Samar bets younger, but from old clans

FEMALE DYNASTY Reelectionist Rep. Milagrosa Tan of Samar (extreme left) is accompanied by her daughters, Gov. Sharee Ann Tan (center), who is running for reelection, and Angelie T. Tan, who is running for mayor of Calbayog City. Behind Sharee is her uncle, political neophyte Arnold V. Tan, who is running for congressman in Samar’s first district. Vicente S. Labro/Inquirer Visayas

So young yet so familiar.

While candidates in Samar are getting younger, their names look and sound old.

In Catbalogan City, the 29-year-old daughter of incumbent Mayor Coefredo Uy is running for mayor against her brother-in-law.

Stephany Uy-Tan of the Liberal Party (LP), eldest of four siblings, is incumbent councilor and is former ex officio member of the provincial board.

Her running mate is reelectionist Vice Mayor Art Sherwin L. Gabon, 34, who once served as councilor. Her father, who is on his third term as mayor, is running for councilor.

Challenging her bid is Reynolds Michael T. Tan, 24, of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

He is the son of Rep. Milagrosa T. Tan of Samar’s second district. His siblings include Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan and Vice Gov. James Stephen Tan, who is Stephany’s estranged husband.

Michael is a political neophyte. His running mate is

44-year-old Manuel Van A. Torrevillas, former vice mayor of Catbalogan.

The third man in the three-cornered mayoralty race in Catbalogan City is 72-year-old Jesus B. Redaja (independent), a former three-term mayor of Catbalogan and a former two-term vice governor of Samar.

The Tans  are  apparently strengthening their hold on Samar.

Milagrosa is seeking reelection against challenger Board Member Eunice Babalcon, 31.

Her brother-in-law, Arnold V. Tan, 37, is challenging the reelection bid of Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, 50, of Samar’s first district.

Daughter Sharee, 30, is seeking reelection against Jessica Rosa Uy-Delgado, 30, daughter of slain Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy.

Another daughter of the congresswoman has joined the mayoralty race in Calbayog City.

Angelie Tan, 32, and a political neophyte, will face Vice Mayor Rey James “Jimjim” Uy, 28.

Jimjim was elected first councilor in the 2010 elections. But he took over as vice mayor when Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino took over following the assassination of his father in 2011.

Mayor Aquino, 51, is the other contender in the three-cornered mayoralty race in Calbayog.

Aquino’s son, Councilor Ronald Mark Aquino, is running for reelection. Like Mayor Uy of Catbalogan City, other outgoing mayors are fielding their children as they seek to skirt the three-term rule.

Among them is Tarangnan town Mayor Emmelly Olaje who has fielded her son, John Anthony D. Olaje, an incumbent village chief who is in his 40s, while she runs as his vice mayor.

Motiong Mayor Francisco Langi is also running for vice mayor while his son, Councilor Aldwin Langi, also in his 40s, seeks the mayoral post.

The 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code bar local officials from holding the same local elective post in excess of three consecutive terms.