The fall of the dynasty

Former mayor Ramon Oñate and former vice mayor Eulogio "Yoly" Tupa (inset)

Mayor Marcelo "Baloy" Oñate

Mayor -elect Eulogio "Yoly" Tupa

For fifteen years at helm in the municipality of Palompon, the Oñate’s rule has finally come to an end after the May 2007 mid-term election that defeated incumbent mayor Marcelo C. Oñate. Mayoralty candidate and former vice mayor Eulogio “Yoly” Tupa routed Oñate in the mayoralty race with a margin of more than 800 votes (based on the partial unofficial result as of May 15, 2007).

It was Ramon Oñate, who defeated Atty. Dante Luz Viacrucis in 1992 elections. The kind of leadership, political will and dedication that Ramon showed to the Palomponganons has earned him a reputation of a firm leader who is determined to transform Palompon. His first term in office, has been marred with political bickering among the opposition-dominated municipal council. In 1995, he and his entire slate won overwhelmingly with Eulogio “Yoly” Tupa as his running mate. The years that followed were indeed fruitful and golden years for Palompon. Infrastructure projects such as concrete roads, farm-to-market roads, barangay electrification, were implemented as well as more responsive social services for every Palomponganons.

Palompon’s aggressive transformation was witnessed thru the leadership of Oñate and Tupa that lasted until June 2001. After Ramon Oñate and Eulogio “Yoly” Tupa’s impressive leadership and management of the municipality, a new Oñate –Tupa tandem was forged. This time between the younger brothers of Ramon and Yoly—Marcelo “Baloy” Oñate and Constantino “Tantin” Tupa.

Both Baloy and Tantin won in 2001 election by landslide victory, along with all their candidates for councilors. But political and policy differences between the two of them resulted to the split of the two allies. The younger Tupa’s support to Congressman Codilla irked his partymates, including Oñate. Sometime in 2004, Constantino Tupa was expelled as vice mayor thru a municipal resolution signed by all municipal councilors allied with Oñate.

After more than two years, another Tupa emerged and promised the Palomponganons to effect changes in the town’s policy and governance. With their slogan “Kausaban”, Tupa showed that he is determine to change the present system in the local government and it was well accepted by the people, especially those in the barangays.

Last May 14, 2007, the incumbent mayor Marcelo Oñate failed to get a fresh mandate from the votes because majority of the Palomponganon electorates voted for Eulogio “Yoly” Tupa, ending the 15-year old Oñate dynasty.