SENADO 2016, sino nga ba?
Cresente C. Paez
Born: July 31, 1946, Zamboanga
Liberal Party
Senatorial aspirant Cresente C. Paez trended in the social networking site Facebook when one netizen posted a picture of his controversial campaign billboard with none other than Hollywood celebrity Tom Cruise.
The massive signage bearing the picture of Cruise, who portrayed secret agent Ethan Hunt in the Mission Impossible franchise, and Paez is strategically located at the area just after you exit from the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx).
The actor is photoshopped together with the picture of Paez as to resemble that the two are having a dialogue. Cruise is pictured with a fictitious quote saying, “Mr. Paez, this isn’t mission difficult; it’s MISSION IMPOSSIBLE!”, while the senatoriable answers with a pun, “Mr. Hunt, have faith. It’s PAEZible!”
The post about the billboard drew flak as it is obviously an infringement of personality rights when you use an image of someone, let alone a Hollywood movie star, without their knowledge.
Without this publicity, who would have known about Cresente Paez? He is an unknown compared to other competitors in the senatorial race. In fact, he was one of the last two candidates, the other being Depatment of Interior and Local Governement (DILG) Assistant Secretary for Muslim Affairs Nariman Ambolodto, to fill up the Liberal Party’s (LP) senate slate. He is often associated with being a “filler” for former Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino who pulled out from the race after being criticized for allegedly hiring the performers, “Play Girls”.
Although Paez is not well-known in Metro Manila, he has been active in the rural scene by serving three terms as Party List Representative for the COOP-NATCCO (National Confederation of Cooperatives).
Prior to his stint in the House of Representatives, he also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PHILDHRRA) from 1990-2002, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Assistant Secretary in 1990 and Executive Director of the Visayas Cooperative Development Center (VICTO) from 1985-1990.
He has also held top positions in civic organizations such as the NEC multipurpose cooperative and the Cooperative Bank of Camarines Norte.
Paez is a native of Zamboanga and a graduate of the University of Southern Mindanao with a degree in Agriculture. LP spokesperson Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo said standard-bearer Mar Roxas chose Paez as they wanted the cooperative sector to be represented in the senate. While LP member Sen. Frank Drilon said the party chose Paez as he represents one of the very critical sectors in the country.
References:
http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?id=paez-c
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/118717/cooperatives-fielding-party-list-rep--paez-in-senate-race
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/730268/lp-defends-two-unknowns-in-senatorial-slate