AKLAN, Philippines – A younger generation of political leaders, many younger than 50, emerged dominant in Aklan province in the 2025 national and local elections on Monday, May 12.
Aklan Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores, who would turn 43 this year, secured a second term after defeating his challengers, Pier Teodosio and Jun Tanumtanum. His brother, Ibajay Mayor Miguel Miraflores, was also reelected.
In the 1st District, reelectionist provincial board members Mark Ace Bautista and Mark Vega Quimpo retained their seats. In the 2nd District Jose Haresco – son of incumbent Representative Teodorico Haresco – topped the list of winners. Also in the 2nd District is lawyer Bubby Legazpi, also a millennial.
Like the others, Haresco, a former bank executive, is relatively young.
There are more. In Kalibo, Mayor Juris Bautista-Sucro defeated former mayor and political veteran William Lachica.
His running mate, independent candidate Phillip Yerro Kimpo, was elected vice mayor – marking the first time in recent memory that an independent won the post.
Kimpo was previously named in 2016 as one of nine “millennial politicians to watch,” and was part of the 2010 Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) awardees.
In Malay, Vice Mayor Nino Carlos Cawaling was reelected unopposed. All eight newly proclaimed members of the Sangguniang Bayan are also millennials: Nat-nat Paderes, Grengo Gelito, Vicky Aguirre, Junthir Flores, Hope Pagsuguiron, Alan Palma, and Apio Casidsid.
In neighboring Buruanga, 45-year-old mayor-elect Nonoy Allan Dagohoy ended the decades-long political reign of Mayor Quezon Labindao and his wife Inday, who had alternated as mayor over the years. – Rappler.com