By Anthony A. Araos

There is a compelling reason to talk about former Baguio City Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr. These days city residents-young and old alike, are already looking into giving him back his “role” as a legislator, particularly enlisting him at the 20th Congress. Yes, as the next Congressman of the city.
This development gained so much attention after Aliping started moving around the city. Social media posts mounted as his pronouncements resonated in many places.
Christmas season “sorties” in the city’s 126 villages are over. Well, the midterm polls are just around the corner. Filipinos in this part of the country are once more trooping to their polling precincts to vote for Baguio’s incoming member of the House of Representatives. The House has over 300 members, including party-list representatives. Baguio City Rep. Mark Go is serving his third and final term. Surely, there is no shortage of competent candidates for this much-coveted position. There are no pushovers in a closely contested race as this one, each vote is surely very important.
So, there’s so much buzz from now on up until before Election Day on who is the front runner or eventual winner of the said race. Given the huge expenses- a serious congressional run in the nation’s summer capital is too costly to the tune of spending 30 million or more, practically true in vote-rich barangays, time and other considerations all that really matter is winning. Failing to land in the top rank is not and never an option at all. No second or third placing when the counting is over.
For ex-Congressman Aliping, his campaign platform in the media as well as ward leaders in the grassroots level are crucial in spelling out the difference between victory and defeat. Today, voters are already flooded with “paid for by friends” information messages, expertly prepared without the catch word “vote” for of well-known individuals. The social media outlets are now saturated with these materials, just too many to mention these early birds. They’re all aspirants for various positions.
The campaign platform- whether stressing the need to increase production in agriculture in the midst of horrifying specter of another rice crisis or pursuing reforms to benefit the hard working men and women in the education sector who continue to bear the burden of low salaries and antiquated learning facilities, is simply the heart and soul of a candidate’s legislative agenda.
If elected, is Aliping, also a lawyer and former Councilor, willing to increase the education sector’s share of the national budget to 6 percent from 3 percent?
Questions are now being raised by students, teachers, OFWs, professionals, office workers, laborers, indigenous peoples, barangay government officials and many others on key issues affecting them. More queries are likely to be fielded by the electorate in the course of the campaign period. Concerns on the high cost of living, traffic, the West Philippines Sea conflict, health conditions, delivery of fundamental social services and so forth, need to be scrutinized by all means. Poverty and unemployment are undeniably main issues facing the widest majority of the population:
A leader listens to the sentiments of the people, most especially the poor. Aliping always makes an extra effort, goes an extra mile to help the needy and the sick because he has a generous heart, a great heart for the underprivileged. He has been known for extending a helping hand to economically deprived residents. He gives ample assistance to the marginalized and nongovernment organizations. He provides sufficient help to the “poorest of the poor” everywhere, anywhere and somewhere. With joblessness and hunger problems mounting dramatically each day, this is a strong proof that indeed Nicasio Aliping is in a position to push aggressively the agenda of distributing more equitably the nation’s wealth through legislated action. Otherwise the number of “poorest of the poor” Filipinos is just likely to swell in even more alarming proportion in 2025 and beyond.
Nicasio Aliping’s views on pressing socio-economic issues are well pronounced. Alignment with the goals of propelling growth and development is strikingly clear. In other words, it goes well with the overall development thrust of the national government. It easily answers the need of promoting the welfare of the people. It bodes well to the direction of advancing their well-being. This comes to no surprise after all Nicasio Aliping is a nationalist, dedicated public servant and a tried and tested leader.
Nicasio Aliping has a lot of ups and downs in life, but always buoyed by fulfilling moments. He is obviously so blessed by the Lord in so many ways. He is bringing back to the House a vast wealth of experience from several years in the public and private sector. Make no mistake that his tireless efforts to uplift the conditions of impoverished Filipinos is one good reason for the electorate to push for a pro-poor candidate in Congress even as he seeks a better deal for all others. A country where many are still living in abject poverty should be a thing of the past. It needs a leader who shall finally be at the forefront in undercutting the number of “have-nots” because they are also God’s children. A leader with mighty and firm hands to solve longstanding problems is required, thus providing the people a better direction in the coming years.
Atty. Nicasio Aliping Jr. is running for the aforementioned position to make a case. Given the fact he is already a well-accomplished individual the question arises, why is that so important? “Because, I can make more difference, a profound difference in their lives,” he quipped in a recent interview.
Know your candidate now. Maybe, this time there’s a perfectly excellent one. On May 12, 2025, make your vote a priority. Use it as a tool for genuine change! **