PANGASINAN’S POLITICAL DYNASTIES

By Ahikam Pasion

 

SINCE its founding 441 years ago, the provincial borders of Pangasinan have been drawn and redrawn many a time, its districts gerrymandered into six.

And, according to the 2020 census by the Philippine Statistics Authority, the province has a population of 3,163,190 people, making it the sixth populous province in the country. Densely populated, given its limited 5,369-km² area, the province has grown due to big families settling in.

Speaking of families, members of prominent political families filed their certificates of candidacy, and things are beginning to heat up.

Let us dissect and get to know the standing of the political families in Pangasinan.

ESPINO

The Espinos are considered the lynchpin of Pangasinan politics. Their rise to fame began when the patriarch, Amado T. Espino Jr., won as representative of the second district of Pangasinan in 2001, and eventually dethroned the Agbayanis in a landslide vote for governor in 2010, and defended it in a landslide vote from Hernani Braganza.

• Amado Jr. – Patriarch. former governor, now principal nominee of the Abante-Pangasinan Ilokano (API) party list. Lost to Mon Guico III last 2019 elections for control over 5^th
• Amado III – incumbent governor, seeking 3^rdgubernatorial term.
• Priscilla – Matriarch, incumbent Bugallon town mayor, seeking reelection.
• Jumel – brother of Amado III. Rep. of 2^nd district, seeking re-election.
• Jerome Vic – incumbent SK Federation president (Board Member).
• Amadeo – sibling of Amado Jr. incumbent Bautista town mayor.
• Joseph – incumbent vice mayor of Bautista town, now vying for vice mayor.
• Joren – a relative. Now gunning for Bautista town councilor.

CELESTE

The Celestes rose to political prominence in the province in 2001 when Arthur Celeste won as representative of the First District.

• Jesus (Boying) – former 1^stDistrict Rep., seeking return as Sual municipal mayor
• Arthur (Art) – former Alaminos City mayor. Lost to Amado III in 2019 elections, seeking a comeback as 1^stDistrict Congressman.
• Arth Bryan – Son of Art. Incumbent Alaminos City mayor, seeking reelection.
• Arthur Jr. – Son of Art, filed candidacy as councilor of Alaminos City.
• Arnold (Noli) – incumbent 1^stDistrict Rep,. former Mayor of Bolinao, seeking mayorship in Agno town.
• Alfonso – incumbent Bolinao town mayor. Seeking reelection.
• Richard – incumbent Bolinao town vice mayor. Seeking reelection.
• Gregorio – Incumbent Bolinao town councilor. Seeking reelection.

GUICO

In the past, Guicos and Espinos coexisted in the Fifth District, until then Binalonan mayor Monmon Guico announced his bid for Fifth District representative. Now allied with the Celestes, Lambinos, and Mark Cojuangco, Guico scion Monmon is gunning to take the reins of the governorship from Amado ‘Pogi’ Espino III.

• Ramon Jr. (Monching) – Patriarch. Incumbent mayor of Binalonan town, seeking 5^thDistrict Representative post.
• Ramon III (Monmon) – incumbent 5^thDistrict Rep., will face Pogi Espino in the upcoming gubernatorial race.
• Ramon Ronald – Sibling of Monmon, seeking mayorship of Binalonan.

LAMBINO

After losing in the 2010 senatorial elections, and suffering another upset in his hometown  Pozorrubio in 2016, Raul Lambino, one of GMA’s loyal lieutenants, set his eyes in his wife’s hometown, Mangaldan to establish a political foothold. His wife, Marilyn defeated then-incumbent Bona Parayno by a 2,064 margin while their son, Mark won as vice governor. Now, together with the Guicos, they set their eyes on a greater prize – control over the entire province of Pangasinan.

• Marilyn – Incumbent mayor of Mangaldan town, seeking reelection.
• Raul –  Husband of Marilyn, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.
• Mark– Son of Marilyn and Raul. Incumbent vice governor, seeking reelection.

RESUELLO

The Resuellos’ climb in the political hierarchy of Central Pangasinan began during the term of patriarch, then-mayor Julian Resuello, who was shot dead on April 28, 2007, just days before the election. Popular among San Carlenians, and bolstered by the patriarch’s untimely death, the brothers continued their father’s legacy.

• Julier ‘Ayoy’ – Incumbent mayor of San Carlos City, seeking reelection.
• Joseres ‘Bogs’ – Incumbent vice mayor of San Carlos City. Ayoy’s sibling, seeking reelection.
• Jolly –Mayor of adjacent Basista town, seeking reelection.
• Joshua – Another Resuello Kin. #2 San Carlos councilor, seeking reelection.

All are half-brothers.

LIM-ACOSTA

The Lims rose to political power in the Fourth District, particularly in Dagupan city, when Benjamin Saplan Lim was elected District Rep. in 1998. After serving one term, he won as Dagupan City mayor in 2001, and introduced the Bangus Festival, which became a worldwide attraction. His son, Brian, became a councilor, then as vice mayor. Benjie’s death on January 2019, provided a surge of ‘sympathy’ from Dagupeños, and helped him his first mayoralty bout against Belen Fernandez, with Celia, her mother, as councilor. With Fernandez trying to make a comeback, The Lims are bracing for impact.

• Marc Brian – incumbent Dagupan City Mayor, seeking reelection.
• Celia – Mother of Marc Brian. Incumbent Dagupan City councilor, seeking
• Victoria (Irene) – Brian’s sister and wife of JB Acosta, is running as councilor.

SISON

The Sison family’s influence grew in their hometown, Urbiztondo, when Raul Sison ran as 2^nd District Board Member under the Espino wing. With the backing of the Espinos, the Sisons slowly rose to power in their hometown. However, Raul ran for 2^nd District Representative against Jumel Espino and lost. He was also tagged as a suspect in the ambush of former Gov. Amado Espino Jr.

• Martin Raul II – Incumbent town mayor of Urbiztondo. Son of Raul Sison.
• Marilyn (Lai) – Incumbent Urbiztondo town vice mayor. Mother of Martin.

PEREZ

The Perezes of San Manuel town, which hosts the San Roque Multipurpose Dam. The patriarch, Salvador Sr., was mayor of the town.

• Kenneth Marco – incumbent town mayor, seeking reelection.
• Alain Jerico – Kenneth’s sibling, is the town’s incumbent vice mayor, seeking reelection.
• Salvador ‘Dong’ Jr. – Also a sibling of Kenneth, is incumbent Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member, seeking reelection.
• Antonio (Honeyboy) – Another Perez sibling, seeking councilor seat. 

PRIMICIAS-AGABAS

The Primicias clan has been in the political scene since the days of Cipriano Primicias Sr. the clan’s third generation, sisters Marlyn, Lorna, and Alicia continue their clan’s political legacy.

• Marlyn Primicias-Agabas – former Pangasinan vice governor, seeking to return as Sixth District Representative .
• Tyrone Agabas –Incumbent sixth district representative, husband of Marlyn., seeking mayoralty post in Tayug.
• Lorna Primicias-Tacdol – incumbent vice mayor of Tayug town. Seeking reelection.
• Alicia Primicias-Enriquez – incumbent mayor of San Nicolas town, seeking reelection.

As times come and go, so do these powerful families. It was, it is, and it will always be part of the Philippine political landscape. From the Datus of pre-colonial days, power was transferred from kin to kin, to the country’s modern-day republic.

While the topic on political families is a much-debated topic from the slums to the high elite, in the end, it will be up to the people to decide who remains in power.

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