BACOLOD CITY – Lawyer Rowena Lizares was elected as the first lady mayor of Talisay City in Negros Occidental.
“Today, I was proclaimed the first woman ever to have been elected as mayor of my beloved Talisay City. I am at a loss for words but then I have so much to say in gratitude,” Lizares said in a statement on social media, following her historic proclamation on Tuesday, May 13.
LAWYER Rowena ‘Weng’ Lizares (second from left) is proclaimed as newly elected mayor of Talisay City, Negros Occidental at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall on Tuesday, May 13. (Atty. Rowena Lizares FB)
Lizares (31,706) defeated lone opponent former Vice Mayor Samuel Siote (26,907).
She is the wife of Mayor Neil who is in his third and last term.
It is the first time that she joined politics to continue the legacy of her husband.
However, her running mate, reelectionist Vice Mayor Nicolas Jalandoni III (25,116), lost to Councilor Angel Gabriel Villacin. (32,672).
Villacin, in a Facebook post, thanked God and the people of Talisay who believed and supported him.
He thanked Jalandoni for a hard-fought battle. “It was a hard-fought battle. Thank you for showing a dignified and good fight,” he said.
Jalandoni thanked the people for their support and vowed that he will continue serving them.
Also proclaimed were Councilors Emmanuel Ebro, Kenn Thomas Tirthdas, Martin Lizares, Stephen Siote, Merci Ereñeta, Yuri Tuvilla, Gelo Lacson, Welfredo Malan, Joemarie Estelloso, and Erlou Penado.