CABANATUAN CITY – While political dynasties prevailed in the country in the May 13 elections according to foreign observers, clans in Nueva Ecija suffered contrasting roller-coaster fortunes with some of them absorbing crushing defeats while other families have survived, further cementing their hold on power in their respective turfs.
The biggest of these dynasties are the Umalis and Josons of the third and first districts which – while posting electoral victories – both suffered setbacks.
The Umalis won the race for the governorship and the congressional post with Gov. Aurelio Umali and his wife, 3rd District Rep. Czarina securing third terms, respectively.
However, Umali’s younger brother, Board Member Emmanuel Antonio, lost to their bitter political rival, re-electionist Cabanatuan Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara by landslide.
The Josons suffered yet another string of setbacks with 1st District Rep. Josie Manuel-Joson losing to Governor Umali and her husband, Quezon Mayor Mariano Cristino Joson, getting clobbered by Board Member Estrellita Suansing in the first district congressional race.
Former Vice Gov. Eduardo IV also lost by landslide in the vice gubernatorial derby to Umali’s running mate, re-electionist Jose Gay Padiernos.
Two Josons – Board Members Eduardo Rey and Dean – won in their bid for re-election and mayorship of Quezon, respectively.
After being virtually invincible for 48 years dating back to 1947, the Josons have been on a steady political decline, suffering one setback after another over the last 18 years.
The clan tasted its first defeat in 1995 when Manuel-Joson, then a neophyte ran for representative in the first district against then incumbent Renato Diaz and lost. She defeated Diaz in 1998.
In 2001, it was the turn of Edward Thomas Joson – son of former four-time governor Tomas III – to lose, getting beaten in the third district congressional race by Governor Umali.
The Josons lost again in 2007 with Governor Umali beating Mariano Cristino in the gubernatorial race, ending the clan’s 48-year rule in the Capitol. Congresswoman Umali also trounced Eduardo IV in the three-way congressional race and Tomas III lost in the mayorship of Cabanatuan to Vergara’s cousin Alvin.
In 2010, Edward Thomas lost to Governor Umali for the governorship while Eduardo IV lost anew to Congresswoman Umali.
Other political dynasties that emerged successful this 2013 were the Violagos, Belenas, Felimons and Alvarezes of the second congressional district, the Botes of Gen. Tinio and the Lacuroms of Nampicuan.
Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago, son of former congressman Eleuterio breezed through re-election by running unopposed. His younger sister San Jose City Mayor Marivic Violago-Belena won another term by beating anew former Vice Mayor Mario Salvador.
Former three-term San Jose City Mayor Jose Felimon won as councilor while his daughter Glenda won as vice mayor.
In the Science City of Muñoz, former three-term Mayor Nestor Alvarez won over acting Mayor Esther Lazaro while his niece Tekila Alvarez, daughter of outgoing Mayor Efren Alvarez, also won.
In Gen. Tinio, Mayor Virgilio Bote won a third term – his sixth after a previous three terms – as mayor by running unopposed while his running mate Ferdinand Bote, a distant cousin, also won.
In Nampicuan, Mayor Ubaldino Lacurom, a former judge, won a third term while his daughter Cora won as vice mayor.
Unsuccessful were the Villareals and Lorenzos of the fourth district, the Borjas of Pantabangan, the Vargases of Aliaga and the Nagaños of San Leonardo.
Former two-time 4th District Rep. Julita Lorenzo-Villareal, daughter of the late San Isidro Mayor Maximino Lorenzo, and sister-in-law, ex-San Isidro Mayor Sonia Lorenzo, both lost to Magnolia Antonino-Nadres in the congressional race along with San Leonardo Mayor Froilan Nagaño Sr.
In San Leonardo, Nagaño’s son Froilan Jr. won over the mayor’s elder brother Eulinio for the mayorship.
In Pantabangan, the father-and-son tandem of re-electionist Mayor Romeo Borja Sr. and re-electionist Vice Mayor Romeo Jr. lost to Lucio Uera and Ruben Huerta, both former mayors.
In Aliaga, the wife-and-husband tandem of outgoing Vice Mayor Elizabeth Vargas and outgoing three-term Mayor Marcial Vargas went on opposite directions.
Elizabeth won as mayor by only less than 100 votes over Reynaldo Ordanes while Marcial lost to old rival Alfredo Domingo in the vice mayoral race. Their son David Angelo won a seat in the municipal council.
The Vargas couple have – between themselves – served as mayor for a total of 27 years spanning nine terms.
