambulances, vehicles etc.), is prohibited.”   

Also, COA lectured them that information on government project should be limited to the “name of the project and location, contractor, the date when it started and the projects completion date” and that government projects or properties and official vehicles must also only contain the “official seal or name of the local government unit.”

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Ilonggos won't oppose redistricting bill

"Good things happen when you get your priorities straight."
--Scott Caan

By Alex P. Vidal

THE proposed House bill dividing Iloilo City into two legislative districts re-filed recently by Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne "Jamjam" Baronda will never encounter any drastic opposition from the Ilonggos.
We predict that it will even be passed smoothly in the Lower House and eventually signed into law by the President.
The proposed bill is harmless and its intention, according to the proponents, is to bring more benefits and progress for the Ilonggo populace.
As long as it is not a controversial bill that will have a negative impact on the people's economic well-being, Ilonggos will not complain; they will not stand in the way to stymie what can't hurt them.

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Many Ilonggos, in fact, don't even give too much attention to the news about the redistricting bill. They leave the matter to the politicians.
Most of them believe the issue isn't really earthshaking that would warrant their full scrutiny.
In the back of their minds, they have elected their public officials and they shall be the ones to worry whether the proposed bill is beneficial to the electorate.
Amid the economic hardships, Ilonggos worry first for their families before anything else.
They are busy making both ends meet; they care most for their next meal on the table; they are focused on the welfare of their children and livelihood, and how to eke out a living to ensure their monthly bills and other financial obligations are settled on time.

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It will be the local politicians, not the common tao, who are head-over-heels over the proposed redistricting bill.
At least their will be a light at the end of the tunnel for their political future after they have been sledge-hammered and ousted in the previous elections.
Local politicians with burning desires to win a seat in the House of Representatives will definitely back the proposed redistricting bill.
They are aware that once a dominant political group has taken over like the Trenas-Baronda-Ganzon triumvirate, it will be very hard for them to squeeze in when the next election beckons if it remains a lone congressional district.
With two legislative districts, their hopes of going to Congress without swimming into the deep blue sea for a head-on collision with the Titanic, will be avoided.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Tourism to the rescue

"The thing about tourism is that the reality of a place is quite different from the mythology of it."
--Martin Parr

By Alex P. Vidal

POLITICS and all other depressing news should now take a backseat for a positive event.
The best way to promote the assets, world-class facilities, and infrastructure and highlight the potentials of Iloilo City and Province is to listen to what the Department of Tourism (DOT) will say on this subject matter.
The best way coax investors and pump lifeblood in Iloilo's economy is to support the DOT programs especially if they will benefit the entire region and create a myriad of opportunities for the Ilonggos.
We can always count on the DOT to sprinkle dynamism and fresh air and change the tune of local discussions from political muckraking to tourism and economic breakthroughs.
Thus we laud the DOT Western Visayas headed by Director Helen J. Catalbas and the Tourism Board for the launching October 9 of the Iloilo City Meetings, Incentive Travels, Conferences/Conventions, Exhibitions/Events (MICE) Campaign with the tagline “Meet you in Iloilo" at the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

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The event reportedly aims to position Iloilo as MICE destination and will gather top associations and corporations in the Philippines, travel managers and event organizers to see for themselves what Iloilo has to offer.
As quoted in a recent report, Catalbas explained: “The Iloilo City MICE Campaign will not be possible without the support from the Tourism Promotions Board, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), MICE Alliance members and other partners. The unity of tourism stakeholders in positioning Iloilo City as MICE destination is an overwhelming factor to promote inclusive growth."
The report added: "In sync with the promotion of Iloilo as MICE destination, DOT VI strongly encourages tourism enterprises to be DOT-Accredited MICE organizer or facility/venue to ensure quality services are being offered to clients and visitors."


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We hope Iloilo City lone district Representative Julienne "Jamjam" Baronda was able to hold a public consultation before she reportedly filed House Bill 3074 or An Act Reapportioning the Lone Legislative District and the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Iloilo.
Under the bill, which was co-authored by two other Iloilo solons, Rep. Raul Tupas (5th district, Iloilo) and Rep. Michael Gorriceta (2nd district, Iloilo), the First Legislative Distrist will be composed of Jaro, La Paz, and Mandurriao while the Second Legislative District will be composed of City Proper, Molo, Arevalo and Lapuz.
In any major legislation involving the district and the welfare of the people, a public hearing is necessary; all the stakeholders must have an active participation and voice in the pre-filing level before a bill of such importance and magnitude is introduced in congress.
In the public consultation, the people will have to hear the pros and cons and the opportunity to further study and strengthen the proposed legislation will be guaranteed.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Rep. Nava's hubris

"There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. 'Good pride' represents our dignity and self-respect. 'Bad pride' is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance."
--John C. Maxwell

By Alex P. Vidal

THERE is only one explanation for the actuation of Guimaras Rep. Lucille Nava when she reportedly ripped Iloilo City Rep. Julienne "Jam-Jam" Baronda in a recent dinner meeting hosted by the House Visayan Bloc headed by rumored vice presidential wanna-be, Negros Rep. Albee Benetiz.
Hubris.
The Greeks call it as "excessive pride."
It's because of hubris why the gods punished Prometheus, who stole the fire and gave it to humanity as civilization, by bounding him on the mountain Caucasus.
Nava couldn't accept that neophyte Baronda beat her to the draw and gained the attention of their male colleagues by proposing a plan to file a resolution calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to look into the plight of passengers crossing Iloilo and Guimaras.
Passengers have been finding it hard to cross the Guimaras strait like they used to enjoy due to the rigid rules imposed by the Philippine Coast Guard after 31 passengers died when two pump boats capsized one after another on August 3, 2019.

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Nava, wife of former Guimaras Governor and Rep. Rahman, considered Baronda's plan as "interference", thus she reportedly gave the 40-year-old Iloilo City solon the dressing down when they were alone in one corner.
Nava must've felt Baronda had overshadowed her especially when their colleagues in the meeting seemed to have appreciated the way the fresh congresswoman was showing her concern for people crossing the Guimaras strait.
Nava must've felt she should be the rightful person to float the idea being the representative of Guimaras.
But did she realize that some of those regularly crossing Guimaras and Iloilo are also Baronda's constituents?
If Nava thinks Baronda's plan is meritorious, she should collaborate and support it, not to run berserk
Legislators are supposed to work jointly for the common good and welfare of the people and not to compete and pull down one another.
If it is true that Nava chided Baronda because of that flimsy issue, it's plain and simple bullying and conduct unbecoming.

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U.N. UPDATE: Mirrored classroom display highlights scale of massive education crisis
A non-profit dedicated to exposing the severity of the global education crisis has been inviting delegates to the UN General Assembly inside a tiny mirrored installation this week, to drive home the reality that around 260 million children are missing from classrooms around the world.
Beginning 22 September through the end of next week, the Infinity Classroom exhibition by non-profit, Theirworld, will sit in the UN Plaza, open to visitors. The mirrored room is filled with what appear to be an infinite number of empty school desks - representing the millions of children out of school every day.
The station is the centerpiece of Theirworld’s #WriteTheWrong campaign, geared at building awareness of the global crisis and mobilizing the political will and financial support that is needed to give every child a chance to achieve their potential.
Founder and Chair of the NGO, Sarah Brown, said on Thursday: “The world has the largest number of refugees and displaced people since the Second World War, half of whom are children”, speaking to UN News, on a panel for the UN’s annual discussion series, dubbed the SDG Media Zone.
“We owe them what we want for our kids - a safe place to learn. That’s why we’re calling on all countries and international institutions to make education a priority”, Ms. Brown said.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Ganzon, Treñas, Baronda: clans to watch in next 10 years

"In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.' All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia."
--George Orwell

By Alex P. Vidal

BASED on the recent election results in Iloilo City, three political clans have clinched major portfolios in the city government; and their sensational victories have given the Ilonggos the bird's eye view on which family will dominate Iloilo City's politics in the next 10 years.
They are: the Ganzons, the Treñases, and the Barondas.
The descendants of the late former Senator Rodolfo "Roding" Ganzon became the head turners since the wheels of fortune appear to be tilting on their side.
Aside from Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon (119, 123 votes), who cemented his hold in the city's second highest post with an overwhelming victory over Councilors Plaridel Nava (61,973 votes) and R Leonie Gerochi (22,774 votes), the late senator's grandson and the vice mayor's son, Rudolf, garnered 102,201 votes to land third in the 12-seat city council.

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Another Ganzon scion, Gerald, Rudolf's younger brother, is expected to join the bandwagon and run in the 2022 elections.
If Gerald wins, there will be three elected Ganzon formidable warm bodies to serve in the city government.
Treñas doesn't have children now actively participating in the city politics. He is currently being buttressed by his nephew, Councilor Jay, who collected 99,656 votes for fourth place.
The Ganzons' real threats for supremacy in the next 10 to 20 years come from the Baronda sisters: Congresswoman-elect Julienne "Jam-Jam" (115,148 votes) and No.1 reelected Councilor Love-Love (131,226 votes).
The first woman representative in Iloilo City, young and energetic at 40, can still run for another term and may become the next city mayor after graduating from the House of Representatives.
Love-Love, the No. 1 city councilor, can be a future candidate for vice mayor and higher.

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We foresee a fierce political rivalry between the Ganzons and the Barondas in the near future.
The feisty Gonzalez family was supposed to be the one dominating Iloilo City's political landscape, but after the death of former congressman and justice secretary Raul M. Gonzalez on September 7, 2014, nobody from the talent-laden family was able to duplicate the late old man's political genius and supremacy.
Gonzalez's son Raul Jr., daughter Dr. Gold, and wife Dr. Pacita, suffered heart-rending setbacks one after another in the local elections.
Dr. Pacita's latest defeat for city mayor to Treñas has virtually made their gallant stand to revive the patriarch's past political glory almost improbable.

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Former city councilor and National Youth Commission (NYC) executive director, Dr. Nielex "Lex" Tupas is currently "out of kulambo" after opting not to run against Baronda in the recent congressional elections, but their family is being carried by Dra. Candice, who landed fifth in the race for city council with 98,457 votes.
The Tupases, a maverick political clan in Iloilo Province, also would've been in a strong contention for political dominance in the city in the next 10 to 20 years like the Barondas and the Ganzons, but Dr. Lex Tupas chose to "preserve" his good relationship with the Barondas in exchange for what could have been another political conquest in the recent May 13, 2019 midterm polls.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Joshua Alim, a modern day Julius Caesar

“Cowards die many times before their actual deaths.”
--Julius Caesar

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- “I have crossed the Rubicon…it’s congressman for 2019. Ilonggos, I will fight for you.”
Thus was the Caesarean declaration made by Councilor Joshua Alim in his Facebook account on October 8, 2018.
By using Rubicon, a shallow river in northeastern Italy south of Ravenna, as the focal point of his battle cry, Alim has imitated Julius Caesar’s crossing of the stream in 49 B.C. which was tantamount to a declaration of war against Rome as represented by Pompey and the Senate.
The historic importance of this event gave rise to the phrase "crossing the Rubicon" for a step which definitely commits a person to a given course of action.
Now that Alim, a lawyer and law instructor, has “crossed” the river, he must decisively defeat Pompey to complete the heroic saga.
Alim will tangle against his former colleagues in the city council, Dr. Perla Zulueta and Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda, in the shootout for Iloilo City’s lone congressional district in May 2019.
Two “Pompeys” backed by two powerhouse establishments: the Treñas Cavalry and the Joe III Squadron.
Alim’s incursion is buttressed by the combined Gonzalez and Ynion Armada.

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The real Caesar and real Pompey fought to the bitter end at Pharsalus on August 9, 48 B.C.
Pompey had 48,000 infantry, 7,000 horses; Caesar had 22,000 and 1,000.
“Some few of the noblest Romans,” says Plutarch, “standing as spectators outside the battle…could not but reflect to what a pass private ambition had brought the Empire…The whole flower and strength of the same city, meeting here in collision with itself, offered plain proof how blind and mad a thing human nature is when passion is aroused.”
In Caesar and Christ: The Story of Civilization, Will Durant narrated: “Near relatives, even brothers, fought in the opposite armies. Caesar bade his men spare all Romans who should surrender; as to the young aristocrat Marcus Brutus, he said, they were to capture him without injuring him, or, if this proved impossible, they were to let him escape.”
The Pompeians were overwhelmed by superior leadership, training, and morale: 15,000 of them were killed or wounded, 20,000 surrendered, the remainder fled.
Pompey tore the insignia of command from his clothing and took flight like the rest.
Cesar tells us that he lost but 200 men--which cast doubt upon all his books.

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Caesar’s army was amused to see the tents of the defeated so elegantly adorned, and their tables laden with the feast that was to celebrate their victory.
Caesar ate Pompey’s supper in Pompey’s tent.
Pompey rode all night to Larissa, thence to the sea, and took ship to Alexandria.
At Mytilene, where his wife joined him, the citizens wished him to stay; he refused courteously, and advised them to submit to the conqueror without fear, for, he said, “Caesar was a man of great goodness and clemency.”
Brutus also escaped to Larissa, but there he dallied and wrote to Caesar.
The victor expressed joy on hearing that he was safe, readily forgave him, and at his request forgave Cassius.

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To the nations of the East, which--controlled by the upper classes--had supported Pompey, he was likewise lenient.
He distributed Pompey’s hoards of grain among the starving population of Greece, and to the Athenians asking pardon he replied with a smile of reproof: “How often will the glory of your ancestors save you from self-destruction?”
When Pompey hoped to resume the battle versus Caesar (with the news army and resources of Egypt, and the forces that Cato, Labienus, and Metellus Scipio were organizing at Utica), he was murdered while his wife looked on in helpless terror from the ship in which they had come, by servants of Pothinus, eunich vizer of Ptolemy XII, as he reached Alexanderia, in expectation of reward from Caesar.
When Caesar arrived, Pothinus’ men presented him with Pompey’s severed head.
Caesar turned away and wept.
By riding on the epic of the “crossing in the Rubicon” which bears a striking semblance of his struggle in Iloilo City politics, will Atty. Joshua Alim weep like Julius Caesar and loudly declare “Veni, vidi, vici. (I came, I saw, I conquered)” after the May 2019 elections?

Possible Jamjam Baronda vs Lex Tupas House duel ‘disheartening’

“Youth has no age.”
-Pablo Picasso

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- I am one of those who expressed “sadness” when I heard from the grapevine recently that if the “rift” between Iloilo City Rep. Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas and Mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III is not settled amicably, two of the most dynamic and young leaders of Iloilo City will be heading for a clash in the city’s lone congressional district in the May 14, 2019 Philippine elections.
“This is disheartening,” bemoaned a prominent member of the Iloilo City Trade Mission, who refused to be named “because both the young leaders are dear to me and I don’t want to preempt any ongoing political negotiations (among Iloilo City’s political leaders).”
She was referring to former Iloilo City councilors, Dr. Nielex “Lex” Tupas and Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda.

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Both are good friends and maintain cordial relationships off and on the political arena.
They also have lots of common supporters and admirers who consider them as Iloilo City’s Foghorn Leghorn and Chicken Hawk or Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, brimming with charisma and intelligence.
The grapevine added that if Treñas and Joe III won’t smoke the proverbial peace pipe soon, “Tupas might run for congressman under mayoral bet Treñas and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, while Baronda might run for congressman under Mayor Joe III and possibly, Councilor R Leone Gerochi, for vice mayor.”
If Baronda decides to pave the way for “graduating” Councilor Joshua Alim, the grapevine said it would be a battle between “three lawyers against a doctor, a lawyer, and a pastor.”
The three lawyers are Alim, Joe III, Gerochi while the doctor is Tupas, the lawyer is Treñas, and the pastor is Ganzon.
Alim’s possible inclusion in the Team Joe III will depend though on the results of “negotiations” and whether the powerhouse Gonzalez faction (composed of Dr. Pacita Trinidad-Gonzalez, Dr. Marigold “Gold” Gonzalez, and former Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr.) will intermingle with the Team Joe III.

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One of the Gonzalezes’ favorite incumbent city officials, Councilor Plaridel Nava, is already “in” and was part of the Iloilo City Trade Mission here.
Nava, the only city councilor in the entourage, confirmed he won’t be seeking a higher elective office when his term expires in 2019.
Meanwhile, a Baronda versus Tupas clash for the city’s lone congressional district would be a real blockbuster, predicted a City Hall bigwig who was also in the trade mission.
“While Lex Tupas is extremely popular among the hoi polloi, Jamjam Baronda is also a darling of the young voters in the barangay,” the City Hall bigwig explained.
The City Hall bigwig, however, said “money will play a major factor between two extremely strong candidates for congressman.”
The City Hall bigwig said although Baronda, daughter of retired city health officer Dr. Nick Baronda and former city councilor, Dr. Julie Baronda, has been away from politics for quite a while after a May 2010 debacle when she lost to Joe III for vice mayor, “she has successfully linked with some influential incumbent senators in Metro Manila and other well-oiled patrons in Mindanao.”

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Baronda’s “loyal” youth brigades are still intact in the metropolis’ 180 barangays and have been “maintained” by her younger sister, Councilor Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda, the City Hall bigwig stressed.
Tupas, on the other hand, has been in the limelight when he became executive director of the National Youth Commission (NYC) from November 11, 2015 until May 5, 2017.
Tupas’ base in the grassroots is also solid and “growing” after being buttressed by his wife, Dr. Candice Alumisin-Tupas, who replaced him in the city council.
We expect all the comets and meteors to scoot and realign if Jamjam Baronda and Lex Tupas, both untarnished and very qualified, will collide.
Members of young and intelligent electorate, which comprise the “thinking” voters in 2019, will definitely have a hard time to choose between two pristine and promising national figures.
It’s like being made to choose between Joan of Arc and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, both legends and highly regarded in their own right.