Baguio Local Elections 2010: List of Candidates
December 5, 2009 by lisa
Filed under baguio, government & politics
I walked to the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) compound in Baguio on Governor Pack Road this afternoon and secured for myself a copy of the list of candidates who filed their Certificates of Candidacy on or before the deadline of midnight on December 1, 2009. Marie Balangue had very kindly posted photos in Facebook (follow Baguio on Facebook) but I did not want to decipher the cursive writing so it was wonderful that COMELEC has print outs available for the general public. And anyone can get a copy for just Php3.00 for the six (6) pages the nice ladies there will gladly furnish you with.
It was also rumored that by December 1, 2009 that we would know the actual number of registered voters for Baguio City but they said they did not have the list yet but that it would be released soon. All they would say is that the total registered voters in Baguio City is now about 155,000, which is a pretty big jump from 3 years ago. Although reflective of a big increase in the population of the City of Pines, it is also a good sign of the interest folks have taken in terms of casting their votes in May 2010.
I am a registered voter in the St Joseph Village Barangay, by the way. I have to put this on record because when I registered a few months ago, I was informed that the voter’s ID was going to come out in two years yet!!!
I also asked them for any materials that they had available to be able to orient folks on the new automated voting system, they said they did not have any materials yet. I will try to find other sources for this information in an effort to prevent chaos come election day because of this new system.
There are so many people running this year, a lot of whom I am not familiar with. But that’s okay, I am opening my mind to new faces and fresh ideas because, as I have said time and again, many of the elective officials we have are directly responsible for many things that are wrong with Baguio today. Of course, it’s also our fault because through action or inaction, these people were elected into office.
If we choose wisely, and insist that the candidates reveal their plans and projects for the city BEFORE we cast our votes, we would not get surprises like:
a. An unnecessary flyover where no traffic existed before;
b. A congressman who changes the name of Park Drive to Nanoy Ilusorio Drive in exchange for —
c. A mayor who will plunge Baguio City into a Php400 MILLION debt to build satellite markets based on a proposal from a private company;
d. Not getting our garbage collected after a paradigm shift away from tourism toward “education;”
e. And a host of other objectionable projects and policies that are detailed elsewhere on this site.
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Thanks for the list, Lisa. This is the first time I read the list and not from the local news, whether tv or in print. Wasn’t given that much importance it seemed.
Hiya Resty!
With all that is happening in Maguindanao, and how GMA is making all those moves like practicing a Martial Law declaration, the local elections will really take a back stage at this point.
In fact, I was planning to pot the rest of the candidates’ names for the other positions, but there are more urgent matters to be tackled. Check out the next post (two in one day)
nice one lisa, i hope to see list of accomplishments and s_____ts of the incumbents and come backing.
Hi Alan,
This blog is filled with issues and not shy about naming names — hahaha! Someone has to do it, for the love of Baguio!
I am planning give all candidates space here so voters can get to know them better.
If the candidates does not have a vision and accomplishments, which some of them don’t, trapos, and ever on the list almost every election period… Previous mayors and the incumbents does not seem to have the guts to create a change, radical change that is. After 17 years away from Baguio, the change from bad, pre-earthquake to worst. Maybe just maybe, there’s hidden gem (candidate) somewhere somehow that will pursue the change in Baguio. Maybe in a few years, I can see the change for the better. Sapay kuma ta haan da malipatan diay kakabsat tayo nga immuna nga naggiyan ta Baguio. I’m hoping for the best.
M Floresca, San Francisco-East Bay Area, California
Hi Michael,
We cannot hope to rely on ONE candidate to make the change for all 300,000 currently living here. It must be the bibingka approach — political will from everyone on top and the awakening of the masses to the possibility of a better and more prosperous life while being responsible caretakers of the city we all love.
For these elections the electorate must be true to the claim of of Baguio residents as “intelligent voters” for obviously, the people elected in the past two decades have been destroyers of the city. The population must DEMAND honestly, selflessness and sacrifice from the politicians the way the population must also behave honestly, selflessly and be willing to sacrifice to rebuild the city.
I know you have relatives still living here. I am sorry you were not around for 17 years to perform the role of caretaker, but even from afar you can play your role by getting to know the candidates, demanding that they reveal their projects before asking your relatives to vote for them.
It is no longer enough to be familiar with names, but to really grill them the way one would a job applicant — for that is what the candidates are: job applicants and we, the people, are the bosses.
Thanks Lisa for this personal blog. I can’t find a site that cares about the next leaders of Baguio as you do. Not even Sunstar or Midland gave a complete list as you did (and hints).
For a change, I personally don’t like another Vergara-Domogan regime. But it looks like the people of Baguio are left with little choice. Despite the 19 names, they still stand out on the list.
Why don’t we try an Avila-Molintas-Olowan era and see what difference would it make? But before going into that, let’s wait and see what they have planned to offer to us.
I would be glad to see more of the profiles and propagandas of these hopefuls before we finally shade their names in the ballot.
Thanks again…
Hi Gregorio,
Hahaha, I could not resist the hints (advantages of this being a personal blog, not a newspaper) as I found it odd that so many were running for mayor and Baguio has such few choices for vice-mayor.
FOR A CHANGE is exactly right! If we vote in the same people, I am afraid it will just be more of the same uglification and self-serving questionable projects. And I am not talking here about just the top 3 posts — even councilors must reveal what their programs and projects are — NO MORE SURPRISES FOR THE PEOPLE, OK?
Had I known, for example that they were planning to turn the Skating Rink into Fiesta Carnival I would have freaked way before that travesty ever happened.
I am planning to offer every candidate space in this blog for so voters will get to know them and their plans better.
Thanks for dropping a comment and I hope you keep em coming!
Hi, Lisa! Finally got some time to read and reply to this completely!
Thanks for organizing the candidates into the positions they will run for. I have a question – Is it a requisite for the candidates to show up at the COMELEC to file their candidacies? I find it odd that the handwriting of several candidates seem to be done by one person only… Does that mean that someone could volunteer anybody? Thanks for answering!
Hi Marie,
I don’t think the candidate has to make a personal appearance. In the case of the Magundadatus (Ampatuan Massacre victims) the candidate sent his female relatives to file for him.
And in the case of Voltaire Acosta, who is running for councilor (and whom I’m voting for), it was his wife Digna who filed.
While we’re at it, this list is not that final, because some candidates can substitute their relatives for themselves. In other words, a sibling or a spouse can be the final candidate.
Also, a candidate who files for mayor, for example, can withdraw the candidacy and run for a lower position like city councilor by asking his party-mate to withdraw.
Am not well-versed on election law but I had the occasion to interview one of our mayoralty candidates about this, who happens to be a lawyer (Jose Molintas) and who was patient enough to answer my questions.
Also went to Joe Molintas’s office when he was a councilor. Felt good vibes from him. Nothing of the intimidating kind of personality. Very warm and accomdating.
Hi Resty,
One thing I like about Atty Molintas is that he is very open-minded, there were some young people in our group and he gave everyone’s opinions equal importance. That was pretty impressive because he listened more than spoke.
In contrast, I had merienda with a candidate for Congress the day before and he loved to hear himself speak. Only his ideas were worth anything to him.
But worst of all, I attended a forum once where our Congressman was asked a simple question by the students in the audience and instead of answering, he started on a tirade accusing people of not paying their taxes and totally avoided answering the question.
After writing all this, I guess I want a mayor who consults the people before undertaking anything, and someone who has the wisdom and heart to do what is best for everyone.
I cannot stand politicians who think that governance is all about projects, cement projects at that.
Is this blog for campaigning?don’t vote for this or vote for that!
Maria is good and Pedro is bad.Is that what you mean?
Jenny, this blog is political too, a forum for discussions where folks are welcome to add their thoughts and comment on issues. The articles contain information on visiting, living and doing business in Baguio, just like the description says.
It is important to discuss these things so folks can make informed decisions. So yes, if politicians do good things they get mentioned, if people do bad things, you can bet we will scream it to high heavens.
And if it is not what you expected it to be, you are welcome to check out the 6 million other sites referencing Baguio City.