Theater man dares to step onto Makati political stage

JUMAWAN

As the two main contenders for the post of Makati City mayor recently kicked off their campaigns with the expected fireworks, a third candidate hit the ground quietly. In between sorties, he even had time to give dance lessons.

When the Inquirer met Jimmy “Jimboy” Jumawan last week, he was ready with a folder containing flyers about his plans to enhance government transparency, promote cultural programs and address the issue of informal settlers in the city, among others.

But the 53-year-old arts and music instructor obviously has a lot of catching up to do to be in the Makati voters’ radar come the May 9 polls.

Jumawan, who has also written and directed plays, filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor last year under the Partido Bagong Maharlika. The Commission on Elections (Comelec), however, rejected PBM for lacking the required establishment period of 2-3 years. Jumawan said the party only started in 2014.

“I was really counting on the support of our party. However, PBM was disqualified by the Comelec. So those running in the local elections under the party, including me, automatically became independent candidates,” he said in an interview.

The Barangay Rizal resident thus still managed to get his name on the ballot along with those of the two more popular protagonists: incumbent Mayor Romulo Peña and Rep. Abby Binay, whose family had dominated City Hall for almost three decades.

Due to lack of campaign funds, Jumawan has not yet even decided if he will hold a proclamation rally. Still, this hasn’t stopped him from going on the stump—so far covering 13 of Makati’s 33 barangays—to introduce himself and his allied candidates for councilor, hoping residents would hear them out amid the din of the Peña-Binay word war on the campaign stage and in the media.

“I am for transparency. If God will permit me to become mayor, I will make sure that all the public biddings and meetings will be recorded and properly documented,” he said. He also plans to form a “Makati People’s Council” composed of sectoral representatives who will serve as “observers” of how local projects are being funded and implemented.

He also spoke of having an “in-city relocation” program for squatters instead of sending them to other parts of the Metro Manila or the provinces. As a promoter of music and the arts, Jumawan envisions the setup of “proper venues, a cultural center” to develop youth talents.

Jumawan, who originally hails from Davao City, has not held any government position but is now vice president of the People’s Welfare Movement, which he described as a public service group with national operations.

Before he entered politics, Jumawan’s life mainly revolved around his work as dance choreographer, stage director and playwright. He was a member of the dance troupe under the Zarzuela Foundation which traveled abroad in the 1980s with then first lady Imelda Marcos.

He has directed Bible-inspired plays like “The Journey of Paul” which was staged in Mindanao and “The Prodigal Son” for the Light of Life Ministries in Quezon City.

Jumawan said he just wanted to serve the people of Makati, “to be given a chance to be a true public servant. Elected officials, I believe, should be no higher than the public because the people pay them to serve and deliver what is best for the residents.” With a report from John Cyrill Yee