INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

‘Manok,’ ‘Pagong,’ are Pangasinan bets

Inquirer

Yolanda Sotelo-Fuertes

DAGUPAN CITY—Would you vote for someone who is called manok (chicken), pagong (turtle) or pateng (or pating, for shark)?

Perhaps you may want to consider supporting the candidacies of kape (coffee), asin (salt) or barako (a tough guy or a native coffee variety) in the May 14 elections.

For many candidates in Pangasinan, their names and their recall would make or break their political bids.

A look at the nicknames of local candidates, as listed in their certificates of candidacy, revealed how Filipinos would give their sons and daughters nicknames according to their physical appearances, attitudes or mannerisms.

While some of these nicknames made them the butt of jokes during their childhood, the candidates are squeezing whatever value their pet names have this election season.

Gunning for council seats are Manok (Domingo Ancheta of San Manuel town), Pagong (Cesar Racraquin of Mabini) and Pateng (Isagani Navida of Agno).

Another council aspirant in San Carlos City was named after a fruit. Alfredo Arenas registered the nickname “Bioco,” which in Pangasinan means a mango that failed to reach its ideal size (sometimes called napandak or stunted). Arenas comes from the city famous for its mangoes.

Green mango goes well with “Asin” but Edward Domalanda, the bearer of the name and another council aspirant, is from the island town Anda, where salt making is among the people’s economic activities.

A child would not want to be called “gurabes,” which is a matchstick in the local language, but that exactly is the nickname of Arcadio Tanisi, who is running for councilor in Rosales town.

Another council candidate in Sison is named after Biblical character, Samson Murao. He gave the nickname “Delilah,” the woman responsible for Samson’s downfall.

A candidate for councilor in Asingan town, Johnny Carig, wants to be known as “Kape (coffee)” while another, Gil Ramos of San Quintin town, sports “Barako” as his nickname.

Through their nicknames one can know the candidates’ professions.

Three listed their nicknames as “Doc”—Henry Pinlac of Malasiqui and Cecilio Terrado of Binmaley, both running for councilor, and Carlos Granata, who is running for vice mayor of Pozorrubio. Burgos council candidate Ronald Ngayawan wants to be known as “Dok.”

Then there’s “Dr. Amy” (Amelia Cayabyab of San Carlos City), “Doc Badua Carlos” (Frouel Carlos), “Dr. Jun” (Saturnino Posadas of San Carlos City), and “Dr. Ed” (Ildefonso Veloria of Malasiqui).

There are lawyers running for public office.

Roberto Mosuela, who is running for vice mayor of Rosales town, and Alberto Taguian of Infanta town, who is gunning for a council seat, both want to be known as “Atorni.”

And there are “Atty. Sison” (Teodoro Sison of Alaminos City) and “Atty. Judith” (Judith Morden of Villasis), who are seeking council seats. Rodrigo Nabor—who wants to be known as “Judge”—is running for mayor of Pozorrubio.

Others use titles such as “Engr (for engineer),” “Treas (for treasurer),” “policewoman,” “warden,” “Kap (village captain or chief),” “Maestro,” “Madam,” “Pastor,” “Bro (for a religious brother),” “master,” and “tsip (chief).”

Some preferred the personal touch by using nicknames prefixed by “Tito (uncle),” “Papa (father),” “Uncle,” “Kuya (elder brother),” and “Tita (aunt).”

And how would you consider a candidate who calls himself “Ben Ladin,” after international terrorist Osama bin Laden? That’s exactly the nickname of Nixon Crisolo, who is running for councilor in Mabini town.

Council aspirant Pepito Calica of Tayug town wants to be known among voters as “PP2” (text message spelling for his first name) while council bet Rowell Castillo of San Quintin wants to be known as “Robot.”

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