22-year-old elected city mayor in Pangasinan

MANILA, Philippines – A 22-year-old has been elected mayor of Alaminos City, Pangasinan, likely the youngest city boss in the Philippines today. 

Arth Bryan Celeste, who ran under the Nacionalista Party, won the mayoral race with 22,498 votes.

He is poised to replace his father, incumbent Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste, who ran for governor in the May 13 polls but lost to reelectionist Governor Amado Espino III. 

The elder Celeste has been Alaminos mayor since 2013 and also served as Pangasinan 1st district representative from 2001 until 2010.

His son Arth Bryan defeated former vice mayor Earl James Aquino, who ran under PDP-Laban. 

The young Celeste was proclaimed  winner by the city board of canvassers on May 14. His running mate, Jose Antonio Miguel Perez, also won.

In a statement, the mayor-elect vowed to continue implementing programs that his father began. “Gagawin ko po ang lahat ng aking makakaya para pagsilbihan ang ating minamahal na siyudad,” Celeste said. 

Celeste was elected barangay (village) chairperson in 2018. He eventually headed Pangasinan’s league of barangay chairpersons, and became an ex-officio member of the provincial board.

He graduated with an entrepreneurship degree at De La Salle University in Manila. – Rappler.com