BACOLOD, Philippines – The mayoral race in Talisay City, Negros Occidental is shaping up to be a high-stakes contest between two prominent figures from wealthy families.
Lawyer Maria Rowena Guadalupe Lopez-Lizares, a member of the influential Lopez clan, officially entered the race, filing her certificate of candidacy past 3 pm on Wednesday, October 2. She seeks to succeed her husband, incumbent Mayor Nilo Jesus Antono Neil Lizares, who is serving his final term.
But as the daughter of prominent real estate developer Hernan Lopez makes her political debut, she faces a non-nonsense opponent: Samuel Siote, a construction magnate and former vice mayor.
Siote, who lost to Mayor Lizares in the 2022 elections, is determined to mount a comeback, with plans to file his candidacy on October 5.
Lopez-Lizares said her primary goal is to maintain Talisay’s reputation as the safest city in the province, which she views as key to fostering development and progress.
Talisay City, just a nine-minute drive north of Bacolod, has been referred to as the “bedrock of subdivisions” in Negros Occidental and is home to two state universities – the Carlos Hilado State University (CHMSU), and Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas (TUP-V).
Despite its classification as a fourth-class city, its local revenue has been reaching nearly P200 million annually in recent years, and its National Tax Allocation from the national government this year reached P995.5 million.
Lopez-Lizares, running under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) banner, is backed by Speaker Martin Romualdez. Her running mate is Vice Mayor Jose Nicolas Vergel Jalandoni, a member of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP). Both are key figures in the local political group, Partido Kusog Talisaynon (PKT).
Siote, a Liberal Party (LP) member, has chosen Councilor Gabriel Villacin as his running mate.
However, Villacin’s political affiliation remains unclear after being “technically ousted” from the PFP, with Jalandoni prevailing under the party’s rule of incumbent equity.
Lopez-Lizares said she was aiming to make history as Talisay City’s first woman mayor. Known for her civic leadership, she believes her experience in law, business, and non-governmental organizations will serve as a strong foundation for her leadership.
Lopez-Lizares, a former president of the orphanage Bacolod Boys Home, said she was aware of the political challenges ahead. No woman has ever served as mayor of Talisay, and the last attempt was by Shiela Sarratan in 2016, who was defeated by Lizares himself. Despite these odds, Lopez-Lizares said she was confident that her work and experience outside politics will resonate with voters.
She said she was also hoping that her candidacy would inspire women in Talisay to rally behind her and break the city’s long-standing political norm. – Rappler.com
