IN POLITICS, it's always a big advantage to have a popular surname. And on top of it there's wealth as backup. In almost every elections in Angeles City there is always a Nepomuceno and a Lazatin running for an elective post. This coming 2019 elections there will be two Lazatins vying for plum posts. They are two juniors of Carmelo F. Lazatin aka Tarzan. Congressman Jonjon will seek re-election and Councilor Pogi will run for mayor. Jonjon will face Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan who is now on his last term.
Current Vice-Mayor Bryan Mathew Nepomuceno and Pogi Lazatin are good friends, but friendship can take a leave of absence when both are gunning for the same position. They are the third generation. Clark International Airport Corporation President Alexander S. Caugiran will complete the mayoral race. To recall it was in the elections of 1988 when then an underdog, Antonio Abad Santos aka Bubusok defeated the two legendary figures, Apong Feleng Lazatin and Cong Quitong Nepomuceno. Caugiran is an interesting candidate in the forthcoming polls.
THROWBACK: In the 1951 elections, Provincial Board Member Rafael L. Lazatin bested Jose B. Lingad of Lubao in the gubernatorial race. Lazatin was riding high because of the popular support. His stint at the Capitol was remarkable and the province which suffered economic slowdown brought about by the war was now recovering.
Lingad supporters didn't take kindly the defeat from the hands of Lazatin and vowed to crush the latter's political future. So time came when another favorite son of Lubao, Vice President Diosdado P. Macapagal was gearing himself for the presidential race in 1959. The Lubao group asked then Congressman Francisco G. Nepomuceno to resign his congressional representation of Pampanga's first district and wrest the governorship from Lazatin.
The Macapagal battlecry in his Pampanga campaign was ask his cabalen for his chosen candidates for then 'I will lose face before political leaders in the country if I cannot even make my own men win in my own turf'. With that line, coupled with the Pampangos dream to have a favorite son presiding in Malacanang Palace, the reaction of the local crowd was enough for Nepomuceno to rejoice. Lazatin suffered his first political defeat.
It would take Lazatin some ten years or so to recapture his lost political glory. After his crushing defeat from the hands of Nepomuceno he decided that more than anything in his career, his life will not be made miserable one political setback. Again there was a misstep by taking a crack for congressional representation of the province second district in 1968, not his turf. Again he suffered another defeat.
Like a wounded tiger he was, he resolved to find cure for his deep political wound but most of all to vindicate his good name. Preparing early for the forthcoming polls, Lazatin drew his battle plans. Now he would get even with the Nepomucenos. He wouldn't be successful in beating his nemesis, but in later years, his son Tarzan scored a victory against Francisco's junior, Francis aka Blueboy Ina mayoral contest.
