Full Disclosure. Marijo Garcia is a cousin by blood to DNX managing editor Hannah Papasin and cousin by law to Executive Editor Julius D Mariveles.
The Executive Editor was also a high school classmate of Pablo Luis Azcona, current Sugar Regulatory Administration chief and an in-law of Kaye Cabalatungan.
BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Two mothers who have stood out in competition sports, one an endurance athlete, the other a world shooting champion, are among the hundreds of aspirants who filed their candidacy certificates in the province, both seeking a seat in the local councils of La Castellana and Moises Padilla, neighboring towns in the south of Sugarlandia.
Marijo Garcia, widow of former Moises Padilla town councilor Marc, has decided to join politics in the sleepy town, ironically under the local alliance opposed to the administration of her aunt-in-law and sitting Mayor Ella Yulo.
Marijo, a fitness buff, was a finisher in the Sprint category of the Spartan Race Philippine leg last year.
Marc, an ex officio councilor as chair then of the Association of Barangay Captains, was slain with his uncle, Michael, then a coumcilor, in a gun attack by 20 armed men while his sister, then Vice Mayor Ella, survived the ambush during the poll campaign time.
Marijo, however, has yet to grant an interview to DNX.
Less than 20 minutes away, in La Castellana town, World Shoot champion Kaye Cabalatungan is also seeking a similar seat.
“There’s a different feeling when you are in oublic service,” the 13th World Shoot champion tells DNX on the sidelines of the joint filing of candicacy certificates by members of ruling alliance Team Nicor Tuesday in La Castellana town.
