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TALISAY CITY, Philippines - She is getting married next year but Vice Mayor Lani Abarquez of Talisay City has not made up her mind whether or not to resign from her post.
“It's still a 50-50 decision, so I'm giving myself some time to decide,” she told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview.
Abarquez, who is visiting her sister in Surigao, said she was considering quitting politics because her job was affecting her health.
The 39-year-old vice mayor said she was hospitalized last year due to a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a “mini stroke.”
“My doctor said that politics was not good for my health, and that I'm too young to have a heart condition,” Abarquez said.
According to the website www.americanheart.org, TIA is a “warning stroke” or “mini-stroke” that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage.
It occurs when a blood clot temporarily clogs an artery, and part of the brain does not get the blood it needs.
The symptoms occur rapidly and last a relatively short time. Most TIAs last less than five minutes, the same website said.
Abarquez said the political environment in Talisay was “different” compared to the time when her late father, Leoncio Abarquez, was mayor of then Talisay town.
Leoncio Abarquez, a retired Regional Trial Court judge, was mayor of Talisay from 1972 to 1978.
“Lahi na ang politics (of Talisay City) as I knew it. It was different when my father was mayor,” said Abarquez.
She said the politics during her father's time was “tinuoray” (true) and service-oriented.
“During those times, everybody (in politics) fully understood what they were voted for (to serve the people),” Abarquez said.
She, however, did not elaborate on the topic.
She also denied reports that she was running for mayor this coming 2010.
"Never ko niingon ana. Wala na nasulod sa akong huna-huna (It never entered my mind) to run for mayor,” Abarquez said.
Another factor she was considering was her personal life.
She said that at present, she’s trying to focus on her personal life such as having a family of her own.
Abarquez said she would sometimes ask herself this question - “Why not take care of yourself first?”
Abarquez said she would announce soon the details of her wedding to Fil-Australian Victor Alcoseba, who is a scion of Talisay City's Alcoseba clan.
She confirmed that she would get married early next year. She, however refused, to give the exact wedding date.
“I will announce it. Of course, pero unya na lang (but only later),” Abarquez said.
