CITY OF MALOLOS—Barely five days before the start of tomorrow’s first day of the Oct. 1-8 filing of candidacy for the May 2025 midterm elections, Bulacan’s former closest gubernatorial rival incumbent Gov. Daniel Fernando and City of Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad are now political allies.
Natividad with his complete slate of city official’s candidates led by incumbent Vice Mayor Miguel Alberto Tengco Bautista and their ten city councilors took oath on Friday in a simple ceremony in this city as new members of National Unity Party (NUP) before Fetnando, the party’s provincial chairman and vice president for social development.
He lost to Fernando in the province gubernatorial race in 2019.
Fernando, is on his second term as governor of Bulacan and will be running for his third term in the next year’s election.
Natividad had just ended his last term as nine years mayor of the City of Malolos when he lost to Fernando. He ran again and won as mayor in 2022 under the Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipino (PDP). Fernando has been a strong member of the NUP since his first gubernatorial race in 2019.
The NUP-One Malolos is a political alliance made between Fernando, Tengco, Domingo and Natividad.
Tengco is the nephew of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCor) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro Tengco from the City of Malolos. Chairman Tengco has also previously served as vice mayor of Malolos
Domingo, a lawyer, was a seasoned mayor of Malolos who had served for two nine year terms. Natividad, also a lawyer, will be running in 2025 for his second term as Malolos mayor under his second season. He had already served his first nine year term in 2010.
Natividad, also a lawyer said the alliance with NUP is “part of the healed wounds borne out of humility and humbleness of each and everyone concern”.
In his social media post, he said, “Nagsimula na magkakaiba, sinundan ng mahabang laban, pinaghilom ng pagpapakumbaba ang bawat isa. Nagbunga ng pagkakaisa para sa iisang mithiing maging bahagi ng masalimuot na gampanin para sa mabuting bayan,” (Started as all different, followed by long political battle, healed because of humility and humbleness, resulted to unity to become part of the complicated role towards a good nation).
The governor emphasized that NUP-Fernando-Domingo-Natividad-Tengco Bautista One Malolos not only signifies a much stronger NUP, but also highlights the increasing political cohesion that is essential for sustaining the province’s progress.
“As we face the challenges ahead, it is crucial that we all work together to ensure sustainable development, responsive governance, and continued peace and order in our communities,” the governor said.
Vice Gov. Alex Caastro is also a member of the NUP and will run again for his second term as Fernando’s vice gubernatorial running mate.
