One interesting philo-political piece was presented by Prof. Adrian Remodo last 2009 in the Bicol Studies Conference at Naga City. Titled “Sadiring Tawo: From Familial To The Oligarchic Politics”, the piece explores the role of kinship (or even just associational ties to a politician) in shaping or reinforcing monopolistic political behavior. But has the “sadiring tawo” mentality faded away with the entry of non-Bicolanos in the local political arena and the dismantling of “father-son” and “grandpa-grandson” political ties?

After the rumpus of Luis Villafuerte versus his son, L-Ray, in the past elections and in the shelved division of Camarines Sur, a new episode is unfolding in the province: the Luis–Migs electoral fight. Some says it’s for real as the Villafuerte patriarch will indeed compete with the grandson in the gubernatorial race. So will blood lose its thickness over water this time and the “sadiring tawo” becomes the “kalaban na tawo”? Only the Villafuertes know.

If the Villafuerte grandfather and grandson continue to bite each other, it is possible that the beneficiary will be former Solicitor General Joel Cadiz of Liberal Party (LP). Cadiz scored low on surveys but reports have it that he is starting to ascend in the poll ladder with the fight between Luis who is running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and Migz who is under the Nacionalista Party (NP) banner. The problem: Cadiz cannot vote for himself as he is registered in Naga City (where voters do not vote for governor based on the city’s charter) and not from his native town of Baao.

In addition to the three, Yam Iliw Iliw (independent) and Joel Pelo (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) are also vying for the gubernatorial seat.

The Vice Gubernatorial race will also be between an incumbent, Vice Governor Ato Pena (NP), and two challengers: Mayor Gil Basmayor (NPC), and Manny Morano.

In the Congressional races, the First District will be between incumbent Rolando Andaya (Lakas-NUCD) and challenger Nestor delos Reyes (NP). In the Second District, the race will be three-cornered with incumbent Dato Arroyo (Lakas-NUCD), and challengers L-Ray Villafuerte (NP), and Abang Mabulo (LP). Surveys say the battle will be between Dato and L-Ray. If Dato wins, then the sadiring tawo mentality wanes — at least in the point of view of  consanguineous relations.

In the Third District, the elections is a four-cornered fight, at least in paper, but will eventually narrow down between Nellie Villafuerte, former DTI Undersecretary and wife of Luis Villafuerte, and Atty. Leni Robredo, the wife of the late Interior and Local Government Secretary, Jesse Robredo. Other candidates are: Oscar Arcilla Jr. (PDP-Laban), and Charina Fausto (independent).

In the Fourth District, the race will be between actor Aga Muhlach (LP) and former Congressman Wimpy Fuentebella. In the Rinconada Area, the Congressional race will also be between incumbent Congressman Salvio Fortuno (LP), former Congressman Felix Alfelor, Jr. (NPC), and actor Rez Cortez (United Nationalist Alliance).

The complete list including that of the Provincial Board candidates, is as follows:

House of Representatives — District 1

1. ANDAYA, ROLANDO JR. (LAKAS)
2. DE LOS REYES, NESTOR (NP)

House of Representatives — District 2

1. ARROYO, DATO (LAKAS)
2. MABULO, ABANG (LP)
3. VILLAFUERTE, LRAY (NP)

House of Representatives — District 3

1. ARCILLA, OSCAR JR. (PDP)
2. FAUSTO, CHARINA
3. ROBREDO, LENI (LP)
4. VILLAFUERTE, NELLY (NPC)

House of Representatives — District 4

1. FUENTEBELLA, WIMPY (NPC)
2. MUHLACH, AGA (LP)

House of Representatives — District 5

1. ALFELOR, FELIX JR. (NPC)
2. CORTEZ, REZ (UNA)
3. FORTUNO, SAL (LP)

Governor

1. CADIZ, JOEL (LP)
2. ILIW ILIW, YAM (Ind)
3. PELO, JOEL (KBL)
4. VILLAFUERTE, LRAY JR-MIGZ (NP)
5. VILLAFUERTE, LUIS (NPC)

Vice Governor

1. BASMAYOR, GIL (NPC)
2. MORANO, MANNY
3. PEÑA, ATO (NP)

Sangguniang Panlalawigan — District 1 

1. BATALLA, CARLO (PDP)
2. SEÑAR, WARREN (Independent) 

Sangguniang Panlalawigan — District 2

1. ABONAL, ARIEL (NPC)
2. HERNANDEZ, MULO (NP)
3. NIDEA, ROY (NPC)
4. NOPRA, BOBOY (NP)

Sangguniang Panlalawigan — District 3

1. ANDAL, OWER (NPC)
2. JULIA, SON (NPC)
3. MALENIZA, POL (NP)
4. NAVAL, ANGEL (NP)

Sangguniang Panlalawigan — District 4

1. DIZON, RAYMUNDO (NPC)
2. PACAMARRA, GILMAR (NPC)
3. PILAPIL, JJ (LP)
4. SIMANDO, AMADOR (LP)

Sangguniang Panlalawigan — District 5

1. ABACA, DONDI (NPC)
2. ALFELOR, RUPERTO (NPC)
3. BERNALES, NORIEL (NPC)
4. ESPIRITU, RUDITO JR. (NP)
5. FIGURACION, FABIO (NP)
6. NOBLE, MANNY (NP)

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