REPOST: Eddie Dimacuha’s ex daughter-in-law – Kristine G. Balmes Part 3

first posted on MAy 28, 2013...

For 25 years, the Dimacuhas of Batangas City, headed by patriarch Eduardo, have been in power since 1988. After his first 3 terms as mayor, Eduardo was replaced by son, Dondon. Then he made a comeback and was Mayor again for 9 years. In 2010, after completing yet another 9-years or 3-terms, he was replaced by wife, Vilma, the incumbent. This elections year 2013, he is running again to reclaim his old post as mayor.

The first political challenge to Dimacuha happened in 1998 (erroneously mentioned as 1997 earlier), after his mandatory third term. His son, Angelito or Dondon, was first councilor, and he wanted to make sure the latter would succeed him so a comeback would be easier. The elder Dimacuha enlisted the support of practically all the viable influential families in the city, and gave some of them a place in his slate. To his surprise, a relatively unknown young lady candidate from the Gonda-Balmes clan, Kristine Balmes, emerged as top councilor. Of course, that can pose a threat to his comeback. But the young Balmes was soon swooned to her feet and fell in love with Dondon. They later married, bore a daughter, and eventually separated. She is now running under Liberal Party, an opposition to Dimacuha, to reclaim her council seat.

Kristine Balmes, a beautiful and young promising leader topped the council elections under Reporma, party of then Batangueno presidential bet Rene de Villa. Dondon Dimacuha won, as neophyte mayor that city hall was actually being run by his father, Eduardo, who had his own office space inside the Planning Office, but accessible via backdoor from the mayor’s office.

Many saw a political future for Kristine then. She could be the next vice mayor or even mayor. Her becoming a vice mayor would be a nightmare to the Dimacuhas because they could never be sure if she would bow to their wishes. So there must be another way.

Dondon courted Kristine, and the rest is history. They separated later after siring a daughter who is with Kristine. Last news about Dondon is that he settled somewhere abroad, remarried and has a new child.

It could have been just another love story, but it also undermined Kristine’s political career, albeit halted her momentum, and forced to be a quiet observer for a time.

Then in 2010, she resurfaced, not as a candidate, but as deputy provincial campaign manager for the then struggling Liberal Party of Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas in Batangas (struggling because they were in opposition to the hated administration of strongwoman Gloria Arroyo). As history would have it, Noynoy won as President.

Kristine could have asked for any job that could propel her to popularity, but she did not. Instead she quietly assisted presidential sister Pinky Aquino-Abellada in social development work as Batangas Coordinator of the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) Foundation.

Now comes elections 2013, and with all her strong presidential connections, Kristine could have asked to run as vice mayor at the very least. Why not when she had been a top councilor already? But she did not. She must have imbibed the humility of her late grandfather, former Board Member Ding Gonda. Instead, she opted to make another run in the City Council.

In her campaign, she avoids being linked, or say anything about the Dimacuhas. Pressed to comment why she did not run under her ex-biyenan, she would politely say that she never was politically affiliated with the Dimacuhas in the first place, and that she is committed to the Aquinos (considering the connections).

Such is the humility of the person. She must have been through a lot, and probably know about the Dimacuhas more than anyone, but she would rather be herself again – the idealistic Kristine Gonda Balmes, committed to true public service. 

-to be continued-