Lakas-NPC Recruiting beauty, brains

A beauty looks set to best them all in Tarlac.

But this beauty has brains, plus an on-the-job training she got in "Politics 101" from her congressman-husband.

Former commercial model Monica "Nikki" Prieto Teodoro, wife of Tarlac Rep. Gilberto Teodoro Jr., could not say no when she was drafted as the official candidate of the administration’s coalition in the congressional district that would soon be vacated by her husband.

Who could say no to an endorsement from Speaker Jose de Venecia, president of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), who along with his wife Gina informally raised Nikki’s hands yesterday at the impromptu declaration of her candidacy. Nikki also got the cheers of members of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. (CSFI), of which she is an active member.

De Venecia disclosed to The STAR yesterday that Lakas would be fielding 10,000 candidates for the 16,000 positions being contested in the coming May 14 local elections.

"We have candidates for almost 60 percent of the total positions up for grabs in these local elections," De Venecia noted.

The 34-year old Nikki was literally "ambushed" to say yes to run for the first district in Tarlac in place of her husband, who is on his third and last term.

Teodoro, who belongs to the pro-administration bloc of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), was one of those eyed as a senatorial candidate in the administration’s ticket. He is a nephew of business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr., who is the founding chieftain of the NPC. Teodoro, however, backed out due to personal reasons, one of which is the frail health of his father, former Social Security System (SSS) chief Gilberto Teodoro Sr.

His young wife was attending yesterday the regular luncheon meeting of the CSFI headed by Gina de Venecia at the latter’s residence in Forbes, Makati City. She is active in the CSFI’s many charitable projects like The Haven for Children, a home and livelihood center for street children initiated by the Speaker’s wife.

When the Speaker arrived and saw Nikki, he broke the news that her husband just called him up to thank him for the endorsement of his wife’s possible candidacy under the coalition of the Lakas-NPC coalition in Tarlac.

While she may be considered a neophyte, Nikki is coming to Congress not without impressive credentials. She finished a degree in International Marketing at the Webster University in Leysin in Geneva, Switzerland. She is into the real estate business.

In an interview with The STAR, Nikki admitted she has not fully decided on this new career path because she has yet to discuss it with her family and relatives, including her eight-year old son, Jaime.

"My advocacy is for children. I’m here for the future of my son’s generation," Nikki said.

What may be holding Nikki back from taking the plunge into politics is the rumored comeback of former Tarlac Rep. Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr., youngest brother of former President Corazon Aquino. Mrs. Aquino and Cojuangco are first cousins of Nikki’s mother-in-law, Mercedes Cojuangco Teodoro.

This early, Nikki conceded she cannot change the prevailing system of patronage politics in the country. "But I can help (ease) the situation," she quickly added.

Nikki gave herself until March 29 to make up her mind. March 29 is the deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy for the local polls.

She is one of the latest recruits of De Venecia, who signed yesterday the certificates of nomination and acceptance of Lakas candidates being supported by the administration in the race for the various local posts up for grabs in the May elections.