LAST FRIDAY sipping coffee and watching the world go by at Coffeebreak Iloilo International Airport while waiting for our morning flight to Manila I checked out my iPhone and this was what I saw on my social media newsfeeds:
Excerpts from the Sept. 28 issue of Panay News:
Former councilor Zulueta may run for congresswoman
Former councilor Perla Zulueta may run for congresswoman.
Currently Mayor Jose Espinosa III’s executive assistant for education, Zulueta confirmed having discussed such possibility with the city’s chief executive.
“Siling ko kon wala na gid, I am open,” Zulueta told city hall reporters.
Zulueta is no stranger to legislative work. Aside from having served as city councilor for several terms, she had been a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo.
“That’s a total of 19 years,” said Zulueta.
When she was serving the city council, Zulueta earned the reputation as a no-nonsense graft-buster defending the city’s coffers from grafters.
And more excerpts also from the Sept. 28 issue of the Iloilo Metropolitan Times:
Zulueta to run for congresswoman of Iloilo City
Former Iloilo City councilor Perla Zulueta will run for congresswoman of Iloilo City next year.
The “Iron Lady of the City Council”, according to a reliable Iloilo Metropolitan Times source, made the decision after former councilor Lex Tupas declined the offer run for Congress.
Zulueta joined the team of incumbent mayor Jose Espinosa III who will run against last-termer congressman Jerry P. Treñas for the mayoral post.
Zulueta will face former councilor Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda in the congressional race.
Baronda is part of Treñas’ line-up.
Councilor Joshua Alim, who is part of group of former congresswoman Pacita Gonzalez, also expressed his desire to run for congressman of the city. He is now on his third and last term.
Zulueta is the mother of incumbent city councilor Liezl Joy Zulueta-Salazar.
Forget that asshole in the airport pretending to be a congressman, Facebook users’ latest security breech or Trillanes’ next warrant of arrest, the biggest news to hit “I Am Iloilo City” is that former Provincial Board member and city councilor Perla Zulueta will run for Congress this coming local election.
The “Queen Mother” is back…Congresswoman Perla Zulueta…better get used to it people.
With Tita Pearl’s entry into the congressional race of “I Am Iloilo City” it completely changes the whole political landscape. We have a new ballgame.
Put it this way people, it’s like FC Barcelona joining the Philippine Football League’s or PFL’s Copa Paulino Alcantara, the best football club in the world joining a tournament competing against minnows or to be kind “not so strong” and minimal international football experience developing local football clubs.
Former councilor Perla Zulueta brings with her the wisdom and experience of 19 years as a legislator starting as a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Iloilo representing the 1st District to being a member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of “I Am Iloilo City.”
Add to that her image as the no-nonsense, incorruptible “Iron Lady of the Iloilo City Council”, “fighting dragons and crossing swords with the people against the hordes who came to conquer.”
No offense meant and if there is, it’s just pun unintended. But she’s up against two literally political minnows. These are former city councilor Jam-jam Baronda and current cuncilor Joshua Alim.
Moi has really nothing much to say about Jam-jam. I really do not know nor have met her. I could not tell the difference between Councilor Jam-jam Baronda and strawberry jam.
Seriously if she (I’m just assuming Jam-jam is a she) walks in Starbucks while I’m having my usual caffeine fix, unless announced I most probably would not have noticed her.
But I do find the name or pet name Jam-jam quite cute, perhaps quaint but I’m pretty sure the good former councilor has a very serious and official-sounding Christian name not often exposed for public viewing.
Meanwhile, about Joshua Alim, back then we were covering the Provincial Capitol beat. Joshua was a reporter for Bombo Radyo and I was managing editor for the Visayan Monitor.
The governor then was Sim Griño, the city mayor was Roding Ganzon and Tita Pearl Zulueta was a member of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan, yup that long ago (take note, Joshua was just starting out while Tita Pearl Zulueta was already an established legislator).
Joshua literally re-invented himself. From media man he became a lawyer. The next thing I knew after coming back to Iloilo several decades after he’s now a politician.
And we segue back to former councilor Perla Zulueta; take a closer look people, it is more to the advantage of Mayor Joe Espinosa III’s fledging political camp that she joins them as their candidate for Congress than it is for her.
She brings political strength and stability with her image as an incorruptible “Iron Lady of the Iloilo City Council” which some of the natives say is sorely lacking with Mayor Joe Espinosa III.
Personally, moi prefers the “Queen Mother” tag than the “Iron Lady.” This is so Margaret Thatcher while the “Queen Mother” evokes a more regal, maternal matriarch.
So if Tita Pearl Zulueta is the “Queen Mother” I guess that makes Councilor Dylee Zulueta as “Lady Di.” And the perfect rhyme is indeed uncanny. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
