Parañaque mayoral race: 2 Olivarez kin, returning bets, new faces square off

In Parañaque City, two candidates have answered the call—for the second time—to challenge the Olivarez family, the city's political force that has held the mayoral post for the last 12 years.

In Eleksyon 2025, two of the Olivarez family members are both seeking the top post at city hall.

Rounding out the field of seven mayoral bets are three candidates, two of whom are running independently.

Batang Baclaran, Batang Parañaque

Jun Zaide, the barangay captain of Baclaran, made rounds on social media in Eleksyon 2022 for daring to seek the mayoral seat that has been held by the Olivarez clan since 2013.

Zaide landed the chairmanship of Baclaran in 2018 and still holds the position until now. He is running under the Aksyon Demokratiko party.

He said his work in the small barangay, which he dubbed as the "heart and soul" of Parañaque, was not easy.

"We are the gateway of the southern part of Metro Manila. Tayo 'yun talagang daanan na tao… We're talking about millions, hundreds of thousands, libu-libo ang dumadaan sa Barangay Baclaran. 'Yung hinarap natin problema, 'yung hinarap natin suliranan dito, hindi biro," he shared.

(We are the gateway of the southern part of Metro Manila. We're talking about millions, hundreds of thousands, thousands of people passing through Barangay Baclaran. The problems we've faced here are no joke.)

Zaide said leading Baclaran for about six years had him solve decades-long issues of dirty and dark roads, streets saddled with peace and order problems, and overcame the COVID-19 pandemic, showing that he was "101% ready" to become the next Parañaque mayor.

"Wala akong pinakinggan dito kung hindi taong-bayan. Wala akong naging amo dito kundi ang taong-bayan," he said.

(I listen to no one else except the people. They are my only boss.)

This is not Zaide's first foray into the mayoral race as he already ran for the position once in 2022 and lost to incumbent mayor Eric Olivarez.

While it was an unsuccessful bid, Zaide said, he and his team were still able to make an impact on the citizens of Parañaque.

This year, he believes that he now has a fighting chance.

His platforms mostly focus on the "basic needs" that he claimed Parañaque has been deprived of, including healthcare, education, infrastructure, quick response, and benefits for vulnerable sectors.

One of his biggest plans is the establishment of the "Batang Parañaque General Hospital" to offer health services to city residents for free. He also intends to set up a "Batang Parañaque Development Center" to enrich talents of Parañaque artists, and the implementation of the "PQRT 911" for quick response to local disasters.

As a public government official, Zaide said there is nothing wrong with copying projects that worked elsewhere, and that he is committed to delivering what Parañaque needs.

"Hindi masamang mangopya. It's for the betterment and for the goodness ng bawat mamamayan at bawat residente, at higit sa lahat for the city of Parañaque," he shared.

(It's not bad to copy. It's for the betterment and for the goodness of every citizen and every resident, and above all for the city of Parañaque.)

Should he land the top local seat, Zaide envisions a safe Parañaque where residents and the government can work hand-in-hand.

Sole politician in the family

Born and raised in Tambo, independent candidate Drew Uy is emerging as a relatively fresh challenger for the mayoral seat.

Like Zaide, Uy also joined and lost the race for Parañaque mayor in 2022, but has returned with what he said is the support of the youth.

Uy said he does not have any family member in politics, nor do any of his kin have any intentions to run for public office.

"I've made sure that none of my immediate family want to run. Actually, none of them actually want to run… Being literally the only one that's new, and no political family anywhere in Parañaque that has ever run, that's my stance, and I want to keep that stance," he said.

According to Uy, he is the face of the everyday Parañaque resident just trying their best to get by.

"I'm no different from anyone else who would want to try to change Parañaque… Drew Uy is just a citizen who is trying to make a difference, 'yung totoong (the real) difference that doesn't try to do band-aid solutions," he said.

"Drew Uy is someone who consults the experts and actually listens to their advice and solutions from that. Drew Uy is also the same person who actually listens to the people," he added.

While admitting that he has no political background, Uy said he is ready to lend an ear to whoever is willing to speak.

Uy is a marketing and communications specialist, with experience in handling local and international campaigns.

Although he lost his first campaign in 2022, Uy felt the need to run again for the Parañaqueños who believe he could bring change.

Uy's primary focus in his campaign is to help Parañaque stand alone after his possible mayoral term would, enriching and empowering the City then leaving behind a "People’s Council" to make decisions for the future.

"[Ang gabay] natin sa pumumuno (My leadership would be) is to enable and empower Parañaque itself. From creating and establishing Parañaque City People's Council to include everyone, we want to include everyone into the decisions that they try to make for Parañaque themselves," he noted.

His platform for the city focuses on promoting local arts and culture, strengthening local businesses, eradicating crime in the city, comprehensive healthcare, enhanced education programs, supporting fitness and sports, and good governance.

"This entire campaign is not and has never been for me. It's always been for Parañaque… The Pitong Plano para sa Parañaque that we drafted is actually wish siya ng Parañaque. It's not my wish. Every single one of those words came from the Parañaqueño. And I wish [whoever wins will] listen," he said.

The Olivarez name

The Olivarez family has been a familiar one in Parañaque public service. The Olivarez patriarch, Dr. Pablo Olivarez, served as Parañaque mayor from 1992 to 1995, while his daughter, Eva, is the incumbent captain of Barangay San Dionisio.

Pablo's sons Eric and Edwin are the incumbent mayor and representative of the city's 1st congressional district, respectively.

Shanin—a half-sister of Eva and the Olivarez brothers—is up against Edwin's son, Pablo II, for the coucilor seat in Parañaque City District 1. Shanin is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) while Pablo II is with Lakas.

Edwin won as Parañaque mayor in 2013 and served three full terms.

In Eleksyon 2022, Edwin and Eric swapped roles and assumed the positions of Parañaque 1st district representative and mayor, respectively.

The two are once again seeking to exchange places, as Edwin is running again for mayor while Eric is seeking to become congressman in the upcoming May 2025 local and national elections.

GMA News Online has sought an interview with Edwin, but he cited conflicts with his schedule.

During the filing of his candidacy in 2024, Edwin told reporters that the decision to switch positions came after consulting their family and various sectors in Parañaque, as Eric plans to continue pushing legislation on education and health in Congress.

Edwin chairs the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization. He also served as chairman of the Metro Manila Council, the policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The Olivarez brothers are running under the Lakas-CMD party, which is supporting the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.

Olivarez vs. Olivarez

Running as an independent candidate, Eric's wife, Aileen Claire Olivarez, is challenging her brother-in-law Edwin for the mayoralty.

Aileen had served as chief-of-staff in Eric's office, and worked as a professor, basic education director,  and high school principal at Olivarez College from 1997 to 2000.

GMA News Online has reached out to Aileen on her social media accounts, but she has yet to respond as of posting time.

In a video posted on one of her social media pages, Aileen said despite being an Olivarez, she has her own advocacies and track record.

The city's first lady is pushing for legislation on health and education, such as providing free medicine, establishing a blood bank in the city, and providing school supplies and uniforms. She is also eyeing the implementation of a truck ban and flood mitigation projects in Parañaque.

"Matagal ko nang isinusulong ang mga programang patungkol sa kalusugan, nutrisyon, kaayusan at kalinisan ng ating lungsod, pero ang desisyon kong tumakbong bilang kauna-unahang babaeng mayor sa kasaysayan ng buong Parañaque, 'yan po ay desisyon galing po sa tunay na pagmamalasakit ko sa atin mga kalungsuran," Aileen said.

(I have long been promoting programs related to health, nutrition, order, and cleanliness in our city, but my decision to run as the first female mayor in the history of Parañaque is a decision that comes from my true concern for our city.)

"Makikita naman ninyo na may sarili po akong paninindigan, adbokasiya, meron din po akong track record ng serbisyo. Itong lahat na ito ay hindi tungkol sa apelyido, apelyidong aking hiniram lamang at hindi din tungkol sa nakaraan kung hindi tungkol sa kinabukasan lalo na ng kinabukasan ng Lungsod ng Parañaque," she added.

(You will see that I have my own stance and advocacy. I also have a track record of service. All of this is not about the surname, it is just a surname I borrowed and it is not about the past but about the future, especially the future of the city of Parañaque.)

One more run

On their second bid for the mayoral seat against the Olivarezes, both Zaide and Uy expressed belief that it was high time for a change in the city's leadership.

Zaide took notice of what seemed to be an internal discord within the Olivarez family as two of their members are contesting the mayoral seat.

"Hindi ko na makaintindihan kung ang maglalaban ay maghipag. Eh kung sa isang pamilya ay hindi silang magkaisa at hindi silang nagmamahalan, paano niyo mamahalin ng taumbayan? Paano niyo mapagkakaisa sa taumbayan?" Zaide said.

(I can't understand why there are two candidates from the family. Well, if in a family they are not united and they don't love each other, how can you love the people? How can you unite the people?)

The will to serve

As for the other relatively newer names in the Parañaque mayoral race, Nathan Pineda (WPP) is also presenting himself as a new face in city's political scene.

His platform focuses on livelihood, education, health services, and good governance.

In a statement to GMA News Online, Pineda promised to be the "best mayor [Parañaque] City never had," and claimed that other contenders had been in politics before himself but had not made big projects.

"Tandaan na ang kapangyarihan ay nasa taumbayan… Bago bumoto, kilatisin muna ang kwalipikasyon at programa ng mga kandidato. (Remember that the power is with the people… Before voting, remember to study the qualifications and programs of a candidate.) The advocacy we are carrying on is to stand firm that 'real change' will not come from the rich and powerful, but from the brave and the just," Pineda said.

GMA News Online has also reached out to Rhodora "Nene" Mendoza (Independent) through her social media accounts, but she has yet to provide a response. Meanwhile, GMA News Online was still trying to reach Anabel Pantila (Independent) as of posting time.

Election Day will be on May 12, 2025. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.