Puwedeng Matalo, Pero Hindi Puwedeng Umatras!

By: Mike Macapagal'88 

Campaigning in Michigan back in 2016, former U.S. president Donald Trump famously declared that "life is about fighting battles." And, he continues, "I love fighting battles." 

To this day Mr. Trump hasn't stopped fighting. It is no secret that the internal war in America has reached its peak, with many on the left (and the so-called Never-Trumpers on the right) are trying to prevent him even from running, denying him the chance to retake the white house in 2024. 

But eerily, those words reverberate, as my father would always tell me as a kid growing up in the streets of Olongapo, the following: 

"Life is a brawl. It doesn’t matter that you win or that you lose. What's important is that you FIGHT." 

Teddy Macapagal '63's political life began in 1970, barely graduating from the UP College of Law, when he won a seat in the city council, the youngest at age 21 at the time. 

This was also the same year that I was born - his eldest. My ninongs were Upsilonians Manding Ilas ‘63, Mon Maronilla ‘66 and Jerry Paras ‘64.

When martial law was declared, he joined Upsilonian Joker Arroyo ‘48 (FLAG lawyers) in providing free legal assistance to the residents of Olongapo, Zambales, Pampanga and Central Luzon. 

He was jailed in Camp Crame for producing the movie SAKADA with Behn Cervantes ’58 as director, an anti-Marcos film. It was Congressman Roquito Ablan ‘50 who interceded on their behalf, and later got them off the hook. 

In 1983, after the assassination of NINOY Aquino ‘50, he led the political opposition of the city against Brod Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ‘37 He did the same in 1984, when he ran under the banner of PDP Laban against the political machine of the KBL in the Batasang Pambansa elections. 

In 1986, he campaigned for Cory Aquino and Salvador Laurel against Marcos ‘37 and Arturo Tolentino. As Mayor of Olongapo, he rallied his troops to deliver a win for the referendum vote in Cory's 1987 constitution. He would later run for congressman in 1988 and mayor in 1990, where he retired after a disheartening loss. 

He lost both elections to Dick Gordon '68. 

But he went down fighting, and fighting he did, to the very end of his political life. 

So when I decided to run in 2016, I visited his grave. And I prayed. I said -- "Dad, I will continue your fight. And if I lose, then like you, I shall be proud, for I will lose with dignity and pride, because I will do this not for myself but for the people of Olongapo!" 

Against all odds and in the face of a very powerful incumbent, I filed my certificate of candidacy under the PDP-Laban banner for congressman of the 1st District of Zambales. 

A few weeks later DUTERTE switched and ran under PDP Laban also. He would later win the election by a landslide. 

I lost but Duterte quickly appointed me to Clark. And later, he appointed me to the PNOC, on both occasions as a member of the board of directors. I took my oath of office before former president now congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, my esteemed Tita who would always stand by my side.

In early March 2022, I got a call from my cousin, former congressman Mikey Macapagal Arroyo of Pampanga. He asked me to join LAKAS-CMD as local chairman for Zambales and Olongapo, and to campaign for the Uniteam of BBM-Sara.

I agreed, and immediately took my oath in the LAKAS headquarters in Manila. I was surprised when I saw Martin Romualdez '85. He administered my oath in his capacity as the National President of the party.

Mikey, who didn't know we were both Upsilonians, introduced me to him. He said: "Pare, si Mike Macapagal, pinsan ko. Anak ito ng dating Mayor ng Olongapo. He is going to help us in Zambales." Martin responded and said: "Mikey, he may be your cousin, but he is my brother." Mikey was shocked.

In April 2023, the new president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom I wholeheartedly supported and campaigned for, later appointed me as Chairman of the Board of the Philippine National Railways (PNR). 

A position I still hold to this day. 

So, in October of 2023, I was invited to join the prestigious Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, in the Executive Squadron. I was awarded the rank of Commodore. 

Truly, there is but one lesson to be learned from the battlelines of this "unfinished" war: 

"ANG MACAPAGAL, PUWEDENG MATALO. PERO HINDI PUWEDENG UMATRAS!"