SOME political pundits in the province of Antique predict that a former international flight stewardess will be next governor. They see her on the political radar, flying to a higher level. She is Vice-Governor Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao, the seventh of eight children born to dad Josue and mom Lolita, who used to be governor and vice-governor of Antique, respectively, at different time frames.

In the wake of her recent split from her old ally, Congressman Exequiel “Boy Ex” Javier, to align with Governor Salvacion “Inday Sally” Zaldivar-Perez, political analysts infer that she would clash head-on against the outgoing congressman for governor in 2010.

While admitting that Javier’s money has kept him in power for two straight decades already, she really looks at the idea of challenging him as “very tempting.”

Antique provincial information officer Eric Otayde swears that the Cadiao name still rings a loud bell, as proven by her triumphs as no. 1 board member of Antique-North in 2001 and as vice-governor in 2007.

We have heard her say of Javier, “Ask the people of Antique. Natak-an na sila sa iya. They want change.”

“Woman power” is how Dodod describes her political partnership with her fellow woman. Herself “graduating” from the provincial capitol, Inday Sally is prepared to run for congresswoman against whomever Javier is fielding.

“I am really happy to have reconciled with the governor,” she tells us. “This is a break from the tradition of the governor and the vice-governor whipping each other. You see, women leaders are less prone to corruption.”

She expresses dismay over Javier’s authoritarian style: “He always wants his allies to do what he wants!”

A principled woman, the vice-governor could not be so dominated. It was she who filed Resolution 11-2007 asking the Philippine National Police to intensify its campaign against illegal gambling, specifically small-town lottery, to the dismay of Javier’s friends who were batting for STL legalization in the province.

In retrospect, Dodod had aspired to be a nurse. In fact, she finished nursing at the Quezon City Medical Center. By a fluke of fate, however, an opportunity to go around the world for free, on top of good income, presented itself when PAL was hiring new stewardesses. Just for the heck of it, she applied and got the job.

“Having gone to the best places in the world,” she says, “naturally, I dream of replicating their prosperity in Antique.”

Nevertheless, Dodod sees livelihood opportunities that await tapping, especially in the field of tourism. Among Antique’s many tourist spots that could be developed into a world-class destination is the Sira-an Hot Spring in Anini-y. Rich in sulfur, it is touted to be medicinal. Another is the municipality of San Remigio, which has a Baguio-like cold weather and is the home of the biggest flower in the world, rafflesia.

No doubt, Javier does not take Dodod for granted. But the only “issue” he has hurled so far against the lady is her being “laon” or spinster. Of course, he must be wondering why such a beautiful lady has remained unmarried.

Rather than trade barb, Dodod glows, “I’m proud to be laon by choice. I have no regrets.”

“It’s only now that PAL stewardesses may marry and stay on the job,” she explains. “But during the 16 years that I was one, one could not marry unless she dropped her flying career.”

As a result, her boyfriend married another woman. Her two other suitors also called it quits.

If she loved her career that much, why did she eventually abandon it in favor of a political adventure? Long before winning a seat in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in 2001, she had already known she would only be earning one-fourth of her income as flight stewardess.

“It was for sentimental reasons that I joined politics. You see, when my father was about to leave this world, I saw the message in his teary eyes,” she reminisces. “He wanted one of us to continue his political mission.”

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Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is arriving in Iloilo City today but with little publicity to announce it. The planned motorcade might even be aborted. Why? The little info that I got from a City Hall insider is that there is conflict between church and state, what with Pacquiao intending to channel a P3-M donation for flood victims through the Catholic Church instead of the city government. Believe it… or not.

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