Alma files certificate of candidacy for Parañaque mayor

Will actress Alma Moreno take over from the reigns of her estranged husband Joey Marquez as mayor of Parañaque City?

The 44-year-old actress went to the local Commission on Elections office at around 2:30 p.m. yesterday and filed her certificate of candidacy. She will be running for mayor under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) party in the May 2004 elections.

Wearing a blue and orange jacket representing the party’s colors, she was met by some 50 female supporters carrying placards and balloons at the Comelec office located outside city hall.

Moreno said making the decision to run for mayor was not an easy one. "Matagal kong pinag-isipan ito kung talagang dito ako. Humingi ako ng sign sa Diyos at binigay niya yung sign na yon." However, when asked what the sign was, she declined to answer.

She claimed that she is not a neophyte in politics. During the years she served as the "First Lady" of Parañaque City, when she was still happily married to Marquez, she learned a lot about government service.

"Kung ilang years si Joey sa pulitika na nasa likod ako, mas nakikita ko ang problema dahil bumababa ako (sa kanila). Tao na rin ang may gusto na tumakbo ako, lalo na and mga kababaihan," she said.

Many Parañaqueños are expecting a three-cornered fight for the mayoralty next year and Moreno is the lone female candidate. Her expected rivals are former mayor Pablo Olivarez and incumbent Vice Mayor Florencio Bernabe.

One of her three children with Marquez, Charles Yeoj, 13, said they are fully supporting their mother’s decision to enter politics. "She explained things to us and the people need her more."

Moreno knows that her failure to finish a four-year college degree would be used by her critics to undermine her capability to serve the public. But she replied: "Actually isa yan sa mga tinatanong sa akin. Basta ako, ang nasa damdamin mo, yung nasa puso mo hindi natuturo iyon pero and kaalaman napag-aaralan yan, ang libro napag-aaralan yan, pero ang pagkatotoo mong tao di napag-aaralan yan."

She said they have already outlined the platform of her government that would include environment, education, livelihood, and health benefits for the less privileged.

Moreno is particularly interested in solving the peace and order problem in light of the five bank robberies in the city this year. She refused to say what projects implemented by Marquez she would adopt if she wins.