“Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough; sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that’s more productive.” –Donald Trump
Before Victoria ‘Marivic’ Griengo-Mabilog declared on Facebook earlier this week, “We have not and will not be endorsing any candidate for mayor in the City of Iloilo,” I already had an inkling of that since May – I just didn’t want to put the cart before the horse. Instead, I waited until all the relevant certificate of candidacies were filed and for Mrs. Mabilog herself let the cat out of the bag.
The wife of former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who is no longer restrained when it comes to election matters, doused cold water on any expectations of an endorsement for either incumbent Mayor Jose ‘Joe III’ Espinosa III or his challenge, Iloilo City lone district Rep. Geronimo ‘Jerry’ Treñas. Although, insofar as the mayor’s race being a battle between in-laws, it’s already an awkward situation with an endorsement from the self-exiled former mayor.
Espinosa and Treñas are accidental adversaries
Had President Rodrigo Duterte not harassed the former mayor, who was forced to fly the coop for security purposes, the three would be battling under one banner against Team Dr. Pacita Gonzalez in the 2019 midterm elections.
I had earlier made note of the Mabilog family not picking a winner in the mayoral race after quoting “first-hand” sources who believed Espinosa and Mabilog would possibly meet during the Philippine Independence Day parade in New York City last June – Mabilog’s wife denied it.
“He (Jed) said ‘No,’” she told me in a message. “He does not have any plans of going to New York nor has he spoken to anybody about going to New York.”
Mrs. Mabilog went on to inform me that she and her husband were “winners.”
In May 2018, she wrote to me: “I am grateful of this episode sa life namon. Some may find it tragic but if we think about it, we are winners in every aspect – the kids have their Dad 24/7, quality time, all the time – win. I have the old Jed back, funny, caring, sans the glitter of the power he used to have – win. Jed goes to Church every day, regained a deeper faith – win. Jed does not have to pander to the devil, Duterte, to remain alive and in power – win.”
She continued: “Having said that, I truly believe that it was a divine intervention that brought us out of the Philippines,” adding, “I am speaking from my heart and that puts me in trouble most of the time.”
Mrs. Mabilog’s Facebook declaration
“There had been too many claims of purported endorsements for several local candidates in the City of Iloilo. Categorically and under our current circumstances, we have not and will not be endorsing any candidate for mayor in the City of Iloilo. We will continue to pray that the good people of Iloilo City will once again, seek in prayer, for an enlightened decision on who is best to lead our beloved city.
Several good friends had been trying to get our endorsements for either Jerry or Joe. Both are good friends of Jed, but I have my personal take on the two of them too. Jed Patrick E. Mabilog may disagree with me, as he usually does anyway, but I’ll have to say my piece.
When Jed was under siege from the president, Jerry and Joe knew that Jed was wrongly and unjustly accused and crucified. As someone who is not too adept on the nuances of politics, I was aghast and personally offended of their silence and inability to come to his aid. One friend explained to me that Jerry and Joe also feared that the president may turn his guns on them, hence, their silence and non-involvement. That’s a reasonable fear. I was ok with that. But this was not what I was not ok with: neither one of them bothered to reach out and personally assured Jed that they are one with him in this fight and will work and pray with him so that truth and justice will prevail. Their deafening silence, and nonchalant attitude when Duterte issued a death warrant against Jed by his plan of deploying Jovy Espenido to Iloilo was both painful, offensive and disgusting. Their silence and apparent lack of empathy speak volumes about their character, particularly the advancement of their own personal interests. This was how I felt through my heart.
Putting my brain to work and using some objectivity, I cannot side with either one because I have not personally witnessed any of them in action as mayors. During Jerry’s full 9-year term, I was in Canada and now on Joe’s more than a year tenure, we are on exile. I leave it to the intelligent voters of Iloilo City to determine whom of the two can best serve the city.
These are some of my personal reasons why I cannot allow our family to endorse neither candidate. With or without our endorsement, one candidate will win, anyway. In the next three years, Iloilo City will survive well under Jerry or Joe. The City and the people are resilient and are least concerned with the power play at the Mayor’s Office inside the City Hall. The more important issue in my opinion is how the legislative branch can be a major partner in ensuring good governance.
For this reason, I will be campaigning for the victory of RLeone Boots Gerochi as Vice-Mayor. He has the intellectual acuity, the moral strength, integrity, honesty, determination, fortitude, independence, love for his city, professionalism and dedication to his vocation that none of his opponents have, or at best, very little. I dream that one day, in the future, the likes of him will take up bigger leadership roles in the City.
Good luck, Iloilo City and may God Bless everyone. Iloilo City. My City My Pride. I am Filipino and Proud to be an Ilonggo.”/WDJ