Quezon province: How Tan, Alcala, Suarez dynasties fare heading to midterms

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For 2025, another son of Governor Tan joins politics, the Alcalas maintain control of key elective posts, while the Suarezes grapple with reduced power

In Quezon, there will be no major contest for several key posts for the 2025 elections.

The province’s most notable politicians are either running unopposed or facing no serious competition.

Rappler breaks down the state of the race in the country’s tenth most vote-rich province.

Tan dynasty grows as new scion enters politics

TAN FAMILY. Clockwise from top: Governor Angelina ‘Helen’ Tan, provincial board member aspirant Keith Mikhal ‘Kim’ Tan, and Quezon 4th District Representative Keith Micah ‘Mike’ Tan. Photos from Facebook, House website

Governor Angelina “Helen” Tan first joined politics in 2013, but made a strong entrance when she ended the Tañada family’s decade-long control of Quezon’s fourth district. In 2022, she also dethroned veteran politician Danilo Suarez at the capitol, becoming the province’s first female governor in its history.

The Suarezes are not eyeing to settle the score with her for the midterms, giving Tan (Stand Up Quezon or Stan Q), who is being challenged by only three relative unknowns, an easy path to reelection.

When Tan became a congresswoman, she was the first in her family to be an elective official. Now, she’s creating a dynasty of her own. Her son, Quezon 4th District Representative Keith Micah “Mike” Tan (Nationalist People’s Coalition), is seeking reelection unopposed.

Another son, Keith Mikhal “Kim” Tan (Stan Q), is dipping his toes in politics, running for a seat in the provincial board.

Suarez dynasty further weakens grip in province; still one Enverga in local politics

REELECTIONIST LAWMAKERS. Quezon 1st District Representative Mark Enverga and Quezon 2nd District Representative David ‘Jay-jay’ Suarez. Photos from House website

Six years ago, there were five Suarezes in elective government posts in Quezon. Today, there are two, and soon, there will only be one.

Three Suarezes suffered major defeats in the 2022 election cycle: the patriarch Danilo lost his gubernatorial bid, the matriarch Aleta lost her congressional bid in the third district, and one of their sons Junjun Suarez lost his mayoral bid in the town of Unisan.

Only Quezon 2nd District Representative David “Jay-jay” Suarez and Provincial Board Member Donaldo “Jet” Suarez successfully held on to their seats. But for the next election cycle, Jet is term-limited and won’t seek another post, while members of the family who were defeated in the 2022 polls won’t mount a bid this time, leaving Jay-jay as the only active Suarez in local politics.

House Deputy Speaker Jay-jay (Lakas) is unopposed, though, resulting in a hassle-free reelection.

Meanwhile, the Enverga family, just like in past elections, is fielding only one of its own this election cycle. Quezon 1st District Representative Mark Enverga (NPC), son of former governor Wilfrido Enverga, has no opponent for his congressional post.

Alcalas maintains decades-long grip on power

ALCALAS. Clockwise, from top left: Vice Governor Anacleto ‘Third’ Alcala, Board Member Vinnette Alcala, Lucena Vice Mayor Roderick ‘Dondon’ Alcala, and Mayor Mark Alcala. Photos from their Facebook pages

The name Alcala is deeply embedded in the political fabric of the province. Anacleto Alcala Sr. was the governor of Quezon from 1964 to 1980, and more members of the family have entered public service since then.

For the 2025 elections, they will just continue to hold key posts in the province.

In the capital Lucena, the father-and-son tandem, Mayor Mark Alcala (Stan Q) and Vice Mayor Roderick “Dondon” Alcala (Stan Q), have only relative unknowns as minor obstructions to their paths to a second term.

At the capitol, Dondon’s cousins are also expected to coast to easy reelections, namely Vice Governor Anacleto “Third” Alcala (Stan Q) and Board Member Vinnette Alcala (Stan Q).

Challenger in the third district

CONGRESSIONAL RACE. Quezon 3rd District Representative Reynante Arrogancia and challenger General Luna Mayor Matt Florido. Photo from House website, Facebook

There’s not a lot of competitive key races at the district or provincial level. In the third district, however, incumbent Reynante Arrogancia (NPC) is being opposed by General Luna Mayor Matt Florido (independent).

Arrogancia ended the Suarez family’s three-decade control of the district (he won by a majority vote), and it appears that he has the advantage heading to the midterms. It remains to be seen if Florido, who won his last two mayoral races in a fourth class municipality with some 24,000 residents, could pull off an upset.

Other notable races

• Tayabas: In Quezon’s only other city aside from Lucena, Maria Lourdes “Lovely” Reynoso (Nacionalista Party) seeks her first full term, but she will be challenged by cockfighting enthusiast Anthony “Piwa” Lim (NPC).
• Candelaria: George “Ogie” Suayan is seeking reelection, this time under the banner of Akbayan, with his 2022 rival Ferdinand” Bong” Maliwanag as his running mate. Suayan’s opponent is his 2022 vice mayoral candidate Macky Boongaling, who is still with NPC.
• Sariaya: Marivic Gayeta (Lakas) seeks to succeed her husband Mayor Marcelo Gayeta, but she will be challenged by Vice Mayor Alex Tolentino.
• Infanta: Two-term Vice Mayor Lord Arnel “LA” Ruanto hopes to succeed her ally, term-limited Mayor Filipina Grace America. Standing in his way is perennial candidate Eriberto “Ebit” Escueta, who lost the last three mayoral elections in the town. Escueta came close though in 2016, losing by only less than 1,000 votes.
• Pagbilao: Gigi Portes and Shierre Ann Palicpic were running mates in 2022, but the gloves are off for the midterms, as Palicpic (Nacionalista) seeks to spoil Portes’ (NPC) reelection bid.

– Rappler.com