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| Paolo Bediones |
San Nicolas, Ilocos
Norte—A member of the Marcos clan and a television personality has announced
his intention to run for this town’s mayoralty post.
Paolo Barba Bediones, a popular television host face the local
media in this town saying he returned to San Nicolas to reactive his voter’s registration
at the local Commission on Elections office as he has failed to vote the past two
elections due to his work and to announce his plan to enter politics.
The Ilocos Times
learned that there was a time when the name “Bediones” was floated to run for
office but it did not push through because, according to him he was not yet
ready then.
‘’Kailangan po handa tayo
hindi lamang po sa mental kundi ang buong pagkatao at kinailangan ko
din ayusin at iyong mga puwedeng tapusin sa showbusiness dahil more
than two decades din iyun at sa pagka broadcast
journalist din. Nag aral din ako ng Masteral on Entrepreneurship at Asian Institute
of Management and started a family after,’’ Bediones disclosed.
As of press time, Bediones said he has no running-mate yet.
Bediones further revealed that he has already spoken with
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., Ilocos Norte second district
Congressman Angelo M. Barba and his family about the plan and he said they gave
their support and blessing.
He said that he is still setting a meeting with Senator
Imee Marcos and Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Manotoc about his plan, which he
said needs to be completed the soonest because the filing for candidacy is fast
approaching.
It was learned that Bediones earlier paid a courtesy call to San
Nicolas vice mayor, who happened to be the acting mayor at that time, Napoleon
Hernando at the Municipal Hall. San Nicolas mayor Angel Miguel Hernando was
still in Hawaii during Bediones’ courtesy call.
During the courtesy call, Bediones told the acting mayor about his intention to run
for mayor.
If given the chance, Bediones wants to improve the quality of
education, food, health, sports, business-friendliness and tourism, with a
focus on making pottery as a legacy brand.
As a true-blooded Ilocano, Bediones admitted that he missed several
places that he still remembers during his childhood, which is the reason why
they keep returning to San Nicolas during their vacation time and the summer season.
“As a matter of fact, noong nasa showbiz ako never ko brinoadcast ang relationship ko with the Marcoses because I’ve always wanted to make it on my own pagdating sa larangan ng showbusiness,
television and as a broadcast journalist.
Ayoko ‘yung nagkapangalan ako dahil related ako. Although, I am very, very proud if somebody asks me if I’m related to
them kasi hindi maiaalis na Marcos
ako,’’ Bediones stressed.
He also emphasized that he and his family are now ready to stay
here for good.
“Mga kababayan ko ng San
Nicolas, inaasahan ko po ang inyong suporta sa aking pagtakbo. Marami po tayong
mga plano para sa ating bayan. Ang dami kong pangarap dito at para sa atin na
kailangan gawain at para matupad ang mga ito, kailangan po nating magtulungan
at magkaisa para mas umangat pa lalo ang San Nicolas at mararamdaman natin ito kung ako po ang magiging mayor Ninyo,” Bediones
said as a message to the San Nicolas residents.
Bediones’ mother, Maria Teresa Barba Bediones, is the youngest
daughter of Fortuna Marcos Barba, mother of Congressman Barba, and the youngest
sister of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Bediones is a second-degree cousin of Governor Manotoc and first
district Congressman Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos.