Joson-Joson in Nueva Ecija, Angara-Angara in Aurora

BALER, Aurora – Perhaps inspired by the success of the Joson-Joson team-up in nearby Nueva Ecija province, the Angaras are fielding an Angara-Angara ticket in the May 14 elections.

An Angara-Angara tandem was sealed after political leaders and supporters of Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo endorsed the candidacy of his nephew, Rommel Rico Teh Angara, as her running mate.

Angara-Castillo told The STAR that the clamor for the younger Angara to run for vice governor has prompted them to field him in the coming polls. "The people of Aurora are optimistic that no matter how many Angaras will run for public office, they will perform well. For the past three years, the Angaras were able to do what was expected of them," she said.

What is important, she added, is to have a vice governor that is supportive of the programs of the governor to ensure the sustainability of the programs she has started. "Rommel deals directly with the masses. He has the common touch and more importantly, he will surely support my programs for the province of Aurora," she said.

Rommel, son of former Baler mayor Joselito Angara, will be the fifth Angara to seek public office. The four others who are seeking re-election in the coming polls are: Sen. Edgardo Angara, Angara-Castillo, the senator’s son, House Deputy Minority Leader Juan Edgardo Angara, and the mayor in this town, Arthur Angara.

Rommel, who serves as the current chief of staff of Rep.Angara, said his main thrust is to fasttrack the governor’s programs while prioritizing his own sports development program to wean the youths away from illegal drugs.

Rep. Angara said he initially opposed Rommel’s candidacy but said that eventually, the latter would be an asset to the province. "My loss will be Aurora’s gain. He’s a very efficient and capable chief of staff," he said.

A business management graduate of De La Salle University, the 28-year-old Angara surfaced as his aunt’s running mate after two-term Vice Gov. Annabelle Tangson, the governor’s running mate in 2004, decided to forego a third and last term to run for mayor in her hometown in San Luis, a post to be vacated by her younger brother, outgoing three-term mayor Mariano Tangson.

Tangson said she sees nothing wrong if Rommel runs for vice governor. "I think he is competent and academically qualified," she said.

The Angaras are scions of Dr. Juan Angara, the first lieutenant governor of the then sub-province of Aurora, and a long-time mayor of this capital town. Dr. Angara’s brother, Jose, also once served as a congressman.

Before she became governor, Angara-Castillo was congresswoman for three terms of the province’s lone congressional district.

An Angara-Angara tandem is reminiscent of the Joson-Joson team-up in Nueva Ecija. The Josons, scions of the late former six-term governor Eduardo Sr., have successfully fielded the tandem since 1995, which saw the assumption into office of Eduardo Nonato Joson and Eduardo IV as governor and vice governor, respectively.

In 1998 and 2001, incumbent governor Tomas Joson III and Eduardo IV both won. In 2004, Tomas III won a third term with incumbent vice governor Mariano Cristino as his running mate.

Mariano Cristino is running for governor in May with his nephew, board member Edward Thomas Joson, son of Tomas III, as his running mate.