jlmaano117

[jlmaano117]

Don’t lionize the female politico; she too can be a trapo

Quezon Governor Angelina “Helen” Tan is running for reelection in May 2025. She is the first female governor in Quezon’s entire 123-year existence; she is the thirtieth governor of the province.

Tan’s election is a triumph for feminism. She is in many ways a trailblazer. For example, for the past twelve years, the city councilor race for Quezon’s capital city Lucena has had, at most, two female candidates, and only ever one female member sitting on the city council at any given point. In May 2025, in a massive break from the norm, five women are vying for a councilor seat.

It is not in question that women should be political leaders and have voices in every echelon of government.

But while more female voices in leadership are always welcome, there must be a sense of caution. It is all too easy to fall into identity politics, into the trap of thinking, “Oh, well, a female leader; if I really want to be a good feminist, I must support her!”

Not so. The fight for feminism is the fight for equality between the sexes—and that means judging everyone by the same standards, even if it makes a woman look bad.

Which is to say: as much as men dominate the Philippines’s political landscape, and as such perpetuate the trapo, traditional politics, that rule this country, it is entirely possible for women to do the same. It is, in fact, entirely within a female politician’s power (it may even be beneficial to her power) to be a trapo.

In the 2022 Quezon gubernatorial elections, the candidates were Angelina “Helen” Tan, Danilo “Danny” Suarez, Angelita Tan, Jeson Tan, Sonny Suarez, Romeo Suarez, and Warren Sio.

Interesting that multiple candidates share the last names of the two frontrunners Tan and Suarez. In fact, it is entirely possible, if a voter were not looking carefully (or were not fully literate), to vote for someone with the right last name, but is not actually the candidate they were planning on voting for.

To simplify: say for example a voter wished to vote for Angelina “Helen” Tan, but instead accidentally shaded the circle for “Angelita Tan.” That would be one vote taken away from Helen Tan. Or, if someone wished to vote for Danilo “Danny” Suarez, but accidentally shaded the circle for “Sonny Suarez” instead, that would be a vote taken away from Danny Suarez.

To say the quiet part out loud: could it be that these other Tans and Suarezes were in cahoots with the Suarez and Tan camps, in order to confuse the voting public into accidentally voting for the right last name, but the wrong candidate?

Who can tell? We certainly cannot track down the 13,119 people who voted for Angelita Tan, and ask them if they truly meant to vote for Angelita, or for Angelina “Helen” Tan. We cannot interrogate the combined 11,449 people who voted for Sonny and Romeo Suarez to ask if they meant to vote for Sonny and Romeo, or if they made a mistake and meant to vote for Danny Suarez instead.

(Incidentally, Helen Tan garnered 790,534votes over Danny Suarez’s 320,296. A landslide win, no doubt about it. Whether or not the votes for the other candidates were counted wouldn’t have mattered.)

But we can say with surety that in 2012, Wigberto Tañada (Wigberto), an aspirant for the position of representative of Quezon’s 4th district, filed a case (G.R. Nos. 207199-200, Comelec En Banc), petitioning to declare rival Alvin John S. Tañada (Alvin John) a nuisance candidate. The petition was denied.

In 2013, after election day, Wigberto filed a motion for partial reconsideration, alleging that Alvin John’s legal representation was in collusion with the lawyers of Angelina “Helen” Tan (also a contender for the position of representative of Quezon’s 4th district).

Wigberto Tañada, Alvin John S. Tañada; the same last name, the same potential for confusion. Wigberto asserted that if the votes cast for Alvin John were counted as votes cast for Wigberto, he would have won the race for house representative.

Well, the motion was denied, and the allegations were not proven. Tan became Quezon 4th district’s representative, a position she held for three terms until she ran for Quezon governor in 2022. At which point, the same strategy showed up, utilized to benefit both governor-aspirant frontrunners.

Now, in 2025, Tan is a re-electionist, with no real rival of note.

Therein lies the rub: with no one to rival her (and in fact, even if she did have rivals they would be even worse trapos), how are we to proceed?

I have heard once that democracy is not like calling taxi which will take you exactly to the door of where you want to go. Rather, it is a bus station, and you pick which bus takes you closest to your destination. Then you walk the rest of the way.

I like that metaphor better than “lesser evil” and “making the best of a bad lot.”

All these paragraphs were not to single out and solely condemn Tan herself; she was just a good example. It is easy, in the desire to be “woke” and “representative”, to fall into the trap of identity politics.

Yes, the politico may be a woman. But you do not have to support the woman just to prove that you are a good feminist.

Women are not exempt from the sordid world of traditional politics. Women are not, by virtue of their gender, pure and good and wholly above engaging in seedy strategies in order to win.

By all means, vote for whomever you wish. But please, survey your choices carefully. Do not vote blindly. When you get on the metaphorical bus, ensure that it will go at least somewhere near where you want to go.

And then walk. After all, democracy does not end at elections; it also requires active participation on the part of the citizenry.#

[jlmaano117]

It’s planting season for Lucena's future leaders

“Isang maling desisyon lang natin, [kung bibigyan natin ng scholarship] kaibigan ko ‘to, kamag-anak ko ito…Isang buhay ang pwede magbago sa desisyon natin na gagawin,” Hannah Adeser, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) councilor and the Chairperson of the Committee on Education for Brgy. Dalahican, Lucena City, Quezon, said.

(One wrong decision, if we were to give a scholarship to someone because they’re my friend, my relative…a life could change because of the decision we would make.)

Adeser, 23, is quoting herself. She is telling the story of early 2024, when she and her colleagues in the Brgy. Dalahican SK screened a mountain of mountain of applications for scholarships.

There were 400 slots to fill. Adeser was keenly aware of the common SK practice of giving scholarships to family or friends, who may not necessarily need the financial assistance.

“Sabi ko sa mga kasama ko, ang basis natin dito: kung di natin naibigay ang financial assistance sa batang ito, can they survive? If they can survive, baka hindi na. Kung malaking bagay ito, kung if we did not give them the financial assistance, baka magbago ang buhay nila in a tremendous negative way, e di ibigay natin,” Adeser said.

(I said to my colleagues, our basis is: if we don’t give the financial assistance to this kid, can they survive? If they can, then we probably shouldn’t [give the scholarship]. But if this is a big thing, if we don’t give the financial assistance then their life would change in a tremendous negative way, then let’s give the financial assistance.)

“Our decisions matter. Hindi tayo dapat maging katulad ng trapo,” Adeser insisted.

(Our decisions matter. We should not be like trapos.)

She says the word trapo, referring to a traditional politician (per Oxford Languages, “a politician perceived as belonging to a conventional and corrupt ruling class”), with some amount of vitriol. After all, trapos’ tactics nearly cost Adeser her degree in English Language Studies at the Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng Lucena (DLL).

In 2022, Adeser, then a student at DLL, was a vocal Kakampink and volunteer for the Lucena City mayoral run of Atty. Sunshine Abcede. At the time, the DLL student body was expected to support the administration candidate for Lucena City’s mayorship—which was not Abcede.

Because Adeser was known to be a volunteer for the opposition, the completion of her degree was tied up in bureaucratic red tape. She nearly did not get to march at her graduation. 

When Adeser speaks of the first few months of 2022, it is with mingled wistfulness, bitterness, and amusement. It had been the 2022 elections and the aftermath thereof that changed her career path.

A year after those fateful elections, Adeser ran for SK councilor and won, garnering the most votes out of the seven successful councilors.

Her term ends in 2025, unless the Sen. Imee Marcos-sponsored senate bill seeking to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to May 2029 passes.

(If Senate Bill 2816 contained under Committee Report 317 passes, BSKEs will be moved to May 2029, and be held every six years thereafter.)

Whether or not the bill passes, however, Adeser already has plans for her future. She will finish out her term as SK councilor, then run for barangay councilor.

Then:

“By God’s grace, if it’s His will, to be the kapitan ng barangay namin. Tapos after that, maging leader of the city of Lucena,” Adeser said.

(By God’s grace, if it’s His will, to become barangay captain. Then after that, to become the leader of the city of Lucena.)

“The 2022 elections were meant to wake us,” Adeser said. “Ang daming Kabataan, most especially sa Lucena [who volunteered]. Hindi ko inexpect. When the right time comes, na ready na ulit ang mga leaders natin na ipaglaban ulit tayo, alam kong mas dadami pa ang taong susuporta. Parang EDSA revolution, domino effect. It’s just a planting season. Nagtanim lang tayo nung 2022, at aanihin natin ito in the coming years.”

(The 2022 elections were meant to wake us. There were so many youth, especially in Lucena, who volunteered. When the right time comes, when our leaders are ready to fight for us again, I know there will be more supporters. It will be like the EDSA revolution, with the domino effect. It’s just a planting season. We just planted [political awareness] in 2022; we will harvest that in the coming years.)

She paused, then laughed at her own imagery. “God is holding the map of the Philippines at shine-shake. Gising kayo, ito mangyayari sa bansa niyo, wala kayong gagawin?”

(God is holding the map of the Philippines and shaking it. Wake up, this is what will happen to your country, will you do nothing?)#

[jlmaano117]

Five loaves of bread and two fish in today’s storm-swept landscape

During the pandemic and the rise of community pantries, the story of Jesus Christ multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish was often brought up, comparing how a few donations, taken together, could feed crowds of thousands.

In 2024, a youth group based in Lucena City, Quezon, Kaya Natin Youth Lucena (KNY Lucena), proved the story right once again as they raised over Php 278,530 in cash donations over the course of ten days, for Quezon citizens affected by Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine (international name Trami).

They also gathered hundreds of food items, gallons of water, and hygiene items as in-kind donations.

Kristine made landfall in the country at 12:30am on October 24, 2024, causing severe flooding in nine towns in Quezon, as well as Lucena City.

By morning, KNY Lucena volunteers had mobilized to help families evacuate, as well as serve hot meals at the designated evacuation centers. They also publicized GCash, Paymaya and Landbank options to donate, under the donation drive #BangonQuezon.

The volunteers helped almost 500 people in three Lucena City barangays that first day alone. Joined by Quezon Province Vice Governor Anacleto “Third” Alcala, they served 200 people served in Brgy. Dalahican, 97 people in Brgy. Kanlurang Mayao, and 200 people in Brgy. Singko.  

In photo: A KNY Lucena volunteer serves lugaw to evacuees in Dalahican Elementary School. Photo from Kaya Natin Youth Lucena Facebook page.

Though KNY Lucena is primarily based in Quezon’s capital city, Lucena (per the group’s name), they also extended their help to the other townships in Quezon. By 6pm of October 25, KNY Lucena had received over Php99,228 in cash donations, to be donated to the severely flooded towns of Mulanay and Calauag.

The average age of a KNY Lucena volunteer is very early twenties, in their second or third year of college. Near the tail end of October, students are likely to be swamped with midterms and requirements. Yet the volunteers were spending the weekend before Undas in KNY Lucena chairperson Kim de Leon’s house, repacking donations.

Cellphones vibrate with the message in the KNY Lucena group chat; a weighing scale is needed in order to measure out the rice.

One of the org advisers (often teased as an org elder) replies, “Kahit hindi na timbangin [ang bigas]. Ang gawa namin nun ay bumili ng mumurahing tabo, at yun na lang pangtakal ng bigas,” with the air of one conveying hard-earned wisdom.

The air fills with oohs and aahs of understanding: a practical solution, one that was perhaps obvious but not one that the younger volunteers had thought of. They return to the task at hand: portioning out rice, counting cans of nonperishables, and periodically updating an electronic spreadsheet of in-kind donations.

That is the face of volunteering youth today: late teenagers and twenty-somethings, mobilized into participative democracy in 2022, utilizing their digital native understanding of technology and social media to campaign for more donations and to find transport to affected areas, while also getting down to the nitty-gritty physical work of repacking, hauling sacks, carrying gallons of water.

And, because youth will be youth and people will be people, they also spawn multiple in-jokes such as “hashtag Team Sinandomeng,” in reference to the rice they repacked.

By October 27, volunteers delivered 40 sacks of rice and 500 gallons of water to affected residents of Mulanay, Quezon. They also delivered 365 food packs, 250 gallons of water, boxes of canned goods and hygiene kits to Calauag, Quezon residents.

By the final update on the #BangonQuezon donation drive, per their Facebook page, KNY Lucena had raised over “Php 278,530.54 total cash donations and received 300 pcs of 5 gallons of water, 23 boxes of bottled water, 10 boxes of canned goods, 12 boxes of noodles, 4 boxes of cup noodles, 68 food packs, 6 boxes of juices, 5 sacks of 25kg rice, 12 sacks of 5kg rice, 1 box of coffee, 3 boxes of clothes, 251 pieces of soap and shampoo, 15 bars of soap, and 38 pieces of toothbrush and toothpaste of in-kind donations.”

Kaya Natin Youth is affiliated with the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership Inc., a non-government organization that was a staunch supporter of Leni Robredo during the 2022 elections. Many of the volunteers in KNY Lucena actually transitioned from being campaign volunteers and Kakampinks to volunteers for KNY.

The motto of Kaya Natin is “Basta’t sama-sama, kaya natin.” Not only was it well-proven by the generosity of the donors and the hard work of the volunteers during typhoon season, it also shows that the volunteerism sparked in 2022 is still ablaze in the youth, in the pag-asa ng bayan, today.#

[jlmaano117]

Five out of 26 Lucena City councilor aspirants are women, first in 12 years

For the first time in twelve years and four elections, more than two women are vying for a Lucena City, Quezon councilor post.

Five out of 26 aspirants to Lucena City’s council are women, a 150 percent increase from the 2022 elections, when there were two out of 30 who ran for council.

These five are Rhaetia Marie “Sunshine” Abcede-Llaga from Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), a former three-term city councilor; Ma. Veronica Garcia, an independent aspirant;  Sonia Paraiso, an independent aspirant; Elizabeth “Beth” Sio from STAN Q, a reelectionist and a businesswoman; and Kneigoutina “Tinton” Suarez, from Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), of the Quezon Suarez clan.

Of the five women running for councilor this upcoming election, Abcede, who was city councilor from 2013 to 2022, is notable for being the only woman to sit on the council for the entire nine years of her three-term tenure.  She was also the sole female candidate in the 2016 and 2019 elections. In the 2022 Lucena City mayoral elections, she was the sole female candidate, although she did not win the post.

At a 2022 seminar for Angat Bayi, a University of the Philippines (UP) Women’s Center for Women’s and Gender Studies-led political fellowship, Abcede said that during campaign sorties, she would often crack the joke that she was the “pinakamagandang konsehal”, the most beautiful councilor, in reference to her position as the sole woman on the council.

“Pero bakit kailangan gan’on ang joke? Hindi ba puwedeng sabihin ako ang pinakamasipag? Ang pinakamatalino?” she asked.

(“But why does that have to be the joke? Can’t I say I’m the most hardworking? The smartest?”)

Sio, a wealthy businesswoman with multiple grocery stores and gas stations to her name, was one of two female councilor candidates during the 2022 elections. She was also the sole woman to sit on the council for the 2022-2025 term, inheriting Abcede’s position as the only woman on the council.

In fact, over the past twelve years and four elections, there has only ever been one woman on the Lucena City council at any given point. For the years 2013-2022, that was Abcede; for 2022-2025, it was Sio.

But the demographic of Lucena’s, and all of Quezon’s, political leadership is changing. After all, in 2022, Quezon elected its first female governor, Angelina “Helen” Tan, after 29 male governors and 123 years after its establishment as a province.

Tan is currently seeking reelection for a second term as the province’s governor. She was previously a three-term congresswoman for Quezon’s fourth district.#