Pols start poll drive on Valentine’s Day

Several officials in Pampanga have used Valentine’s Day as an excuse to make their bids for the 2013 local elections known to the public.

The Commission on Elections has yet to order these politicians to tear down their tarpaulins and streamers extending their Valentine’s Day greetings that residents say were actually campaign materials.

Mexico Mayor Teddy Tumang, for instance, hung tarpaulins in this capital, signifying the position he was aiming for by highlighting, in bold letters, the “vice” and “gov” in the phrases “genuine service” and “good governance.”

His face and name would not be missed because these are splashed in big spaces in the 6 x 1 meter tarpaulins displayed all around Pampanga.

While Gov. Lilia Pineda did not put up Valentine’s Day greetings, his ally, Board Member Nestor Tolentino, made sure her name and face appear in his pink and red tarpaulins in the towns comprising Pampanga’s fourth congressional district.

A certain “John Lloyd of the Fourth District” launched a search for a date on Valentine’s Day, using a streamer made of cheesecloth. That show biz tag and the term, “Kuyang Jerry,” gave away clues of the streamer’s owner: Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, who is reportedly gunning a congressional seat in the fourth district.

Siblings Representative Anna York Bondoc and her brother, former Representative Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc, upped their presence through pink streamers with their names written on them.

In Sto. Tomas town, village chief Bong Pineda (not Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda, husband of Governor Pineda) announced a Valentine’s Day party for his birthday bash sponsored by Mayor Joselito Naguit and a councilor—all their names written on a streamer along the highway.

Former Mayor Romeo Ronquillo signaled his comeback through a greeting that dubbed him and his wife Gloria, the incumbent vice mayor, as “Ninong” and “Ninang,” respectively.

The father-daughter tandem of Raul and Ayzel Macalino, provincial board member and City of San Fernando councilor, respectively, indicated that anyone of them might run as vice mayor of the capital. The phrase that gave their plan away was “bise-bise.”

Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao has not waited for Valentine’s Day to revive his presence in the first district, where he is said to be running for representative.

His tarpaulins are displayed in public areas in Magalang and Mabalacat towns and Angeles City, sending messages for youth empowerment which carry the first letters in his nickname “Yeng.”