By Eva C. Visperas

 

AN urgent message beeped into my cellphone.

It was October 3, around 8:21 a.m., when I received an alert from a friend saying that Sual Mayor Dong Calugay is about to file his candidacy for re-election in the May 2025 elections. I was busy at the time and promised to head over as soon as I was free.

As soon as I clocked out from work, I sped to Sual to witness the scene for myself. My last visit to the town hall had been five years ago — far too long without any news coverage opportunities there.

Upon arriving, I was curious about how the townspeople would react to the mayor’s Certificate of Candidacy (COC) filing. Mayor Dong was undeniably a hot topic, especially with the ongoing Senate hearings regarding his alleged involvement in the controversial POGO issue.

To my surprise, as I entered the road leading to the town hall, I saw a large crowd of people — young adults, middle-aged individuals, and seniors — wearing different old red T-shirts. They were cheering, chanting, “Mayor Dong! Mayor Dong!” and “We Love You, Mayor!”, and other expressions of their endearment to him as he and his team made their way to the Catholic church near the town hall.

They hugged him, embraced him, and took selfies. I noticed someone trying to quiet the exuberant crowd as the mayor entered the church, but the people’s enthusiasm seemed genuine and spontaneous.

After the Mass, they joined him and his team as they headed to file their COCs at the Commission on Elections office.

The mayor’s team then gathered in front of the town hall to express their heartfelt gratitude for the community’s unwavering support.

I couldn’t help but notice the significant transformation of the town hall itself — both its exterior and interior had remarkably improved, and the staff were notably more cordial. This was impressive, especially given that Sual is home to the TeaM Energy Sual Power Station, the largest and most cost-effective coal-fired power station in the Philippines, generating 1,200 MW. It’s a vital source of revenue for the Sual local government unit. It’s like the goose that lays the golden eggs for the town coffers.

Mayor Dong is seeking his third and final term under the API regional political party. And when you say API, it is synonymous with former Governor Amado Espino Jr., its founder.

This added an extra layer of excitement to the day.

Governor Ama, as he is affectionately called by friends, and Mayor Dong have shared a close bond for many years — almost like family. However, their relationship faced challenges, but they have recently reconciled, which could be beneficial for the political comeback of former Governor Pogi Espino, Gov. Ama’s son and namesake.

This reconciliation sends a powerful message for the upcoming political battles in Sual and across Pangasinan. Like Mayor Dong, other mayors and political leaders have reconnected with the Espinos, putting aside past grievances and misunderstandings.

At a press conference on September 30, Gov. Pogi, though calm, showed a hint of sentimentality regarding his unexpected defeat in the last election. It was the same for his dad, Gov. Ama. They sealed their lips after the 2022 election.

They handled it with a reflective silence, a reminder that sometimes “Speech is silver, but silence is golden.”

However, that silence was (mis)interpreted by many, including the media, as an indication that Pogi and Gov. Ama might not return to politics.

But, they proved speculations wrong. Pogi is running for gov and Gov. Ama as number one nominee for API partylist in next year’s election.

For Mayor Dong, this “silence is golden” concept also holds significance as well. He politely declined an invite for a media interview.

Sometimes, it is better to say nothing at all and let actions speak louder than words. Just work.

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