ALAMINOS CITY–While his fellow “Spice Boys” in Congress are poised to run for the Philippine Senate in the May elections, Alaminos City Mayor Hernani “Nani” A. Braganza would rather aim for re-election or probably run as governor of Pangasinan, his camp hinted recently.

At the recent Kaluyagan Nen Palaris Grand Fellowship and Recognition Night held at the Manila Hotel, former President Fidel V. Ramos, Braganza’s uncle, lauded the mayor’s performance and stopped short of endorsing him for the gubernatorial post.

If Braganza does join the race for the province’s top post, he will most likely be up against other prominent political names, including Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino, Dr. Jamie Agbayani, wife of incumbent Governor Victor Agbayani, Second District Rep. Amado T. Espino Jr., Sixth District Rep. Conrado Estrella III and National Irrigation Administrator Arturo Lomibao.

The Spice Boys — which includes Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor, Bukidnon Rep. Miguel Zubiri and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers — made history in 2000 when they succeeded in mustering the 79 signatures that sent the impeachment case of President Joseph Estrada to the Philippine Senate despite being in the minority.

Braganza served as Secretary of Agrarian Reform, Press office and as Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs under the Arroyo Administration before he returned to his city of birth in 2004 where he won as mayor during the elections.

His administrative agenda has been largely centered on agriculture, fishery modernization and eco-tourism development. He also divided the city into seven distinct investment zones and commissioned urban planner Palafox Associates to prepare a 25-year mixed-use master plan for the city.

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