Camiguin scion to challenge Oca Moreno

Camiguin early morning silhouette

Future Cagayan de Oro Mayor Dongkoy Emano’s Padayon Pilipino party has chosen Atty. Michael Paderanga of Gingoog City as its gubernatorial candidate against incumbent Governor Oscar Moreno. Paderanga, a UP College of Law alumnus is a member of the influential Paderanga clan of Misamis Oriental and Camiguin. His family extends its influence in the in the field of education, economics and governance. These includes magistrates and Cabinet officials. Pres. Fidel Ramos NEDA Director, Cayetano Paderanga Jr. is an uncle. His father Miguel is a former Mayor of Gingoog City in the 1980’s.

If we talked about Gingoognons, they will really vote for their candidate. Basta taga Gingoog, patok. Not only in Gingoog that will vote solid for its candidate, the neighboring towns of Medina and Magsaysay will always go with Gingoog City. Wherever Gingoog goes, Medina and Magsaysay follows. Political observers called this, an MGM area (Medina, Gingoog and Magsaysay).

Another factor that may work in favor of Paderanga is his Camiguin roots. No town in Misamis Oriental is without a Camiguingnon. The greatest concentration is again in the MGM area. Significant number is also present in Kinoguitan, Sugbongcogon, Binuangan, Lagonglong, Salay and even in Oca Moreno’s hometown in Balingasag. This is the main reason why politicians in MisOr before did not oppose to the separation of Camiguin as a province. Before the separation, a candidate from Camiguin always win because it votes rock solid for its candidate.

Lastly, Paderanga is backed by certified king maker in Dongkoy Emano and its strong Padayon Pilipino party who got 11 mayors in its fold.

However, will this be enough to catapult Paderanga to the Capitol. Not necessarily. Oca has done many things for Misamis Oriental which can hardly be ignored. Besides, Oca is the incumbent and Oca is no pushover. In fact despite of these factors favoring Paderanga, Oca still has the upperhand. The opposition mayors are not yet included in the equation including Jun Baculio and his followers. Independent municipalities like Villanueva might stick with Oca as the Uys felt betrayed by Emano in the last elections.

Oca still has the upperhand but he should not be complacent as Paderanga with strong backing from Padayon Pilipino could very well defeat Moreno specially so that Paderanga’s running mate is Atty. Nadia Emano, Dongkoy’s daughter.

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Some views of local columnists regarding the upcoming Paderanga-Emano faceoff.

What are the chances?

By CRIS DIAZ Updated October 14, 2009 12:00 AM

MICHAEL Paderanga, Padayon Pilipino’s preferred gubernatorial bet for Misamis Oriental in the coming 2010 elections, may find himself uneasy these days.

Paderanga believes that to unseat the incumbent provincial governor Oscar Moreno requires a lot of innovation and style. This, apart from the necessary campaign fund he may need to conquer a formidable political enemy who has saved a lot for the occasion and has every logistic at his beck and call.

I am not saying that Paderanga lacks the qualities of a good leader. Matter of fact, the young Paderanga is a lawyer and son of former Gingoog City Mayor Max Paderanga who is also an accomplished lawyer-politician.

Michael is a scion of the Paderangas, one of the largest families in Misamis Oriental and the island province of Camiguin, whose influence also extends in the field of education, economics and governance.

With a good education and with a stint in Malacañang as one of the assistant secretaries (they said), undoubtedly, Michael Paderanga, is a potential leader. But, still many expressed doubts on Michael’s chances of winning.

For instance, during the Padayon Pilipino meeting held Thursday last week where he (Paderanga) was supposedly proclaimed as official bet, the Padayon were not in shape.

Consider the representation: 2nd District, Misamis Oriental, Libertad was represented by their Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Bayan (SB), Naawan-Mayor and SB, Opol-Mayor and Vice Mayor, Claveria-Vice Mayor, Laguindingan-Vice Mayor, Lugait-Mayor and Vice Mayor, Manticao-Mayor, Villanueva-Vice Mayor, Alubijid-Mayor, Initao-Mayor.

First district representation: Lagonglong-Mayor and Vice Mayor, Sugbongcogon-Mayor and Vice Mayor and Atty. Anayron, Magsaysay-Mayor and Vice Mayor, Medina-Mayor and Vice Mayor, Kinoguitan-Mayor, Gingoog-Vice Mayor and two Kagawads, Balingoan-Vice Mayor, Talisayan-Mayor and Vice Mayor, Balingasag-Vice Mayor and Salay-SB.

My list noted that in the 2nd district, the Padayon is in control of five municipal towns while in the first district, Padayon has a solid support of six towns. The basis for this is the presence of the town mayors (some, even tagged their vice mayors), during the Thursday meeting.

This assessment is significant since there are 25 towns (including one component) city in Misamis Oriental which play critical role in the election of the governor. If Padayon is in control of 11 towns where are the 14 other towns?

Considering that Villanueva and Jasaan are independent towns, it is still safe to say that the fight between Lakas-Kampi and any opposition political party in Misamis Oriental is break even. If this is the case, then the incumbent gains the upper hand.

Email: cris_d1954@yahoo.com

Paderanga-Emano ticket for Mis. Or.

Table Talk By JAY VALLESER Updated October 14, 2009 12:00 A

GINGOOGNON is rabid in its support for one of its own who dares to run for any political posts outside the city. Data from electoral battles in the past can easily prove the hypothesis that Gigoognons never abandon anyone from that city, never mind what the outcome at the end might be. Gingoog forever win or lose!

That is why they were titillated with the thought of lawyer Michael Paderanga running for governor under the PaDayon banner of future Mayor Dongkoy Emano. This came after Cong. Bambi made a more-or-less final decision to seek for reelection rather than face Gov. Oca Moreno; and, Board Member Pedro Unabia showed a weak response even among die hard fans of the Emanos.

Furthermore, since the main interest and concern of Unabia is to protect his business he would rather go for a seat in congress than in the province. Unabia is chicken shit that he might be forced to come up with an environmental clearance certificates for his business that the best way to run around that rule is buy his way to Congress.

As the day comes closer for the filing of certificates of candidacy, the PaDayon is reportedly trying to woe Atty. Paderanga to be its standard bearer for the province. The Paderanga family is reportedly willing to bankroll the candidacy of the younger Paderanga with a starting capital of P20 million. But here’s the catch.

The elder Paderanga, Miguel, is already wise enough to the maneuvering and the political savvy of future Mayor Dongkoy. So, after assuring the PaDayon big boss, that the Paderangas can fund and win an election, the elder (Miguel) sought a condition – that Atty. Nadia Emano run as Michael’s vice governor.

The Paderangas believe that with a Paderanga-Emano ticket, this will guarantee better success for Michael and their P20 million a wise investment. With Atty. Nadia on the ticket this will minimize the chances of having the Paderangas played as pawn for the interests of PaDayon and whoever calls the shots in that party.

Miguel also theorized that future Mayor Dogkoy being a shoo-in here in Cagayan de Oro, will have all the time to campaign for the province with the honor and prestige of the Emanos at stake. Counting possible votes, Miguel theorized that from Gingoog City alone the Paderanga-Emano team could easily get a lead of 8,000 over any rivals.

The Uyguangcos of Medina, poultry raisers of Unabia and the bailiwick of Tagoloan-Villa-Claveria can also give a lead of 3,000 votes more. Remember, that the Paderangas and Calingins are relatives.

“Kay kun dili gud nakataya ang pamilya Emano sa line-up, basin og malawog kita sa tirong!” a Paderanga supporter was heard saying.

Email your views at jayvalleser@yahoo.com