You think the gubernatorial fight is a three-way race among three formidable contenders? Think again. Because enter Mario Magat, Jr. alias Marjun who is trying again to run for governor after his failed bid in 2007. Magat was one of the five early birds who filed their certificates of candidacy one after the other as the provincial Comelec office started accepting COCs last. The deadline of filing is on December 1. Even Gov. Erico Aumentado is not unchallenged in his comeback bid for his old Congress seat in the second district. He will be facing Danilo Mendez who happens to be his town mate from Ubay. Running under the banner of the Liberal Party, Mendez must be banking on the vast Mendez clan of his hometown to give Aumentado “ a run of his money”. Another candidate for governor is one Jetur Ramada of Alburquerque. Although his name may not ring a bell, he believes that he is qualified to challenge more entrenced opponents like V-Gov. Julius Ceasar Herrera, Cong,. Edgar Chatto and actor-director Cesar Montano.

The vice gubernatorial showdown is not a monopoly of Cong. Roberto Cajes and Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo, Jr. Unknown to them, the position they are contesting is also being eyed by a native of this city. He is Cresencio Pumatong Alturas. A civil engineer, Alturas, 63, is a resident of Mansasa district, this city. Another early bird is a candidate for second district board member. She is Mutya Kismet Tirol, daughter of former governor David and Amalia Tirol. Her mother, Amalia, who is on her last term as second district board member was reported to be running for Ubay mayor. If so, then the Ubay mayoralty will see action three mayoralty candidates – Tirol, incumbent Mayor Eutiquio Bernales and his vice mayor Galicano Atup.