Vice Mayor elect in Luna, Apayao attributes triumph to deceased father; thanked supporters for their votes

Luna, Apayao - Doctor of Medicine in the making and proclaimed Vice Mayor elect of Luna, Apayao Zaira Erika L. Caluya attributed her victory in getting the Vice Mayoral position to her deceased father SB Cecile Caluya - who was supposed to be the official candidate this 2025.

In her Facebook post on May 15, VM Caluya expressed, “Papa — this was supposed to be yours. And in many ways, it still is. Every step I took, I took in your name. This battle was yours. This victory is yours. I just stood in for you, but the fight and the heart behind this campaign were always yours. This is for you. This is yours. Vice Mayor kan, Papang ko!!’’

Caluya, who ran under LAKAS, won the vice mayoral race with 4,925 votes, more ahead against her two rivals Ayyo Verzola (NPC), who got 4,230 votes, and Elmar Balicat (IND), who gained 1,831 votes.

As the official substitute candidate of her father, Zaira Erika admitted that running and winning for public office was never in her dreams and plans.

‘’Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d run for public office — let alone win as Vice Mayor — as a substitute candidate for Papa, determined to continue what he started. Running as Vice Mayor was never part of my plan, but sometimes, life calls you to rise in the most unexpected ways,’’ she stated.

Being a student of Medicine at the same time, her journey to the political arena was tough as she needed to balance between her med school responsibilities and the election campaign. Exhausted yet, according to her, it was worth it, keeping in mind that the fight was never about her but for the continuity of the good deeds her father had started.

Ushered through people’s votes to serve in the second-highest position in town, Caluya thanked all her supporters and all residents for the trust and faith placed in her. ‘’To the people of Luna who voted, believed, supported, and encouraged me — your trust means everything. This victory belongs to you just as much as it does to me. It’s a testament to the trust and faith you’ve placed in me,’’ she said.

Further, VM Caluya regarded the constant support and guidance of Mayor-elect Januario S. Garde and the whole JSG-One Luna One Hope as paramount to said success.

As she takes on the new role in public service, Caluya vowed to serve the people of Luna with sincerity and integrity, making herself someone her constituents can lean on.