Cebu’s political dynasties crumble
Their recent defeats at the polls, however, do not signal the end of the long-kept tradition of astute politicians that endure every election year.
A family member may have lost in a particular race, for instance, but a close relative may have clinched a post somewhere.
Take the case of former third district Rep. Antonio Yapha Jr., or former fourth district Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez, or former Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano’s son, Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano.
Yapha and
The Yaphas: Father
and mother, out; Daughter and son, in The Yaphas have been dominating the third district since 1995 when the 70-year-old patriarch became a provincial board member until 1998.
The three-termer congressman, who is also a surgeon, became the third district’s representative from 1998 to 2007.
In the May 2007 election, he ran for governor against Gwendolyn Garcia but lost in the race. While his wife, the former provincial board member Dr. Estrella Yapha, also lost in her bid to fill the post her husband had vacated.
Although both of them lost in their respective bids, their daughter, Geraldine Yapha, was elected as mayor in their hometown Pinamungajan, replacing their eldest son, Jeffrey.
Jeffrey was Pinamungajan’s mayor from 1998 to 2007. He ran for vice mayor and won.
This means the Yaphas are still in power, at least in their own town, although the parents lost in their bids to occupy the province’s highest post and the third district top post.
“I may be out of politics but not my children and from time to time they ask for advises from me on political issues and some other matters,” the former congressman said.
Now he is back to his old love, practicing medicine.
“One does not have to be a politician in order to serve our people. Even if I am no longer a politician, people still come to me for treatment and that is still service to humanity,” he said.
He said barangay captains still invite him to attend openings or blessings or inaugurations of some projects that he used to fund through his funds from Congress.
The Martinezes:
Mother and Son, out but the father is in The popular Martinezes ruled the fourth district in the 1970’s wherein former fourth district Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez sat as Sangguniang Bayan member of Bogo from 1977 until 1986. She was provincial board member of
But before she was elected representative, her husband, Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr., held the position from 1987 to 1998.
Clavel, who sought electoral reforms, decided to run for vice governor in the last May elections but lost.
Just like her husband, Junie, as he is fondly called, also lost to Governor Garcia in the 2004 national and local elections.
Luckily, Junie won in the mayoralty race, replacing his son, Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, who failed to get the post that once was held by his parents.
Tining was Bogo’s mayor from 2001 and 2007 when it was still a town. Bogo was recently declared a city, making his father, Junie, the first mayor of
Both Tining and Clavel may have lost in their respective races but the tongue-lashing lady legislator said the war is not yet over.
The Martinezes still continue to question the grave abuse of discretion and authority on the part of lawyer Eddie Aba, chairman of the special board of canvasers in Bogo in proclaiming Tining’s opponent, new fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon.
“My life is still exciting. It is still full of challeges. There is no end to this fight until the truth comes out,” the former Cebuana legislator, who became one of the five finalists in the 1966 Miss Caltex beauty contest, said.
She said that inspite losing together with his son, God is keeping her happy and healthy to face the future with vigor and vitality
“Life now is still stressful but it is a little less stressful. I am now concentrating on our businesses and my fight against Comelec,” she said.
The Ouanos:
Only one son is in
Descendants of political clans vying for the city’s top posts always make the city’s elections something to look forward to.
The closest contenders in the last elections were Jonkie Ouano, son of Teddy Ouano and grandson of former mayor Alfredo “Pedong” Ouano, and Jonas Cortes, son of former mayor Demetrio “Boy” Cortes Sr. and grandson of Ariston Cortes Sr.
The Corteses ruled the city for the past 33 years and the rule ended when the Ouanos, particularly Pedong, became mayor in 1988, replacing Jonas’ father.
Pedong served Mandaue as councilor, vice mayor, and mayor until 1998. His son, Teddy, ran in the 1998 polls for the mayoralty post and won and remained entrenched until 2007.
As Teddy’s term ended, a new breed of politician in the Ouano clan emerged in the person of Jonkie.
Jonkie, perhaps the only bet in the dominant Ouano clan in the city to continue serving lost to Jonas who got a resounding majority of votes.
Jonkie’s loss in that election, according to some critics, led to the downfall of the “Ouano kingdom”—at least in the richest city of
Although Teddy, the man who obviously contributed to making Mandaue the richest city in Cebu province, with an exception of Cebu City, his constituents chose Jonas over his son.
“I am greatly disappointed. Jonkie did not lose, Mandaue did,” the former mayor, who is now busy attending to his ballroom dancing classes in his own studio called the “Let’s Dance and Fitness Studio” in barangay Opao, said.
Devastated, frustrated, and disappointed, the 61-year-old former mayor said that aside from ballroom dancing, he is now busy managing his own company, the Time Republic Manpower and General Services where he is the president and the chief executive officer.
“I have now more time with my family and especially to my `apos’,” said Teddy, who has now seven granchildren from his three children.
But although his youngest son, Jonkie lost in the elections, his other son, Alfred Francis “Alfie” Ouano, neverthless survived the last vote.
Alfie is now on his second term as town councilor of the city’s neighboring town, Consolacion. He was also elected twice already as president of the Philippine Councilors League in
Teddy said it was Alfie who brought up the idea to put up a manpower agency after more or less 3,000 employees from
“Si Tambok (“Tambok (fat),” the term of endearment for Alfie) gyud ang nag brought up sa idea aning manpower agency kay naluoy gyud siya sa nahitabo sa mga empleyado,” the former mayor said.
Teddy said Jonkie is now busy managing their chain of Jollibee stores and a newly-opened Red Ribbon. Jonkie is also busy with his kids especially now that he has a new son.
It looks like that three dynasties have fallen from power but it does not mean their numbers have dropped. Other political clans have simply taken over.
The Yaphas have been replaced by the Garcias. The Yapha patriarch was replaced by Pablo John Garcia, the brother of the lady governor and son of former fourth district representative and now third district congressman Pablo Garcia, who once served as governor of
The Martinezes, at least only in the congressional arena, have been dethroned by Salimbangon, a former provincial board member of
And lastly, the Ouanos have been dislodged by the Corteses, who have been attempting to do so since 1998.
Jonas’ brothers, Demetrio “Jun” Cortes Jr., the former
Finally, the Corteses are back in the political arena. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/CGG
- Latest
- Trending
