Ilocos town’s ‘holy trinity’ still rules

STA. LUCIA, Ilocos Sur — "Dios Anak, Dios Ina, Dios Anak."

With this monicker, a mother and her two sons here are known.

The "holy trinity," however, does not refer to just anybody; it alludes to Vice Mayor Estrella Hernaes and her two sons — Ferdinand, the mayor, and Douglas, a councilor.

First elected in 2001, the Hernaeses won convincingly in the recent polls for their second terms.

Their successful, if not amazing, entry into politics in 2001 came amid an outpouring of emotions and sympathy for the family after the ambush-slaying of then Mayor Teodoro Hernaes, the family’s patriarch, while on the campaign trail.

Ferdinand substituted for his father in the 2001 polls, while his mother Estrella, who was designated acting vice mayor being the top councilor, chose to run for vice mayor.

"Family politics" is evident in the Ilocos and elsewhere in the Cordilleras.

The husband-and-wife team of Vicente Valera and Ma. Zita Claustro Valera are on their second terms after their re-election as Abra governor and mayor of Bangued, the capital town, respectively.

Brother and sister Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Rep. Imee Marcos rode to easy victory in Ilocos Norte since they both ran unopposed.

In Peñarrubia, Abra, however, the "bedroom quarrel" of an estranged couple spilled over into the political arena.

Former mayor Antonio Domes-ag challenged his estranged wife, re-electionist Mayor Lovely Domes-ag, and the race ended with the brawn lording it over the beauty.

Lovely placed third in the three-cornered mayoralty race, trailing behind retired police Senior Superintendent Limuel Panabang.