David vs. Goliath and the battle of two districts in Marikina

Call the upcoming local elections in Marikina a battle of epic proportions of sorts, as Bayani "BF" Fernando—the well-loved political heavyweight who is making a comeback—and a councilor who has the ruling Liberal Party machinery behind him slug it out for one of the city's top posts.

After serving three full terms as Marikina’s chief executive from 1992 to 2001, Fernando is finally trying to throw his hat in the ring of the legislative branch, as he runs for congressman of the city’s first district.

Challenging him for the post is LP's Marikina Councilor Samuel "SF" Ferriol.

And joining them in the three-way race is independent bet Jopet Sison, who co-hosts the long-running TV legal drama series “Ipaglaban Mo!,” along with his father Atty. Jose Sison.

Ferriol's ally and incumbent Marikina 2nd District Rep. Federico "Miro" Quimbo admits it would indeed be "challenging" for Ferriol and Sison to go up against "the legendary father of modern-day Marikina."

Credited for transforming Marikina from a fourth-class municipality to a model Philippine city and one of the best-managed localities in the country, Fernando, then allied with Lakas-CMD, literally painted the city green, as he promoted environment-driven policies, complete with green footbridges, lampposts, and urinals. He was succeeded by his wife Marides, who married his husband’s “green” campaign with her “pink” policy.

Mr. Fernando was eventually installed as Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman in 2009, before becoming the running mate of then presidential candidate Richard Gordon under the Bagumbayan-VNP ticket. At 69, Fernando is currently running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition party.

"So what Ferriol is trying to do here is present himself as someone who has the better programs. While BF is makasaysayan, ngayon ay panahon na ni SF na mas attuned sa kapanahunan ngayon," said Quimbo.

Quimbo claimed that despite losing in past elections and even before becoming a councilor, Ferriol had been extending public service in his own small ways. "He is trying to impress on everyone na 'Kahit wala ako sa posisyon, tumutulong ako,'" said Quimbo, describing Ferriol as a "smaller human and mas makatao" than Fernando.

The lawmaker compared the congressional race in Marikina's first district as a modern-day "David versus Goliath" battle.

Mayoral race: Two districts clash

Not to be outdone, Marikina's mayoral race itself is equally intense, as two legislators—one incumbent and one former—fight it out for the top executive post in the city, in what is touted as the battle of Marikina's two districts.

First District's incumbent Rep. Marcelino Teodoro, 45, who is ending his third term as a lawmaker of the lower chamber, will try to snatch the mayoral post from re-electionist and Second District's Del de Guzman, 53, of LP.

"Kaya mainit din talaga ang labanan sa pagka-mayor. Parang laban ng first and second districts. It's a clash of two districts. Labanan din ng namumuno noon at ngayon and malalaman natin sino ang mas makaka-penetrate," said Quimbo.

According to the last census, the city's First District has a population of around 170,000 from nine barangays, while the Second District has around 255,000 from seven barangays.

Quimbo described both De Guzman and Teodoro as being "approachable, compassionate, and kind, who both have a good image when it comes to public service."

After serving as vice mayor to then Mayor Fernando from 1992 to 2001, De Guzman ran and won as congressman of the city’s then lone district. While in Congress, the University of the East graduate authored the law that created a second district of Marikina, and eventually became that district’s first legislator.

Staying true to his roots as a native of the Philippine shoe capital, De Guzman authored Republic Act No. 9290 or “An Act Promoting the Development of the Footwear, Leather Goods and Tannery Industries, Providing Incentives Therefor and for Other Purposes.”

As a then neophyte congressman in 2007, Teodoro’s proposed measures meanwhile centered on education, including one that sought to establish compulsory computer education in elementary and high school, and another that sought to provide free public pre-school education to qualified children.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines, where he also eventually taught when he was 19, Teodoro said he was among those who pushed for  the enactment of Republic Act 9500 or the UP Charter.

Among the other measures that he lobbied for were RA 9501 or the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium-Scale Enterprise; RA 9502 or the Cheaper Medicines Act; and RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.

Teodoro’s camp, called "Team Marcy,” promises among others to push for lower taxes and more tax incentives, strengthen the city’s shoe industry, revive the city’s Rescue 161’s five-minute response time, and ensure that no demolitions happen in the city’s Tumana village and other settlement areas.

After being De Guzman’s party-mate in LP, Teodoro, in 2015, jumped ship and joined Fernando in transferring to the NPC.

Unopposed, validated

As for Quimbo, the lawmaker is running unopposed for re-election as congressman of Marikina's Second District and the last for his three-term limit. And he sees it as a "validation and acceptance (by Marikeños) that I have done a good job."

He said this would be the first time he would be running unopposed.

"Humility aside, the fact na walang nangahas na lumaban sa akin, siguro my supporters are quite happy with my performance and even my opponents are not reprehensibly unsatisfied with me," he added.

The 46-year-old Quimbo is more popularly known as the dashing spokesman of the prosecution team that succeeded in unseating former Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.

After earning history and law degrees from the University of the Philippines, Quimbo briefly worked in private practice before joining the Pag-Ibig Fund Home Development Mutual Fund in 2001, becoming its president and CEO.

The two-term congressman became vice chair of the House committee on justice during his first term, and chair of ways and means during his second term.

Schools, flooding

For his expected third term in Congress, Quimbo said he plans to focus his legislation more on ensuring free education and better employment for the people of Marikina.

He said while the city has one of the lowest poverty incidences both in Metro Manila and nationwide, "there are people who are still getting left behind. That is why my thrust and that of my party-mates is inclusive growth."

He said before he ends his term in Congress, he "dreams" of eliminating multiple shifts in public schools by building more classrooms, so the student would get to spend more time with their families.

"Kasi 'pag double or triple shifting, palaging madalas pumasok ang bata. Ang teenager naman na anak, after lunch pumapasok. Ang nanay ay always out para sunduin ang anak. Pagdating naman ng parents from work, tulog na ang mga anak. But if you just have one shift in school, sabay-sabay nag-aalmusal ng pamilya," he said.

Quimbo said single shifting in school would also deter crimes because students get sent home earlier, preventing criminals—who usually strike at night—from preying on them.

Another problem that his legislation would focus on is flooding. Marikina is infamous for easily getting inundated whenever rainwater from the mountains of Rizal rush down the city during a storm. In 2009, Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) dumped a record amount of rainfall in Metro Manila, including Marikina, and nearby provinces, making it the most devastating typhoon to hit the region.

Quimbo said since Ondoy, the retaining capacity of Marikina's drainages all over the city has been increased, even as creeks and other tributaries have been dug deeper also to increase their water-holding capacity. Road dikes that control the flow of water from the mountains are also planned to be built higher.

Vice mayoral race: Medical battlefield?

In the vice mayoral race, two physicians will be battling it out for the post: incumbent Vice Mayor and Dr. Jose Fabian Cadiz will try to secure a third and final term, while his opponent Dr. Marion Andres will try to regain the same post which he had held for nine years during the mayoral tenure of Fernando’s wife, Marides.

As councilor for health and sanitation, Cadiz passed ordinances such as the Waste Segregation Ordinance, the Food Fortification Code of 2007, and the Galing Pook Awardee EcoSaver Program. He also established private clinics across Marikina.

A native of Camarines Sur, Cadiz moved to Metro Manila to finish high school and college. He earned a pre-medicine degree of Biology from UP and a post-graduate medicine degree from the UE Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center.

Andres, meanwhile, is the son of former Marikina Vice Mayor Jose Andres. He earned a degree in medicine from the Lyceum of the Philippines.

Amid the fierce competition in the elections, Quimbo said all the candidates share "first and foremost, a common goal for the interest of the city and its people. We all want to do what's best for the city."

Quimbo also hoped that the "politics of money" would never prevail in this year's local elections.

"This year, malaki ang pinag-iba sa mga nakaraang eleksyon. Mas malaki ang pagbuhos ng materials at pera sa usaping halalan. Ang concern ko, huwag sana manaig ang pulitika ng pera," he said.

"Kung mananalo si Cong. Marcy, hindi dapat dahil sa pera kundi dahil may kakayahan siya. Kung si Cong. Del naman ang mananalo, it would confirm his performance, dahil hindi naman siya naglalabas ng pera," Quimbo added.

GMA News Online made efforts to get the side of Fernando and Teodoro. Their campaign team agreed to have an interview arranged but hasn't gotten back to us yet as posting time.

#BonggangMarikina!

In the councilorship race, a total of 43 candidates are vying for 16 seats: 21 vying for eight seats in the first district, and 22 are slugging it out for the other eight seats in the second district.

One of the candidates for councilor currently generating buzz on social media is Erick Franco Habijan of the Second District, openly gay and a son of educators in Marikina City.

Out and proud, Habijan proclaims in his campaign posters: "Bata. Bago. Bakla. (Young. New. Gay.)" The former TV talk show writer's campaign slogan goes: "Bagong Pulitika. Bonggang Marikina. Isusulong kabataan, LGBT ipaglalaban!"

Habijan is an AB Communication graduate from Ateneo de Manila University and part-time instructor at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina.

In a Facebook post on the last day of campaign on Saturday, Habijan proclaims: "Ito na ang huling birada. Halina't lundagin at abutin natin ang #BonggangMarikina!" —KG/ALG, GMA News