5. Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Luis “Migz” Villafuerte, 27
The son of former CamSur governor Luis Raymond “LRay” Villafuerte, Migz ran against his grandfather, former CamSur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, for governorship of their home province in 2013 and won. At 24, he was the youngest elected governor in our country’s history, apart from being a champion wakeboarder. “It was my choice (to enter politics),” Migz said in an interview with People Asia, debunking speculation that it was his family that pressured him into running. “I am my own man, I have my own ideas,” he told ABS-CBN News.
4. Anilao Mayor Nathalie Ann “Lee Ann” Debuque, 22
A fresh graduate from University of the Philippines Manila, Mayor Lee Ann succeeds her mother, Ma. Theresa Dubuque, as mayor of Anilao town in Iloilo. In other interviews, Mayor Lee Ann mentions that her family breathed politics and sacrificed a lot for their town. She plans to expand scholarship programs and other student benefits in her town. Mayor Lee Ann is a simple girl who enjoys reading books, yet she is confident and assertive in accomplishing many things for Anilao.
3. Barotac Nuevo Mayor Braedan John “BJ” Biron, 22
BJ may have just graduated last October with a degree in Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Asia and the Pacific, but his exposure to politics and business from a very young age, thanks to his father, former Iloilo Rep. Dr. Ferjenel Biron. He plans to continue the scholarship program his family started, and make improvements in his town’s infrastructure. He will also focus on encouraging the youth to take up sports, being a former football and basketball varsity player. Being the athlete that he is, he has the passion and the qualities of a team player when it comes to serving his town.
Negros Occidental (6th District) Rep. Mercedes “Chedz” Alvarez, 33
In 2010, Chedz was elected as the youngest district representative at age 28, and was reelected in 2013. She is very active in social media, as her followers enjoy her effervescent personality and fashionista sense of style. She famously posted a photo of herself on Instagram lying down on a highway in her district as her way of thanking President Aquino and the DPWH for the road’s completion. Despite her fun demeanor, she gets things done, with education and health being her top priorities. Moreover, she has already authored four major legislations and was elected as the first female member of the Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians in Geneva, Switzerland.
Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus “XJ” Romualdo, 30
A reluctant politician, XJ nonetheless finished fourth in the 2012 bar exams, and ran for Congress in 2013 under the wishes of his dying grandfather, former Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo. “It was a way to honor him,” he said in an interview with Rappler. At 26, he was the youngest member of the 16th Congress, but he has already served as Assistant Majority Leader, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, and a member of various other committees.
Did we miss any other young and inspiring politicians out there? Let us know! 🙂
