The top position in Quezon City is that of mayor, that SB held for nine years. When his vice mayor Bistek Bautista ran for mayor, SB’s daughter was fielded to run for vice mayor. Both won, as expected. In Quezon City, SB is the master political strategist forming alliances ensuring victory even before the votes are cast. In 2019, after the Bistek Joy tandem had served out their own three consecutive terms, Joy ran and won as mayor. Unfortunately, the daughter did not inherit the political savvy of the father. SB had to work his way to the top and relied on many allies and horse trading to achieve his victories (he was House Speaker for many years). Joy got her plum position on a silver platter being the daughter of SB, thus inheriting the city chief executive crown. In true dynastic fashion, a multitude of relatives occupy elective and appointive positions. Politics is truly a family business.
The pandemic really brought out the worst in the new mayor (at the same time that other first term mayors in Manila, Pasig and San Juan were creating waves in initiatives, creativity, efficiency and performance in public service). Patented temper tantrums mark the rule of the possessed woman. As she now runs for her second term, a confluence of events makes her re-election a lot more difficult. Bong Bong Marcos is leading all presidential surveys. He is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. Ironically, prior to BBM’s sudden entry into that obscure national political party, Joy Belmonte was the NCR Chairperson of PFP. In a sudden twist of events, BBM endorsed Congressman Mike Defensor as the PFP standard bearer for Quezon City. Quezon City is a major BBM bailiwick and his anointed one for Quezon City will sway multitudes of voters to the Defensor side. Kingpins Bingbong Crisologo and Winnie Castelo (who has his own QC dynasty) are in the Defensor ticket.
Dynasties, sooner or later, end. Aside from Joy there are still relatives running for local office and they may still win a number of positions. In 2019, the Belmontes lost a councilor seat in District 1. Their SB party list nominees also failed to land a seat (up to a maximum of three per party list) thus giving up the seat they previously held. Should Joy lose as mayor in 2022, it would be the equivalent of a dynastic decapitation as she currently holds the highest elective position among the Belmontes. It could break the heart of the aging patriarch, SB, who built an empire only to see it crumble but he only has his daughter to blame.
Balitang Balita 
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