Re-electionist Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran of Bacolod City led the entry of the powerhouse cast of Grupo Progreso candidates to the Manny Villar-led Nacionalista Party.
In a virtual ceremony held Wednesday night, Leonardia and Familiaran took their oath before Villar, a former Senate President, who was joined by his wife, incumbent Sen. Cynthia Villar.
It is a rare honor and a privilege, Leonardia said, that his GP slate was invited to carry the NP colors in Bacolod City. The mayor was also appointed NP City Chairman.
Villar, who also served as House Speaker, is a real estate magnate and is listed as the richest among Filipino billionaires based on the latest issue of Forbes’ Wealthiest Billionaires.
Leonardia, who was formerly with the Nationalist People’s Coalition, personally consulted and thanked NPC patriarch and San Miguel Corp. top honcho Ramon S. Ang and Party President and current Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto before making his decision.
“We had a very open and cordial discussion of the obtaining political circumstances that ended with the NPC stalwarts giving me their blessings” he confided.
Also taking their oath as new members of the Nacionalista, the oldest political party in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, were incumbent Councilors Renecito Novero, Cindy Rojas, Carl Lopez and Israel Salanga.
Joining them as well as official NP Bacolod candidates were come-backing Councilor and former City Administrator Em Legaspi-Ang, businessman and former student leader Ed Guillem, former barangay captain, youth and LGBT leader Jonathan Diaz, IT industry expert and neophyte politician Cashmere Montalvo, daughter of former Bacolod City Mayor Jose “Digoy” Montalvo, regarded as the Father of the world renowned MassKara Festival, and leading Bacolod physician, Dr. Chris Sorongon, who had served as deputy for medical of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force Against COVID-19.
Incumbent Councilor Dindo Ramos was not present during the ceremony but filed his Certificate of Candidacy as a Nacionalista.
Councilor Archie Baribar, on the other hand, remains with the Promdi, while another GP stalwart and veteran broadcaster Marlon Solidum stays with the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
In their oath administered by Villar, Leonardia and the official NP Bacolod slate, “promised to protect and serve its (NP) good name, observe and honor its ideology, beliefs and platform, and faithfully comply with all its rules and regulations, as well as the orders and directives of its duly constituted officers and governing bodies”.
“I will uphold the highest interest of the nation at all times and fight for honesty and integrity to bring about order for our nation,” they added.
Also joining them as witness was another NP stalwart and former Rep. Ferjenel Biron of the 4th District of Iloilo Province.*
