Padaca sees lucky sign as she casts ballot in Isabela

Governor Grace Padaca does not believe in signs. But on Monday, she felt elated after seeing that she had cast the 125th ballot in the sole clustered precinct in Barangay Minanga, Naguilian, Isabela. "I have always considered 1-2-5 as lucky numbers," she said. Padaca was born on October 25 (10-25), and her proclamation as the winning candidate in the 2007 gubernatorial race was announced at 10:25 p.m. But whether she considers Monday's vote casting as a good omen, the 45-year-old is leaving the matter to God and the electorate. Padaca arrived at the Minanga Elementary School at 10 a.m. Clad in a yellow shirt and black trousers, the Liberal Party bet received a warm welcome from her constituents and foreign media groups. Padaca was also welcomed by her 76-year-old mother Amelia, who accompanied her to the polling center. The governor pecked her mother’s cheek, and greeted her a “Happy Mother’s Day." As they walked toward the precinct, Padaca asked the onlookers in Ilocano if they had already voted. The people replied in the affirmative. When she reached the long queue of voters, the polio-stricken governor asked the people in jest: "Pwedeng pasingit? Sige na... May kodigo naman ako. Mabilis lang ako. Sige na." The voters broke out in laughter and gave way to the governor. Padaca voted at precinct 052-A and completed shading her ballot within five minutes. In an interview, Padaca said she purposely transferred her registration from Cauayan town to barangay Minanga as she wanted to vote in her birth place for what she sees as her last fight in the political ring. Padaca seemed to be satisfied with the automation system, saying she is thankful that the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine in Minanga did not encounter any glitches. She also used the opportunity to hit back at her rival Rep. Faustino Dy III and her detractors whom she claimed are responsible for the spread of black propaganda against her. Dy is trying to reclaim the top provincial post which his family held for 34 years before losing it to Padaca in 2004. The lady governor, who was already a popular radio broadcaster before going into politics, is seeking her third and last term. Mommy dances to a different tune Dy, accompanied by her children, cast his vote in Cauayan South Central School. Padaca's mother, Amelia, happily recalled to reporters her brief encounter with Dy in the Cauayan polling precinct — where she is a registered voter. "[Bojie] greeted me pati yung mga anak niya, nag-bless sa akin yung mga bata," she said, adding that Dy’s gesture signifies that the political rivalry between him and her daughter does not extend to neither of their families. Gov. Padaca said she was aware of her mother's relationship with the Dys and found it "amusing." "Yung generation kasi nila [mommy] yun yung time na ina-adore yung mg Dy. Sa amin, nung matapos yung people power at nakita namin yung katiwaliaan, kami yung lumalaban," Padaca said. Nonetheless, Padaca said Mrs. Amelia has always been very supportive of her decisions, even as they refuse to talk about their conflicting political beliefs. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV