Olongapo City: It will be a battle that will literally shake the city of Olongapo after two of the most influential political family face off in the coming May 2010 election.
For the past elections it was a battle between the shorthanded opposition and the dominant Gordon family.
In the coming May 2010 elections however, their will be no more proxy fight, it’s a fight between incumbent Mayor James ‘Bong’ Gordon Jr. and Former Zambales Governor Vicente ‘Govic’ Magsaysay and an independent candidate by the name of Jerome Bacay.
For the most part of the city’s history the Godron family ruled the political arena of the city breaking the winning streak only twice. The first time was in 1971 when Dr. Geronimo Lipumano won over Amelia Gordon and in 1986 when Ted Macapagal was appointed as Mayor of the city.
In the past five elections all of the opposition lost to either to Kate Gordon, the wife of Senator Richard Gordon or his younger brother Bong Gordon Jr.
In 1995 Doroteo Rocha, (1998) Ed Piega, (2001) Bobby Flore all lost to Kate Gordon while in 2004 Gider Malabute and (2006) Rolen Paulino lost to James ‘Bong’ Gordon Jr.
In 2004 Mitos Magsaysay, who is the wife of Jesus Vicente ‘JV’ Magsaysay the eldest son of Vicmag won in a landslide against Kate Gordon for the 1st district congressional seat.
This was the first direct fight between the two political clan although it involved 3 other towns namely Subic, Castillejos and San Marcelino.
Many said that it was a test for the Magsaysay’s but during the 2006 election Mitos Magsaysay wobbled against former Zambales Vice Governor Ramon Lacbain who teamed up with the Gordon’s.
“This will be a good fight between the Gordon’s and Magsaysay” a resident who asked not to named said.
“Both candidates has the machinery, local leaders and most of all, money to spare,” the resident said.
“The Magsaysay have already penetrated Olongapo by way of Mitos and she for her part has done good for the people, the same thing with the Gordon, namely Bong (Gordon), Mitos has already slightly open the door of the Magsaysay, its up to Vicmag to open it widely but off course the Gordon’s will push the door close. Ultimately the people will be the one who decide during election day,” she added.
In an interview, Magsaysay said that the he was prompted to run by the people of Olongapo, the issue surrounding electricity dept of the city and land titles that the local government has to issued for decades.
“Itong P2.5 billion, almost P3 billion na unaccounted for ay pera ng maliliit. Lahat tayo nagbabayad sa oras at tama, saan napunta ang binayad natin sa Public Utilities department ng syudad?” Magsaysay asked.
‘I am running only on two main issues, the huge debt with Napocor and the issue of land titling. Olongapo has remained backward compared to the Subic Bay Freeport because of these two issues. Less that 10% have land titles because the city hall continues to refuse clearing the land for titling,’ Magsaysay explained.
‘If I win,’ he added, ‘getting land titles will be free to anyone who wants to have it. I’ve done it in Zambales and I will do it here.’
‘This will be like the Paquiao vs Mayweather fight. It will be a blockbuster and Olongapo will be better for it,’ Ed de Guzman a former union leader, ‘because finally issues will be asked and the incumbents will be forced to answer them.’
The Gordon specifically incumbent Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. has yet to grant and interview regarding his candidacy and other issue.
Third force
Despite being partyless, lack of campaign funds and contending with two of the powerful political clan in the city Jerome Bacay filed his certificate of candidacy as Mayor of the city.
‘The people of Olongapo needs to have a choice other than mayor James Gordon, Jr. and (former Zambales) gov. Vicente Magsaysay. I am running on the issue of anti-curruption, pro-transparency and good governance. We are the third choice this May,’ Bacay said in a interview last Monday.
Bacay is the barangay chairman of Sta. Rita, the biggest of the 17 barangays in the city. He ran as independent in 2007 and convincingly defeated the bets of mayor Gordon and former governor Magsaysay.
And he does not care if both have tons of money for the election.
A Saudi-boy and the son of the peoples doctor of the city Jerome Bacay is currently the barangay chairman of Sta. Rita, the biggest of the 17 barangays in the city. He ran as independent in 2007 and convincingly defeated the bets of mayor Gordon and former governor Magsaysay.
His first act as chairman is to post the income and expense statement of the Sta. Rita in strategic places. Some even volunteered their fences as posting area. ‘Kahit saan at kahit sino ang gusto magpost, sige lang. Para malaman ng tao kung saan napupunta ang pera nila,” she adds.
And his anti-corruption campaign did ruffle the feathers of his council. ‘Walang 10 percent dito sa amin,’ referring to the kickback usually given by suppliers.
‘Nagkaroon nga kami ng hindi pagkakaintindihan ilang mga kagawad ko. Kasi, legal daw ang 10%. Sabi ko kapag may naipakita kayo na legal, ok. Kung wala, wala,’ the jovial executive recounted. with John Bayarong
My vote will be belong to the Gordons.
my vote will go for magsaysay. time for change. mahilig lang sa media si gordon.kala mo maganda ginagawa sa gapo. bulok naman yan. lahat sila magaling gumawa ng pera. tingnan mo na lnag anak na si bryan gordon lakas mamera sa sbma. mga lorenzana d marunong magpasweldo sa mga worker sa whiterock kaya nga d nanalo lorenzana sa subic landgrabber pa. pati mga maliliit na tao papatulan. yan ang walang puso.gusto nio malaman kung gano kabulok nag gordon? tanungin nio pamangkin nia si JC delos Reyes sasabihin nia sa inyo.Baka sabihin nio siraulo si JC.
definitely, olongapo need a change in leadership right now! 35 years is more than enough but to much for them to such the pale blood of olongapenos!tama na sawa na kami sa mahabang panahong ginawa nyo kaming tanga!!! pay-off time maniningil na ang tahimik subalit pumuputok sa galit na mga raga gapo!!! BUSOG NA KAYO KAYA KAKALUSIN NA NAMIN KAYONG MGA BUWAYA DYAN SA CITY HALL!!IMAGINE PATI IHI AT EBAK DINO DONATE SA GAPO!!!! bakit ko nasabi dino donate?? lahat ng public Comfort room dito simulan mo sa city hall,palengke, hospital may bayad, totoo o hindi? sige mayor bong gordon ikaw sumagot [pag itinanggi ko yan sinungaling ka talga! palusot nyo pa pag na niningil kayo DONATION?? so meaning nag do do nate kami ng TAE at IHI sa city govermnent na di naman napupunta sa kaban ng bayan kundi sa mga BUWAYANG nasa CITY HALL!TIME FOR CHANGE OLONGAPO!!!FLUSHH GORDONS NOWWWW!!!!
Yung nagsasabing walang nagawa ang mga Gordons sa Olongapo…. May nagawa rin bang maganda ang mga Magsaysay sa Zambales? Nagtatanong lang po! Huwag nating kalimutan na ano mang kalagayan ng SBMA ngayon dahil may Gordon at mga taong nagpasimula at nagmalasakit na nagtrabahong libre para lang hindi manakaw ang mga ano mang bagay sa loob ng dating base naval. Nasaan ang mga Magsaysay noon at mga kapanalig nya? Hindi na nga nakakatulong nagtatawa pa kay Gordon at sa mga Volunteers noon na nagmamalakit lang naman. Nasaan sila ng ang mga tao ay naglalobby sa Congress para ang Subic Bataan at Olongapo ay maging Metropolitan Area. Sino ngayon ang walang nagawa. Tandang tanda ko pa! This is not about politics anymore, but who is the one has the heart for Olongapo. Ask your conscience this coming election.
No one denies that the Gordons have done something good for Olongapo. They should considering they have been in power for the past 20 years at least. But that pales in comparison to what they have caused the city in return. The huge deficit the city thru the PUD owes to Napocor amounting to P2billion pesos not only has to be explained but more importantly be accounted for.And mind you, this is no black propaganda. This is so TRUE there are official NAPOCOR documents to prove it. Sen. Dick Gordon did what he had to do as the first chairman of SBMA. But that was because he was made to become its chairman in the first place. He was not appointed or elected; it was given to him in a silver platter. The law that created SBMA had the provision that the first chairman will be the incumbent Mayor of Olongapo, and who do you guess was that lucky mayor? Eh di si Dick Gordon! And for all those volunteers who worked so hard to keep the base intact, I salute you. It is just so unfortunate that financial compensation you were supposed to get from the National Government never reached you. And why shoud it accdg to your Shareman Dick Gordon, eh volunteers nga mga yan so they dont expect to get anything?( At least priority naman sila for job placements and may Volunteer monument pa) If anyone has the heart for Olongapo, its the people of Olongapo who have been exploited and unfairly treated and deserve much better from their leaders. Now, 2010 is the time for change!
really GAPO in change in leadership and change its course toward better olongapo. because it is now in the hands of the dicktator and selfish musician leader. ok ask ko lang mga panatiko at bulag na taga sunod ng GORDONS. ok lang ba sa inyo na UMIIHI tayo sa mga public CR ntn icluding City hall na may bayad? patuloy na pagtaas ng GARBAGE FEE na wla namang consultation sa tao? kya nyo pa bang bayran ang 2.5 bilyong piso na utang sa kuryente na binayad natin at di nila binayad sa napocor? pag kaya nyo soge mag gordon pa din kyo at habang panahon kayo nakatali sa pwersahan at wlang kalayaan. ultimo maliliit na negosyante sobra ang singil sa permits at buwis, samantalang naglalakihan na ang kanilang mga negosyo tayo pumupila pa din sa kanila. forever volunteer tayo sa kanila samantalang sila yumayaman. ung senedor natin na hambog forever volunteer da?? he maybe the riochest volunteer in the world grabe!! TIME FOR CHANGE OLONGAPO!!!FLUSH GORDONS SA INIDORO yan naman mga negosyo nila e
may isa pang ambisyoso o nagpagamit dahil may utang na loob sa gordons?? for mayor daw e wla naman kaalam alam sa pamamahala?? pinanood ko ung video na sa youtube sa interview e ang lalayo naman ng sagot sa tanong ng media sa kanya! puro ka transparency di mo naman mapaliwanag kung paano mo gagawin?REFORMS ka na naman o UNIFORMS? yan lang kasi nagawa mo sa sta rita matatapos na term mo e.sagana nga sa UNIFORM staff mo e hehe kala mo basketball na naman pinasukan mo kasi e.cge maghintay ka sa mga meeting mo sa campaign yari ka sa mga tanong sa amin ewan ko kundi pagp-awisan ka ng husto sa mga issue hehe yumayakap ka ng bagay kasi ng di mo naman kaya!
nakukunsensya na nga kami BALUT_eater hehe kya sa 2010 gcing n gcing na kami FLUSH na namin ang mga GORDONS!bulag na bulag ka talaga kaibigan nasisiskmura mo ung pagnanakaw nila?yabang ng senador mo ni isang tornilyo daw wla sya nilabas dyan?? hehe ask kita kanino ung MALAKI TRUCK NG RED CROSS NOON NA LANGI NAKAPARADA sa harapan ng ADMIRAL HOTEL? alam mo ba na ung truck o bus na yun ang HUMAKOT AT NAGBAKLAS sa loob ng halos isang linggo sa BUILDING sa SRF na pingawa ng kano bago umalis?hehe ask mo amo mo kung sino sinungaling?restaurant un sa SRF COMPOUND sa TABI NG BLDG. 671 ask mo na din ung 850 million baka may natira pa hehe
Please look at new facebook group promoting a local Zambales candidate we believe in, http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=246773701760&ref=mf, and hope you can join us. You don’t have to be a voter, just join discussions about politics in general.