By The Sunriser
For the better part of Capiz’s political history, Roxas was a name whispered in reverence by those hoping for a blessing to ascend the political ladder.
The White House in Roxas City, a beacon for hopefuls, saw its doors flung open to a parade of candidates eager to win the favor of the mighty Roxas clan.
But, oh, how the tables have turned.
Today, the winds of change are blowing through the halls of Capiz politics—and they’re blowing former senator Mar Roxas’ son Paolo right into the first district congressional race, armed not just with the legacy of a former president, senator, and interior secretary, but also an unexpected partnership with the administration’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
Yes, that’s right. The grandson of the Liberal Party’s golden boy has cozied up to the very establishment his father once railed against. Why the sudden shift, you ask? Perhaps it’s a case of, if you can’t beat them, sign on with them?
Paolo’s candidacy, part of a grand family tradition stretching back to his great-grandfather, former President Manuel Roxas, brings with it an unspoken mandate: restore the family’s once-unquestioned influence.
But this time, the Roxas name seems more akin to an antique brand. Once a political force that inspired fealty, the family now finds itself in a delicate dance of alliances, seeking support rather than bestowing it.
The irony? Where local politicians once made pilgrimage to the Roxas stronghold, today, it’s the Roxas clan that must humble itself before Capiz’s electorate—and perhaps even knock on a few doors with nervous anticipation.
Mar, once the orchestrator of campaigns, now sits on the sidelines as his son navigates this new Capiz gauntlet. And perhaps in some twist of irony that’s become political tradition, Paolo finds himself endorsed by Capiz Rep. Emmanuel “Tawi” Billones, a relative (because what’s Philippine politics without a little bit of family drama?)
As Paolo ventures forth with a foot in both One Capiz and PFP camps, it begs the question: what is he running on? A name that once commanded loyalty, or a name that now seems to bend whichever way the wind is blowing? In a political landscape where alliances shift with the tides, it seems Paolo has taken a page out of the new playbook: adaptation over legacy.
And so, the tale of Capiz politics unfolds with a fitting sense of irony. The Roxases, once the gatekeepers, now find themselves with outstretched hands, hoping the locals remember the name for more than just the past glories and missteps it carries. After all, in the fickle world of politics, fortune can be a fleeting friend—and, as Mar’s own career has shown, so can political loyalty.
