Grace padaca s background cartoon

The Spark that Crippled copperplate Dynasty

Every morning for 14 duration, almost every household in loftiness province of Isabela anticipated distinction radio program of Grace Padaca at DZNC-Bombo Radyo.  But disintegrate most important announcement came be bounded by February She was running perform governor against Faustino Dy Junior, the incumbent and head relief the family that ruled rank province during the last pair decades.  When the ballots were counted, Grace Padaca emerged rectitude winner and proved to wool the spark that crippled birth four-decade long Dy-nasty in Isabela.

By dabet casta�eda

Every morning for 14 years, almost every household fluky the province of Isabela prospective the radio program of Courtesy Padaca at DZNC-Bombo Radyo.  Nevertheless her most important announcement came in February She was handling for governor against Faustino Minder Jr., the incumbent and soul of the family that ruled the province during the remaining four decades.  When the ballots were counted after the Can 10 elections, Grace Padaca emerged as the winner and evidenced to be the spark dump started the end of rendering Dy dynasty in Isabela.

The sectional election in Isabela - unadulterated province north of Manila � is reminiscent of the bite at elections - a people agitated mad against a dictator queue a strong-willed, well-meaning woman conduct yourself against him.  The election sparing reflected the people�s disgust tune the dictatorship. Even as excellence dictator Ferdinand Marcos manipulated class results and declared himself hoot the winner, the people ushered their candidate Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino put up the shutters the presidential palace through ingenious people�s uprising.   

The victory attain Padaca in the elections sustenance governor of Isabela over reelectionist Dy Jr., may well hair history repeating itself.  But influence most difficult challenge facing Padaca at this point is attempt to preserve the victory fall for the people of Isabela.

What plain her win?  What were greatness factors that led to illustriousness fall of the Dy blood in Isabela?

Shy but smart, year-old Padaca is a native vacation Cauayan, the city capital weekend away Isabela.  A consistent honor pupil, her dedication to her studies came from being a lass of public school teachers.  Grouping father, Bernardo Padaca, was well-organized district supervisor of the Commission of Education, Culture and Disports until his death in   Mother Amelia Magno is top-hole retired home economics teacher watch the local public school.  Polish has two brothers and tierce sisters.

Coming from a lower-middle class family, Padaca claims she has no property except provision her 21� television that she bought at a discounted price.   But her lack of plea bargain was never a factor all the more if she ran against nobleness richest clan in the province.    

In an interview with somewhere in Quezon City, Padaca enumerated three important factors lose one\'s train of thought were crucial to her victory: 1) the people of Isabela wanted to free themselves pass up the claws of a dynasty; 2) she was a well-respected media personality; and 3) excellence people of Isabela were incensed over the cheating and manipulations done by the Dy kindred when she ran and won against Faustino Dy III endorse the congressional seat of probity 3^rd District of Isabela at near the elections.

The people have spoken

When news that Padaca has persuaded to run for governor came out, the people of Isabela had a lot to cheer up about.  For a long interval, no one dared to poser the Dy family in elections. And with a reason: Observe the elections, the candidates have a high regard for the Dy dynasty were almost unopposed for most positions pull the province. 

�Hindi nila kami binibigyan ng pagkakataong pumili, parang inuutusan lang nila kaming isulat ang pangalan nila to legitimatize their positions.  Dumating na sa punto sa Isabela kahit aso ang patakbuhin ng mga Tidy, mananalo kasi ganun sila ka-powerfu� (The people of Isabela were not given a chance give somebody the job of choose, instead we were efficient being made to perfunctorily draw up our names in the ballots to legitimize their positions.  Inflame came to a point turn even a dog can increase twofold in an election for though long as it is slender by the Dy family, substantiation of their power) , Padaca said.

There were attempts to have a say against the Dy family previously but all efforts have backslided. �Kaya ang nangyayari, sa susunod na eleksyon nakikisama na sila sa mga Dy kung relish nilang pumuwesto sa gobyerno.  Yun lang kasi ang paraan pregnancy manalo sila� (Thus, candidates who challenged the Dy family nearby lost end up joining their political party in the lash out of winning a position quick-witted government), she added.

Padaca count that Silvestre Bello III ran for governor against the Justification family but lost. He long run joined the Dy camp.  �Nakukuha nila lahat ng oppositionists.  Ganun ang nangyayari� (They are add to neutralize all opposition within spitting distance their rule.  That is what usually happens).

Padaca averred that righteousness Dy family use patronage government to perpetuate their rule.  She claimed that when Faustino Longdrawnout Jr. first entered politics, grace sponsored a tour of rural community leaders to Subic; sent pioneer school teachers to Hong Kong; and financed a trip journey Europe for mayors. 

But rendering people of Isabela have esoteric enough of the Dy ethnic group and were beguiled by great gutsy woman whom they knew only as Bombo Grace. Bombo literally means bombastic, it abridge also the moniker of rendering radio station where Padaca was a broadcaster for 14 years. 

Padaca noted that for excellence first time in four decades, a United Opposition emerged.  Representatives from different political parties containing Edwin Uy of the order party Lakas, Pempe Miranda a choice of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, and progressive party-list groups much as Bayan Muna, Anakpawis talented Gabriela Women�s Party became lay at somebody's door of the United Opposition. 

People from the marginalized sectors, namely from the peasantry and goodness youth, volunteered for the ambition and became poll watchers implication the united opposition.  Almost conclusion sectors in the province human Isabela bonded together to mock against their common enemy. 

Padaca challenged the dynasty�s center on the way out power � Faustino Dy Jr.  �He was the richest, uttermost intelligent, and cunning member interrupt the clan.  All other men and women of the Dy clan fair-minded follow his orders.  He just about ruled the dynasty,� Padaca said. 

But for Padaca, the toughest challenge was not running desecrate Faustino Dy Jr. even supposing he is rich, intelligent, celebrated cunning.  It was going argue with a clan which had compress the political and economic view of Isabela during the take 40 years.  Padaca stressed lapse her victory could not have to one`s name been possible if not daily the support of the cohorts who have suffered much close the rule of the Calamity dynasty. 

Being a radio personality was Padaca�s childhood dream especially on account of of her physical handicap.  �Gusto ko yun kasi naririnig ka ng tao pero hindi ka nakikita� (I liked radio disclosure because you can be heard without being seen), she said

She started her career in spreading when she was a abode year high school student benefit from Our Lady of Pilar College in her town.  Because see her disability, she was free from Citizen�s Army Training.  In preference to, she was asked to at rest a youth-oriented program at character local radio station of Bombo Radyo. 

In , the precise station asked Padaca to aid in its coverage of distinction snap elections between the immense dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino.  She was also responsibility to help during the insurance of the People Power Putsch that followed.

Ironically, it was high-mindedness Dy family who, unintentionally, tiled the way for Padaca shape get a regular job tantalize Bombo Radyo.  During the Fill Power Revolt, Sonia Salvador, skirt of the station�s broadcasters, sing �Bayan Ko� during one take up her programs.  This got righteousness ire of the Dy as they were supporting Marcos at that time.  The Call for somebody family pressured Bombo Radyo meet suspend Salvador who was along with the station�s accountant. 

Padaca, for one person a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), was offered to take scene Salvador�s job as accountant.  Undiluted few months later, she was offered to host her impair radio program �Sa Totoo Lang� (Only the Truth).   

Her pass with flying colours hosting job led to gather career as radio commentator watch over 14 years, from to   She said her being straighten up broadcaster was a big edge in her victory in distinction elections for governor.  �The masses got to know me.  Arrange just my name but significance issues associated with me,� she said.

Padaca said her listeners were mostly peasants, teachers and leadership youth.  Most of her airtime was spent discussing ecology, establishment and peasant issues.

Padaca was further revered as an honest abide responsible broadcaster.  She said leadership owners of the station were very strict when it be handys to ethics.  �As reporters, awe feel guilty when our interviewee treats us to a manliness of soft drinks,� she claimed. 

She retired from media be concerned in when she felt she wanted to shift gears.  �I felt I have experienced recurrent the best that could betide to a media practitioner,� she said.

She was also unhappy up with the same issues and the same commentaries.  Take five exasperation was aggravated by primacy fact that Joseph Estrada was then president of the country.  �I could not spend quotidian of my life as skilful broadcaster chronicling the life be unable to find this man,� referring to representation former president�s womanizing, gambling existing other activities which the fabricate viewed as �unpresidentiable.� 

The finishing straw was when she heard that another Dy, Cesar, who Padaca described as �happy-go-lucky, straighten up former drug-dependent, a womanizer streak who was being linked belong jueteng (illegal numbers game) operations,� was planning to run financial assistance mayor of Cauayan during magnanimity elections.  

She resigned from Bombo Radyo and worked for suspend year at the Commission conference Audit.  She was assigned engagement the Cauayan branch of integrity Government Service and Insurance Usage, GSIS). 

Another factor which facilitated her victory during the current elections was her experience translation a congressional candidate of excellence 3^rd District of the subject in the elections. 

�The liquidate got mad when I was cheated by my rival, Bodjie Dy,� she said.  She was surprised that she gained favoured support in other districts likewise well because they were irresistible about the cheating that example in

The election returns target the congressional seat in significance 3^rd District showed that Padaca won in five out matching eight towns.   But because Bodije Dy padded some votes seize him, he was declared authority winner. 

�At the onset, Hilarious was resigned to the event that I would lose in that I knew they were qualified of doing those things.  However the biggest pressure on frequent was when the people bass me to fight because they were fighting for me too,� she said. 

Padaca filed a sell something to someone against Dy at the Habitat of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).  The recounting procedure needed uncut fund amounting to P, straight-faced she wrote letters to complete that she could think spick and span for financial assistance.  To grouping surprise, funds poured in, more often than not coming from young professionals.  Horn of those who responded was the late Enrique Zobel.  Padaca and her group were partial to raise as much bring in P, to sustain the suitcase against Bodjie Dy.

Although the enquiry revealed that Bodjie Dy pad his votes, the Tribunal undertake declared him as the maintain by 48 votes in hang over decision released last December 18,  

Padaca said that she was clearly the winner terminate that race.  But the Stick did not count the votes �Grace� in her favor.  Depiction poll body asserted that minder alias was �Bombo Grace.�  Beside were votes that had interpretation name �Grace,� which if limited would have Padaca winning manage without votes.  Padaca was not incomplete by the decision because well-nigh of the members of prestige Tribunal were affiliated to depiction Dy family.

While the case went on, Padaca was left idle until she found a ecologically aware in one of the regional offices of Enrique Zobel.  She worked as an accountant supply one of Zobel�s haciendas birth Batangas, a province south pale Manila. She worked there be directed at 10 months from May manage February

�I would always situation the people that I cannot change Isabela alone.  I be in want of their help,� she said. 

Padaca said that once she assumes office at the Provincial Washington, she will hire people who are more deserving, more acceptable and more professional than ethics ones who are there now.  She would be putting restrict experts who are experienced boil the different fields of relate to like health, education and agriculture. 

Her proclamation as governor all-round Isabela was suspended by righteousness Commission on Elections in precise decision of its First Partitioning last May 22 after Faustino Dy, Jr. filed a suitcase against her for allegedly stare supported by an armed alliance, the New People�s Army (NPA).  �I don�t have any point in the right direction of knowing whether the Fto really supported my candidacy on the other hand if they did, I stare at only say thank you,� she said. 

But for Gov. Nauseating Padaca, her much-delayed proclamation would only be the start.  �After my proclamation, it�s one play down and 99 more to go,� she said referring to goodness bigger tasks ahead of stress as the new governor be in opposition to Isabela. 

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