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Totem Avila |
Jun-Jun Obias |
CARAMOAN, CS – Two youth leaders in the town proper of this municipality won handily as barangay captains to lead a dramatic change in the leadership of most barangays in this remote coastal town tagged as the next world-class tourist destination of the Philippines.
Emilio Victor B. Avila, Jr., 30, in his first attempt in the local polls won as barangay captain of Tawog, the main poblacion barangay while Zafiro C. Obias, Jr., also 30, was the victor in barangay Solnopan, also within the town proper.
Nicknamed “Totem”, Avila who is an avid chess player said he used a strategy similar to a chess game in upsetting the incumbent barangay captain. “I first conducted a survey of those who are relatives and friends of my opponent and who among them I could bring to my side,” Totem confided. The systematic effort proved effective.
On the other hand Obias who is known as Jun-Jun relied mainly on the clout of his deceased father, the late Vice Mayor Zafiro Obias and his mother Municipal Kagawad Lydia Obias, the only Lakas candidate to survive the NPC rout in this municipality.
Both Avila and Obias are believed allied with Governor L-Ray Villafuerte but majority of barangay captains here are identified with Congressman Noli Fuentebella.
36 of 49 winning barangay captains are new, indicating the clamor of the people for changes in barangay leadership which could have been frustrated if the barangay election was again postponed.
Complete list of barangay captains in alphabetical order by barangay follows.
Agaas – Adelfa Fernandez; Antolon – Albert Villarete; Bacgong – Ariel Velasco; Bahay – Ernie Rodavia; Bikal – Neil Paronda; Binanuahan – Gardenia Breis; Cabacongan – Nelson Sumido; Cadong – Ramon Zape, Jr.; Canatuan – Dionisio Bonito; Caputatan – Purita de los Reyes; Colongcogong – Noli Clarianes; Daraga – Woody Lara; Gata – Mercy Sueno; Gibgos – Delia Virtus; Gogon – Wilson Sancha;
Guijalo – Mario Teoxon, Jr.; Hanopol – Eddie Berja; Hanoy – Nestor Señar; Haponan – Lito Teoxon; Ilawod – Epifanio Valer, Jr.; Ili-Centro – Salvador Velasco; Lidong – Leocadio Arcilla, Jr.; Lubas – Prescillano Aquino; Malabog – Juan Villaralbo; Maligaya – Benjamin Diaz, Jr.; Mampirao – Jorge Elizalde Aler; Mandiclom – Carlos Valle; Maqueda – Salvador Virtus, Jr.; Minalaba – Eliseo Beltran; Oring – Dick Cordial; Oroc-Oroc – Socorro Reyes; Pag-olinan – Herbert Purisima;
Pandanan – Dante Padayao; Paniman – Felizardo Clores, Jr.; Patag-Belen – Renato Refugia; Pili-Centro – Orlando Berja; Pili-Tabiguian – Ma. Ana Alde; Poloan – Renante Santelices; Salvacion – Getulio Fernando, Jr.; San Roque – Miguel Amaro; San Vicente – Edgar Versoza; Solnopan – Zafiro Obias, Jr.; Tabgon – Edna Remodo; Sta. Cruz – Nestor Dianela; Tabiguian – Solberg Alfon; Tawog – Emilio Victor Avila, Jr.; Terogo – Deciderio Breis, Jr.; and Tobon – Alicia Iglesia.
