The battle at the 2nd District
Posted on November 10th, 2009
The buzzer has already sounded for 2010 elections and it brings a new face to challenge the Syjucos reign of government in the Second District of Iloilo. The challenger is Mr. Ramon “Citoy” Arenas, son of Baby Arenas, a beautiful mother with pedigree of politics from a clan widely respected in Region 6.
It is seen to be a good fight between the two protagonists who are members of well-off families, the incumbent Congresswoman Judy Jalbuena Syjuco and “Citoy” Arenas of the Lopez breed.
It is widely believed that money will rule in this battle for a seat in Congress. It reminds me of a stranger and known perennial loser in Makati who always fail to achieve his goal of becoming the people’s representative in Congress.
On what misfortune, this stranger transferred residence from Manila to Iloilo with the help of a graduating congressman friend from the Second District of Iloilo. The stranger is Mr. Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco and his friend is former Cong. Albertito Lopez.
Despite being a stranger to the place, (now TESDA Dir. Gen.) Boboy has made his mark in history as the unbeatable figure at the kingdom he now rules. In fact, he hurdles easily the race for Congress twice against his opponents with the use of money.
Lately, he also propelled the candidacy of wife Judy to become a congresswoman using the same strategy. He knows probably that when money talks everybody listens. I am not insinuating that most of the voters at the Second District are poll-vendors.
But the past elections proved it. Sad to say, Syjuco learned this strategy from his mentor, the former congressman of the Second District, “Nonoy” Albert, who is to be blamed for this mess they’re in. He granted the stranger the privilege to inherit his throne and rule the kingdom when he rested for a while.
Boboy eventually became a congressman, the title he failed to attain despite all the battles he waged against his Makati contemporaries. The taste of a simulated thrill being already a congressman has emboldened Boboy not to step down anymore.
The problem is he let go his former chief of staff Manuel “Boy” Mejorada without first putting a gag on the latter’s mouth. This gives plenty of leeway to the latter in attacking him from all sides while watching the political trend in the Second District.
Today, despite the good promises of the future, the continuing accusation thrown against him by Mejorada has put the Syjucos political future in peril. Although the man’s name in the voters’ list of the Second District had been deleted by Court Order, his accusation remains and the claim make sense!
Worse, Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta of the Municipality of Pavia placed a billboard in every corner of the town with agonizing messages; “Stop Graft and Corruption, Be honest, Don’t Lie and Don’t Make Promises You Cannot Fulfill.”
There is a widespread public belief that the billboards were erected out there to show the people of the Second District, the passers-by and the passengers coming from the Iloilo Airport that Boboy Syjuco is the culprit in this mess.
But as this writer sees it, Citoy needs to get the support of the majority of the municipal mayors and leaders of the district. He should also get the nod of the provincial board members representing the district to align with him.
Most of all, former Cong. Nonoy Albert to personally campaign for him as it is widely believe that he still has a voice to his old guards in the district. Besides which, Nonoy Albert was the author of this political mess they’re now in and Citoy’s defeat is a slap on his face!
If money levels the playing field and Boboy decides to step down to protect his political interest, Citoy being a native and member of the Lopez clan has an upper hand in terms of parochial voting against a stranger.
By this time, Mayor Cadio and Boy Mejorada are already perceived allies of the Arenas. Let us wait on how Nonoy Albertito Lopez plays his role in this game. He should know that the prize at stake in this war is worthy of the battle he will be fighting for!
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November 12th, 2009 01:36
It would be great if you get copies of the seven-volume ‘The Lopez Family’ edited by Oscar M. Lopez, the current patriarch. It’s available at the Lopez Museum and at a bookstore in Rockwell.
I have the original leather-bound, gold-stamped edition printed in 1982. There is a current edition printed just after the turn of this millennium.
No where will you find mention of the Arenas as relatives in the volumes. The Arenas may have forebears with the surname Lopez (just like Imelda or Jennifer), but these ancestors are not from the Lopez clan of Basilio and Sabina Lopez of 1800s Jaro, which is THE penultimate Lopez clan of the Philippines. Ergo the Arenas are not part of the clan.
It is important to note that ‘The Lopez Family’ books mention two other Lopez families from Iloilo, but these were in no way connected to familia Lopez of Basilio and Sabina. Perhaps the Arenas are related to one of these.
A rose is a rose is a rose but it’s not a Lopez.
Honor, Gloria y Riqueza!
December 1st, 2009 16:08
To my friends in Iloilo and Boracay
We cannot afford to have this Arenas in our midst.
They are a dangerous family, with no morals whatsoever.
They will steal your properties.
I know of victims…i appeal to your sense of what is right and fair.
I would rather have a Sjyoco that im comfortable with, even if he’s from Quezon, than a family from HELL!!!
They are a secret shame to the Lopez clan, being adopted and on their own to survive, had to..well whatever it takes
So please no bull this time Rosemarie, let your hair down, and let’s face it, you look like a whore..from HELL
see:
http://cocktales.ph/?p=1614
see:
http://cocktales.ph/?p=1627
March 20th, 2010 13:21
NBI to probe Arenas son in Hayden case
By Sandy Araneta (The Philippine Star) Updated December 11, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines – A son of socialite Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas and eight others are facing investigation in connection with the uploading on the Internet and mass distribution of the controversial sex video of actress/model Katrina Halili and cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho Jr.
Speaking to reporters at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters in Manila, Halili’s counsel, Raymund Palad, said four more names were added to the list of personalities in the second phase of the NBI investigation.
The new list includes the names of Christopher “Chris” Arenas, a son of Baby Arenas; a certain Cedric Lee; computer expert Manuel “Boyet” Villaroman, owner of Villman Computers; and Joey Umandap, an employee of the Belo Medical Group.
Cris is the elder brother of Ramoncito Arenas, who is running for Congress in Iloilo City.