CAUAYAN CITY — As poll campaigns go, the name of the game is to stand out — often by using odd monikers. The May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections are no different.
“Tarong,” Ilocano for eggplant, is Ernesto Barber Jr., who is running for a seat in the village council of Villa Concepcion here.
The eggplant happens to be an ingredient in a popular Ilocano dish called “inabraw.”
In Sillawit village, Jaime “Anikki” Menor Sr. and Ferdinand “Pukol” Ramones are slugging it out for council seats.
“Anikki” is someone who is pinned to the ground and “pukol” is slang for one who has lost an arm or a leg or a finger.
In San Isidro, picking “Tangkoy” (the vegetable “upo,” or bottle gourd) is a vote for Rolando Edra, a kagawad hopeful.
Jose Dumlao, or “Pusit” (squid), is a candidate for chair of Barangay San Antonio, where Raul Cadelina, or “Burasi” (a local fish), and Alejo “Pugot” (headless) Orbillo are competing for village council seats.
Arnel Ramos, who is running for councilor in Pinoma, introduces himself as “Lakampana,” his favorite cigar brand.
“Binay,” who is running for village chief in Labinab, is neither a relative of former Vice President Jejomar Binay nor a man. She is Irene Taguinod.
In some places, odds would be high that some candidates could be related. But in the village of Inmalog in San Fabian town, Pangasinan province, there are just so many Castronuevos to choose from.
According to the provincial election office, the candidates for barangay chair are Bobby Castronuevo, George Castronuevo and Jose Castronuevo.
Six more Castronuevos are running for the village council, and two are vying for SK seats. —Reports from Villamor Visaya Jr. and Yolanda Sotelo