LA PAZ, Tarlac – Move over, Sen. Mar Roxas, the original padyak (tri-bicycle-riding) politician is here!
Fernando Sebastian, of Barangay San Isidro here, has been running for municipal councilor for the last 15 years.
He was an independent candidate for town councilor in the elections of 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007.
Each time, he never failed to make the rounds of the town’s 21 barangays to campaign.
And to go to those places he had no other means of transportation than his trusty old “tribike” (bicycle attached with a sidecar), which he pedaled with enthusiasm and stamina.
Unfortunately, the 78-year-old perennial candidate, fondly called “Apong Tarzan” by his family and friends, never won an election.
That is one reason, he said, why his three grown up children and his seven brothers and sisters in the United States refused to fund his candidacies.
“Matatalo ka lang (You will only lose),” they told him.
“Pero may fighting spirit ako. Nagboksing din ako dati eh (But I have a fighting spirit. I used to box, you know),” he said.
His 63-year-old wife, Gloria, said Apong Tarzan would often scrimp on food and other expenses to save money for his electoral campaigns.
She said he used to work as a kantero (concrete finisher) and a karpintero (carpenter) but is now “retired”.
Three of their four children, now based in Hong Kong, Cebu City and Metro Manila, are sending them money for their daily sustenance. (Their youngest son, who is recuperating from a motorcycle accident, is living with them.)
Once in a while, she said, they also receive “dollars” from Apong Tarzan’s siblings in the US.
In fact, she said, her husband received P4,000 from them in January. But the amount Apong Tarzan quickly put to good use by buying a brand new tri-bike in preparation for the 2010 elections. (He bought the tri-bike in Tarlac City, rode it and pedaled 20 kilometers to get home.)
“Apong Gloria,” who was an 18-year-old house help when she met and married Apong Tarzan, said he is “a very kind husband.”
“Nagagalit lang siya kapag pinipigilan naming mangampanya (He only gets furious when we try to stop him from going out to campaign),” she said.
Apong Tarzan said his platform of government had come from God. It includes a promise to give away his entire salary as a councilor for the medical and other needs of his constituents.
“Kung mayroon kayong anak na maysakit, ako ang magpapagamot (If you have children who are ill I will spend for their treatment),” he said.
“Ang nauuhaw painumin, ang nagugutom pakainin; at ang kayamanan ipamahagi (Give the thirsty drink, the hungry food; and share you wealth,” he said.
His campaign slogan: “Si Tarzan nasa gubat bumaba sa bayan upang manilbihan (Tarlac came out of the forest to serve).”
While voters in the poblacion (town center) scoff at him, those in his neighborhood are solidly behind him.
“Sa lahat ng laban ni Tarzan binoboto ko siya (I always vote for him),” said Virginia Nicolas, 59.
They also share his endless optimism. “Noong nakaraang eleksyon, number 5 na ako mula sa ibaba (In the last election I was number 5 from the bottom),” explaining that it had been an improvement in his electoral performance over the years.
But would running for a barangay position be a more realistic goal? “Sinubukan ko rin iyon pero di pa rin pinalad (I also tried running for barangay councilor but I still didn’t make it),” he said.
Fernando Sebastian, of Barangay San Isidro here, has been running for municipal councilor for the last 15 years.
He was an independent candidate for town councilor in the elections of 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007.
Each time, he never failed to make the rounds of the town’s 21 barangays to campaign.
And to go to those places he had no other means of transportation than his trusty old “tribike” (bicycle attached with a sidecar), which he pedaled with enthusiasm and stamina.
Unfortunately, the 78-year-old perennial candidate, fondly called “Apong Tarzan” by his family and friends, never won an election.
That is one reason, he said, why his three grown up children and his seven brothers and sisters in the United States refused to fund his candidacies.
“Matatalo ka lang (You will only lose),” they told him.
“Pero may fighting spirit ako. Nagboksing din ako dati eh (But I have a fighting spirit. I used to box, you know),” he said.
His 63-year-old wife, Gloria, said Apong Tarzan would often scrimp on food and other expenses to save money for his electoral campaigns.
She said he used to work as a kantero (concrete finisher) and a karpintero (carpenter) but is now “retired”.
Three of their four children, now based in Hong Kong, Cebu City and Metro Manila, are sending them money for their daily sustenance. (Their youngest son, who is recuperating from a motorcycle accident, is living with them.)
Once in a while, she said, they also receive “dollars” from Apong Tarzan’s siblings in the US.
In fact, she said, her husband received P4,000 from them in January. But the amount Apong Tarzan quickly put to good use by buying a brand new tri-bike in preparation for the 2010 elections. (He bought the tri-bike in Tarlac City, rode it and pedaled 20 kilometers to get home.)
“Apong Gloria,” who was an 18-year-old house help when she met and married Apong Tarzan, said he is “a very kind husband.”
“Nagagalit lang siya kapag pinipigilan naming mangampanya (He only gets furious when we try to stop him from going out to campaign),” she said.
Apong Tarzan said his platform of government had come from God. It includes a promise to give away his entire salary as a councilor for the medical and other needs of his constituents.
“Kung mayroon kayong anak na maysakit, ako ang magpapagamot (If you have children who are ill I will spend for their treatment),” he said.
“Ang nauuhaw painumin, ang nagugutom pakainin; at ang kayamanan ipamahagi (Give the thirsty drink, the hungry food; and share you wealth,” he said.
His campaign slogan: “Si Tarzan nasa gubat bumaba sa bayan upang manilbihan (Tarlac came out of the forest to serve).”
While voters in the poblacion (town center) scoff at him, those in his neighborhood are solidly behind him.
“Sa lahat ng laban ni Tarzan binoboto ko siya (I always vote for him),” said Virginia Nicolas, 59.
They also share his endless optimism. “Noong nakaraang eleksyon, number 5 na ako mula sa ibaba (In the last election I was number 5 from the bottom),” explaining that it had been an improvement in his electoral performance over the years.
But would running for a barangay position be a more realistic goal? “Sinubukan ko rin iyon pero di pa rin pinalad (I also tried running for barangay councilor but I still didn’t make it),” he said.