BAGUIO REP. MARK, SOL GO SHOOT FOR THE MOON WITH UNPRECEDENTED ATTEMPT TO WIN MAYORALTY, CONGRESSIONAL SEATS

December 8, 2024 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY

The unprecedented is happening in Baguio politics when the two highest elective positions are being eyed by a husband and wife tandem that a former congressman say that is a first in Baguio, while leaving a bad taste in the mouth. For the first time since 1960, when the city started electing its officials, the offices of the mayor and congressman are being eyed by spouses Marques and Soledad Go. The husband will complete the final year for his final term next year.

“It never happened,” said former Youth Rep. and councilor Edgar Avila during a gathering of the Baguio Apache celebrating its 85th year as an organization last Saturday Three incumbent councilors are also against the idea of the Go spouse running for said positions. Councilor Jose Molintas told this writer: “Off course i am against political dynasties, it ends with monopoly, it invites use of guns gold and goons, it supports a govt off the people, poor the people and buy the people.” He added: “We should campaign against them.” Councilor Arthur Alad-iw, who is in his third and final term, opined: “That’s political dynasty in its real meaning.

Unacceptable to our Cordillera culture.” Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Maximo Edwin, Jr., meanwhile, said: “No and we will never allow (it).”  He added walang ibang magmamalasakit sa Baguio kung hindi tiga Baguio! (No one will show concern for Baguio but Baguio people).” No One But Go No Baguio political family
has had two of its members hold two elective positions at the same time except in 1992 when former Philippine Tourism Authority general manager Bernardo Vergara won as congressman, while his daughter and former Kabataang Barangay president Gladys won as councilor.

The older Vergara was a congressman anew when grandchild Ysabel de Vera, Gladys’ daughter, won as Sangguniang Kabataan chair and, like her mother, served as councilor. The other was Karminn Yangot, daughter of incumbent
councilor Leandro, Jr., who won the SK Federation presidency in 2013. For the first time, a father and a daughter served together at the city council. Other Baguio political families has had a member serve one at a time. The
Balajadia – Reyes clan had matriarch Sofia serve in the late 70s and early 80s as a city councilor. One of her son,
Delfin served first as an Association of Barangay Council chairman in the late 90s and later as a regular councilor.

The eldest of her children, former city prosecutor Erdolfo, replaced Delfin. A member of the fourth generation Reyes-Balajadia clan is now seeking a city council seat this coming election, Jacqueline, a grandchild of Delfin, she is
married to a scion of another political family – the Taboras. She is allied with the Go couple. The Taboras had to thank patriarch Alfonso for starting the family’s political career, he was mayor of the city in 1954. Nicolas, father-in-law to Jacqualine nee Balajadia, was a vice mayor in a post EDSA – Baguio, whose bother Antonio, Jr. was a Baguio
councilor and now the presidential adviser for the Cordilleras, an assistant secretary position.

The brothers’ uncle, Jesus, like Antonio Jr., was a three-term councilor. The Yaranons had three of its members hold local elective positions with the late judge Braulio Yaranon serving as vice mayor in 1963 until 1967, then as mayor of Baguio in 2004. Wife Lilia was a three-term councilor, while daughter Mylen is on her last term and is seeking the vice mayoralty position opposite incumbent Faustino Olowan. She is allied with the Go couple The Bautistas has sent a Leonides to the city council, and was followed by a third generation, Reinaldo, Jr.

He was elected councilor in 1998, then vice mayor in 2007 and with his elevation as acting mayor when the elder Yaranon was suspended in 2006. In 2007, he ran and won as mayor and dubbed as the Centennial Mayor, when Baguio celebrated its centenary in 2009. But with incumbent Rep. Go stepping down, his wife Soledad is seeking the same position and him seeking to challenge incumbent mayor Benjamin Magalong.

Pigeon Lobien