By Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–DM Oñate, a 24-year-old female licensed civil engineer, filed during the last day of filing, her certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor of Palompon in lieu of her father, incumbent Ramon, who earlier withdrew his COC and cancelled his bid for re-election this coming 2025 national and local elections.
Ramon is currently undergoing a tough legal battle with his appeal on the Ombudsman order dismissing him from his post as mayor for alleged grave misconduct and serious dishonesty over the use of public funds.
The Ombudsman order, which also dismissed seven councilors and three LGU personnel, included severe penalties such as the cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and a lifetime disqualification from holding government positions.
But with Ramon’s appeal, he could have continued with his candidacy until the order is reversed or otherwise upheld by a higher court. However, Ramon did not wait for the outcome of his appeal and decided to withdraw instead his COC, out of prudence.
This broke free the youthful mettle of the younger Oñate, who despite facing uncharted waters of politics, was determined to carry on the works and vision of her father Ramon for a progressive Palompon.
Ramon himself bore that youthful audacity to face the yet unknown horizon of politics when he plunged himself into the arena, at the age of 27, to run for Palompon mayor against seasoned political lords. He was practically a nobody then yet, but with his incredible charm and wits, he went on to win the mayoralty post and the rest is history.
The rather obscure name of Oñate family in Palompon at the time eventually acquired prominence akin to how Ramon steered the town to its current fame. Ramon’s hold as Palompon mayor went for decades.
And, known to foes and allies alike, Palompon, under Ramon’s leadership and management, rose from a drab municipality into a lush and dynamic place of today, even popular worldwide for its tourism come-ons. The coastal Palompon is now a 2nd-class municipality owing to its steadily growing income, attributed to Ramon’s maverick stewardship.
Now with Ramon’s daughter taking up the cudgels of her famous papa Ramon. DM describes her fresh path as a duty that “has become deeply personal, fierce and heartfelt journey to protect her father’s name and ensure that his work for the town lives on, stronger than ever.”
With her academic strains and leadership genes from her father, many Palomponganons this early commented that DM is one resin that fits the mold of Mayor Ramon. They said she will win in the elections, although this remains to be seen anyway. —-Miriam G. Desacada