TARLAC CITY, Tarlac (June 27, 2025) — Governor Susan Yap performed her last official duty to the province this morning — hosting the oath-taking ceremony of incoming local officials in the province belonging to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
“We now take new roles, but we (will) face the challenge. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. Thank you for allowing me to serve you as governor. I leave the post proud of what we have accomplished and hopeful for what is to come,” the now incoming mayor of the capital city said as she delivered her last address as governor of Tarlac Province.
Yap will take the helm of Tarlac City as its second lady local chief executive by midday on Monday, June 30. Her son, Christian, is the incoming governor of the province.
She also thanked her younger brother, Victor, for his trust.
“Your continued trust and perseverance have inspired me, so let us continue what we started, let us carry the same banner: ang ating Serbisyong MaYAP kung saan tao ang una. Let us all continue to uplift the lives ng bawat Tarlaqueño,” Yap said.
The gathering of NPC officials here saw nine other re-electionist mayors and mayors-elect take their oath of office: Mayantoc’s Illuminado Pobre Jr, Anao’s Jappy de Dios, Ramos’ Celso Banag, Pura’s John Paul Balmores, Gerona’s May Eclar, San Manuel’s Donya Tesoro, Moncada’s Ramon Benito Aquino, Santa Ignacia’s Nathaniel Tan, and San Jose’s Romeo Capitulo.
The incoming governor, Christian, meanwhile, paid homage to the pillars of the province and the NPC, thanking his late grandfather, Jose “Aping” Yap, and the party founder, the late Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa ating mga ninuno na hanggang ngayon ay tumutulong pa rin sila sa ating buhay pulitikal, ang aking lolo, tatang Aping Yap, until today nararamdaman ko pa rin ang kanyang legasiya, ang kanyang touch sa ating mga kababayan.
“Of course the founder of our party, Ambassador Danding Cojuangco, he still guiding us up to this day — ang kanyang mga bilin na tulungan ang mga kababayan,” the younger Yap said.
The new provincial executive also praised the NPC for changing the lives of people.
“Isapuso natin na dapat tayong maging developmental, tulungan nang tama at maayos ang ating mga kababayang Tarlaqueño. A party that does not change the lives of its people is a party that should cease to exist,” Christian said.
Also sworn in were incoming Vice-Governor Lita Aquino and re-electionists Tarlac 1st Congressional District Representative Jaime Cojuangco and 3rd District’s Noel “Bong” Rivera, along with Board Members Pearl Angeli Pacada, Tito Roxas, and Joy Gilbert Lamorena of Tarlac’s First Provincial District; Second District’s Harmes Sembrano and Topey delos Reyes, and Third District’s Tootsie Cruz, Carlito David, and Antonio Villanueva.
Congressman-elect Rolando Macasaet of the GSIS-SSS Pensyonado Party-list also graced the occasion to show his support to the Yaps.
