The 2025 National and Local elections promised to bring a new direction of governance in the Philippines.
In the Calabarzon region, the gubernatorial elections saw switch-ups, where husband and wife and mother and son tandems were replaced by other familiar names.
Batangas, Rizal and Cavite: where bailiwicks formed
Batangas, Rizal and Cavite provinces have been known to be strongholds of political families for decades.
The Rectos of Batangas is an old political family whose generations stemmed from former Senator Claro M. Recto who played a key role in drafting the 1935 constitution.
Decades later, former actress Vilma Santos-Recto–wife of Claro’s grandson and Finance Secretary Ralph– is leading the charge as the new governor-elect. Her son, Ryan Christian, is joining the House of Representatives as the newly-minted sixth district representative.
The Remullas, Bautistas, and Revillas of Cavite are also forming their impenetrable stronghold with Abeng Remulla and Ram Bautista-Revilla as Governor and Vice Governor-elect, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Ynareses of Rizal remained undefeated with Governor Nina continuing her duties at the Capitol alongside Pining Gatbalayan as Vice Governor.
Quezon: undefeated
Quezon Province has long rid of its very own dynasty through the triumph of Angelina Tan in 2022. Three years later, the physician-turned-politician is continuing her duties as the province’s chief executive alongside Third Alcala as vice governor.
Tan, who won over the Suarezes in the previous election, remained unchallenged thanks to her health programs in the province. Meanwhile, Alcala–whose political ties can be traced to the father and son tandem in the Capital, Lucena–will continue to lead local legislation as Vice Governor.
Laguna: a tale of two women
It may have been wrong to pit women against women, but Laguna province was promised with a very different leadership style in Sol Aragones, a former journalist and outgoing Laguna Third District Representative, after winning against Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, outgoing Second District Representative and wife of outgoing governor-now-turned Congressman Ramil Hernandez.
Both Aragones and Mariano-Hernandez were members of the House of Representatives and have built respective networks of their own right. Aragones has found strong support in the 3rd district where she started the Alagang Sol program, while Mariano-Hernandez, who also shared popularity with her governor husband in the second district, kickstarted the Serbisyong Tama Kababaihan–a program for the Lagunense women.
Barely a day after the elections, but the electorate of CALABARZON is seeing clear winners who will be sworn into office by June 30. The only question that stands: will the (relatively) new faces live up to the expectations that go with their names? (PB/PIA 4A)
