ILOILO – A contractor-businessman is aspiring to be the next mayor of Pototan town.
Yesterday, Roque Poral Andrada III of Barangay Catoogan formally filed his certificate of candidacy together with running mate Bernie Parcon Cordero and their candidates for councilor.
Andrada, popularly known as “Oking”, is running under Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s Aksyon Demokratiko.
The 49-year-old Andrada is known for his humility and his being people-oriented.
These, according to Andrada, are innate as he came from a poor family.
“Naghanggod ako sa isa ka pigado nga pamilya kag naka-eksperyensya sang tuman nga kabudlay sa pangabuhi,” said Andrada.
He graduated his elementary education at the Pototan Pilot Elementar School in 1986 and secondary education at the Pototan College of Arts and Sciences in 1990.
“Samtang naga-eskwela naagyan ko magbaligya sang kun ano-ano para may ibakal pagkaon,” he recalled. “Tungod sa tuman nga kapigaduhon, naagyan namon nga mag-ulutod magdapli botong-botong.”
Andrada was a brother to Cyril, Samuel, Melchor, Marilyn, Ruby, and Vilma, and son to Beatriz Perez Portoza Poral. He was also the grandson of the late Antonio Peñaranda Poral.
“May mga tion nga ginakaon namon kan-on nga gin butangan ininit nga tubig kag ginbudbudan asin,” said Andrada.
“Pagkatapos sang high school ko, ginpakadto ako sa Davao para didto padayunon ang akon pag eskwela. Nag-board ako sa squatters’ area kon sa diin akon naagyan paiguon ang isa ka putos nga noodles sa pamahaw, igma kag yapon,” he recounted.
Andrada ventured to Manila after he finished schooling.
“Pero tungod wala pa ako sang obra kag wala kwarta naka agi ako tulog sa dalan kag sa Rizal Park kag akon nakaon saging nga barbecue lang. Gina paigo-igo ko lang,” he shared, until he met a generous someone who helped him.
“Nagsunod-sunod ako kay Director Parrel para lang may istaran kag makakaon,” he said.
Andrada then decided to work for a fishing vessel in Taiwan.
“Tama man kabudlay mag-obra didto. Pero wala ako choice kundi antoson. Naka-obra ako duha ka tuig didto,” he said.
Andrada invested his savings into business to include the Oking Bakeshop and Refreshm ent at the Pototan public plaza, palay buying and wholesale of pigs at the public market.
Andrada also owns the Oking Construction Supply Trading and a hardware store.
According to Andrada, he wants to help poor families in Pototan.
In fact, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, he had distributed relief packs to quarantined families and gave medical assistance to senior citizens.
“If hatagan lang ako sang chance sang taga-Pototan, bag-ohon naton ang aton banwa. Tinguhaan ta nga maka–ganyat sang mga investors. Makapahimo pa gid kita sang farm-to-market roads sa mga malayo nga barangay para madali ang ila pag-market sang ila produkto,” said Andrada.
Andrada’s wife is Marvie Eday, who works at the Land Transportation Office – Region 6.
He has two sons, Chad Denard Andrada, a first year Medical Technology student at Central Philippine University, and Clyde Jan Andrada, a Grade 10 student at Angelicum School Iloilo.
Andrada said he is related to the Polines, Porras, Provido, and Pedregosa families./PN
