Newly-appointed barangay chairman Shannin Mae Olivarez of San Dionisio in Paranaque City has filed her certificate of candidacy to challenge her half-sister in the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
The 29-year-old former topnotcher councilor of Barangay San Dionisio will face Eva Olivarez, presently the vice president for finance and administration of Olivarez College and the younger sister of 1st District Rep. Edwin Olivarez and Mayor Eric Olivarez.
Shannin took her oath of office as the newly-designated barangay chairman last August 18, after her father, former city mayor and incumbent barangay captain Pablo Sr. vacated his position due to old age.
Shannin, a graduate of San Beda College Alabang School of Law, is the only daughter of the 88-year-old Pablo and Ms. Juliet Melgar. She is the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president and ex-officio councilor of the city since 2013.
She was personally endorsed by her father and Aileen Olivarez, the wife of Mayor Eric, as the next chairman of Barangay San Dionisio, the second largest barangay in the city in terms of land area and the third largest by population.
The village is often mistakenly referred to as Sucat, being the location of SM City Sucat shopping mall on the former Sucat Road, now Dr. Santos Avenue.
On the other hand, Eva has the backing of the rest of her relatives: her brothers Edwin and Eric and sisters Edna Olivarez Nguyen, Imelda Olivarez Orteza, and incumbent city Councilor Pablo Olivarez Jr., the eldest son of Edwin. Janet, Edwin’s wife, also indicated her support to Eva.
Until the last minute of the filing of COC, Shannin reportedly defied the appeal of her half-brothers Edwin and Eric to withdraw from the race, claiming: “I’m banking on my track record and political know-how, not my surname.”
The latest social media survey among the voters of Barangay San Dionisio showed that Shannin is leading by 44 percent over Eva with 30 percent in the poll. On the other hand, candidate JB Cruz garnered 22 percent while businessman Arleth Lopez has two percent.
The Paranaque barangay chairmanship race will be one of the hottest battles in the southern part of Metro Manila, as scions of the Olivarez political clan lock horns and effectively divide their family, according to local leaders.