As I reflect on the evolving political landscape in Marikina, I am inspired by the prospect that, for the first time in the city’s history, three women may lead Marikina in the coming years.
Maan Teodoro, Stella Quimbo, and Kat Pimentel are three Marikenyas making waves in the local political scene.
L-R: Maan Teodoro, Stella Quimbo and Kat Pimentel. Photos from their respective Facebook pages
Congresswoman Maan Teodoro ran and won for representative in Marikina's 1st congressional district in 2022 succeeding Bayani Fernando. She is a known advocate of healthcare programs for women.
Maan Teodoro is reportedly running to replace his husband, good governance advocate Mayor Marcy Teodoro who is ending his third term in 2025.
Joining Maan in the quest for a better Marikina is Kat De Guzman Pimentel, who was born and raised in Marikina City. She is the wife of former Senate President and now current Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
Kat is running for congresswoman of District 1 replacing Maan Teodoro, her ally, who will run for mayor to succeed her husband.
Kat is a chef, entrepreneur, and the founder and current chair of Pilipino Dapat Paglingkuran Cares Foundation. She is also a very active member of the Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc. advocating for women, children, and communities.
She has led various projects such as the the distribution of tablets to students in Sorsogon, Marikina City, and Cagayan de Oro as the lockdowns brought by the pandemic interrupted their usual learning setup, and the provision of food and basic needs to Marawi City residents affected by the Marawi siege.
In Marikina, she has been actively helping a group of shoe manufacturers to revive the glory the days of the Marikina shoe industry. She has organized medical missions and distributed shoes to thousands of Marikina pupils.
Last but definitely not the least, Stella Quimbo, an esteemed economist and academician.
Stella has been serving as the representative for Marikina's 2nd congressional district since 2019 under the banner of the Liberal Party. Prior to her current role, she held the position of commissioner at the Philippine Competition Commission from 2016 until her resignation in 2019.
Before her foray in politics, Quimbo is a well-respected academician, having served as a Professor and Department Chair at the University of the Philippines School of Economics. Additionally, she held the prestigious Prince Claus Professorial Chair at Erasmus University of Rotterdam in the Netherlands from 2011 to 2013.
Despite the accomplishments of these women, I cannot help but worry that come 2025, these women may be pitted against each other.
So, I say this to Maan, Stella, and Kat: if you really love Marikina, set aside your differences. As the saying goes, there is enough room for all women to succeed and women do not have to tear each other down to rise up.
When these three women join forces, Marikina will benefit from their intelligence, leadership and compassion.
Come 2025, in Marikina, the future would, by all indications, most probably be female.
