ALONG with the seasoned politicians and entertainers, former athletes and sports personalities also ran for office this year, and, as in any sporting event, there were winners and losers.
The biggest winner was boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, who scored an upset of sorts against a member of the influential Chiongbian clan in the fight for the lone congressional seat in the province of Sarangani. Pacquiao was leading against Roy Chiongbian with 87.75 percent of the election returns already tabulated.
Before Pacquiao, the most popular sports personality to ever hold a national political office was former Senator Robert Jaworksi, dubbed as the Living Legend of Philippine basketball.
Jaworski ran as an independent and was elected senator in 1988, but lost his reelection bid in 2004.
The other former athletes and sports personalities who made it to the winners circle’ for national office were re-electionist Pia Cayetano, a triathlete and marathon enthusiast, who is running sixth in the senatorial race, and television host Tito Sotto, a former national bowler, who is now ranked 9th in the Senate race.
For local positions, the winners were led by former national team coach and now head coach of Air21 in the Philippine Basketball Association Roseller “Yeng” Guiao, who was re-elected as vice governor of Pampanga; ex-pro and San Sebastian College coach Renato “Ato” Agustin, who won as first-time councilor in the lone district of San Fernando City, Pampanga; former world boxing champion Luisito Espinosa, another first-timer who was elected councilor in the first district of Mandaluyong; ex-PBA pro Gerry Esplana, who was re-elected councilor in the first district of Valenzuela; ex-Crispa Redmanizer Fortunato “Atoy” Co, who was re-elected as councilor for the first district in Pasig; and ex-PBA player Jason Webb, who won as first-time councilor in the first district of Parañaque.
In Pasig City, former basketball player Yoyong Martirez was leading the three-way fight for vice mayor.
But not all sports figures were successful in their bids, with former councilor and former La Salle champion coach Franz Pumaren losing in his attempt to be elected congressman against Jorge Banal.
Former PBA player, referee and ex-Caloocan Vice Mayor Tito Varela lost his congressional bid in the First District of Caloocan City; former national player and coach Roehl Nadurata lost in his re-election bid as councilor for the Second District of Caloocan; former national coach and former councilor Arturo Valenzona lost in his bid to be elected councilor in the Fifth District of Manila; and ex-PBA superstar Paul “Bong” Alvarez, a first-timer, lost in his bid for the same position in Manila. –Arman Armero, Manila Standard Today
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