Teddy to Congress again & Kuya Dante next mayor?

By Al S. Mendoza

(Deepest condolences to the loved  ones of  Bae Juaning Reyes, the great Lola of the great and ta-lented, American-educated Dr. Ruben “Boyet” Austria Reyes of Mangatarem, Pangasinan. May Bae Juaning’s soul rest in peace.)

* * *

SINCE election is just around the corner, let me digress and talk about Pangasinan politics, including possibilities in my own land of birth.

To begin with, will Victor Agbayani, the present congressman in my district (second), run for governor in 2010?

Heard he would.

An Agbayani-versus-Guv Spines face-off would be a  grand duel, I guess, if only becauseboth protagonists have claims of bailiwicks tucked under their belts.

Even the one above me here, my good neighbor and erudite kumpadre Jun Velasco, heartily believes the race would be close, although he gives Guv Spines a “clear edge” when the moment of truth finally comes.

But, of course, objectively speaking, Guv Spines is absolutely ahead at the moment.

Either you’re a jerk or pure turkey if you think otherwise.

Being the incumbent, Guv Spines has the pulse of the times, the feel of the people and the grasp of objective conditions in his territory.

The current incumbent is always the undisputed father of the province. As such, everybody looks up to him for comfort, guidance and leadership.

If he’s good, he’d be unbeatable in 2010.

So, is Guv Spines that good so that he deserves to be reelected?

I mean, has he been doing his job so well as to discourage his rivals, including Victor, to oppose him in 2010?

I’ve been asking around, and the general consensus is, yes, he’s perceived to be performing quite pretty well.

Hooray to that!

To be honest, I haven’t met Guv Spines since he was elected governor. Nor have I spoken to him on the phone.

But no worries.

What’s important is, if Guv Spines is performing according to expectations, that should do it.

I mean, how can one argue with success?

Thing is, Guv Spines seems to be outdoing himself. Everywhere I go, I practically hear nothing but Guv Spines consistently dishing out good deeds for the betterment of our beloved province.

The prevalent feeling is that Agbayani would face formidable odds against Guv Spines that it is best for Victor to abandon the fight this early.

Perhaps, Victor would run in the end just to avenge the thrashing dealt his wife, the beautiful duktora, by Guv Spines in the last gubernatorial derby?

But that’d be a flimsy excuse, a bankrupt motivation if you will, to regain foothold at Urduja.

However, if Agbayani can’t be restrained, then I’d strongly endorse Mangatarem mayor Teddy Cruz to reclaim his post as congressman of the second district.

Teddy had made a good accounting of himself when he was our congressman some years back. I see no reason why he could not reprise that outstanding performance.  Teddy’s such a good man, I tell you.

Likewise, if Teddy runs for congressman, Dante Fernandez should succeed Teddy as mayor of Mangatarem.

I have asked around, and practically everybody in my town points to Kuya Dante as the man to beat. A very friendly and amiable fellow, Kuya Dante’s decades of experience as a distinguished Public Works official is legend.

But, of course, Kuya Dante’s political success would hinge on the combined, unconditional support of Teddy, Manong Marcial Punzal and the lotto man himself, Mr. Low-Key Bob Guerzon.

With the solid backing of this triumvirate, plus the support of the flamboyant Fiscal Boni Sison, I’d say it’d be a virtual walk in the park for Kuya Dante in the May 2010 mayoralty race.

“I second the motion,” said Dicks Estrada, our affable municipal assessor.

Upon hearing that, I saw Julian Apostol, the town’s Comelec chief himself, smile sweetly before he sipped his beer.

Make that ice-cold.

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