by: Felino Santos

October 1, 2006

Journalist Joel Nikko Fabian is seriously thinking of running for Councilor in the second district of this city in the May 2007 elections.

Nikko, the younger brother of congressman Erico Basilio Fabian, is expected to announce his decision as soon as he feels his experience in Sabah, Malaysia and Brunei gives him a win-win platform in prospering the people of Zamboanga.

Declining to say when he will make the announcement, Nikko confirmed his intention to work as a team with his congressman brother and create a conducive atmosphere to improve the lives of the people, a press statement said.

According to his friends both in Zamboanga and Sabah, Nikko was in an enviable position as he understood the need for better understanding among people across the Sulu Sea and solved numerous outstanding problems facing immigrant workers.

Because of his involvement in ensuring the welfare of Filipino workers in Malaysia during trying times of their stay there, especially in Sabah, his friends said "who else can find ways to resume Malaysian trade and investment in Zamboanga?"

For years now, they said very few political leaders have been able to attract investors from Malaysia to the city because direct links between administrators, including politicians on the two sides of the border, were lacking.

“I was in Zamboanga again last week under the behest of the BIMP-EAGA to write in-depth stories of how people in the region could succeed in joint business ventures,” said Nikko, who has not forgotten his roots, although he has been working overseas.

On his political agenda, Nikko said he will keep on assessing the “correct path” needed to be taken to overcome poverty and improve the standard of living through “people's power cooperation economically.”

In this world of global cooperation, he said he foresees a bright future for the people of the city if peace and harmony goes hand in hand with economic growth.

Next month, the hopeful candidate would be accompanying a group of Malaysian investors to the city.

Nikko had been instrumental in re-convening the disrupted air link between Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan- Zamboanga.

If elected to the council’s seat, Nikko hopes to play a key role in bringing about a turning point in the lives of Zamboangueños.

His struggle would be for every Zamboangueño to have food on the table, proper education and a better standard of living through economic prosperity. (PR)

2007 Elections: Zamboanga's first celebration of their triumph to have 2 Congressional seats!

Mayor of Zamboanga City
Vice-Mayor of Zamboanga City
1st Congressional District	Z.C.	2nd Congressional District
Congressman #1		Congressman #2
8 Council members		8 Council members
The First Congressional District of Zamboanga City, under RA No. 9269 (with a 2000 Census population of 295,476) comprises 37 barangays, namely:   Ayala, Bagong Calarian, Baliwasan, Baluno, Cabatangan, Camino Nuevo, Campo Islam, Canelar, Capisan, Cawit, Dulian (Upper Pasonanca), La Paz, Labuan, Limpapa, Maasin, Malagutay, Mariki, Pamucutan, Pasonanca, Patalon, Recodo, Rio Hondo, San Jose Cawa-Cawa, San Jose Gusu, San Roque, Sta. Barbara, Sta. Maria, Sto. Niño. Sinubung, Sinunuc, Talisayan, Tulungatung, Tumaga, Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3 and Zone 4.		The Second Congressional District of Zamboanga City, under RA No. 9269 (with a 2000 Census population of 306,048) comprises 61 barangays, namely, Arena Blanco, Boalan, Bolong, Buenavista, Bunguiao, Busay, Cabaluay, Cacao, Calabasa, Culianan, Curuan, Dita, Divisoria, Dulian (Upper Bunguiao), Guisao, Guiwan, Kasanyangan, Lamisahan, Landang Gua, Landang Laum, Lanzones, Lapakan, Latuan, Licomo, Limaong, Lubigan, Lumayang, Lumbangan, Lunzuran, Mampang, Manalipa, Mangusu, Manicahan, Mercedes, Muti, Pangapuyan, Panubigan, Pasilmanta, Pasobolong, Putik, Quiniput, Salaan, Sangali, Sta. Catalina, Sibulao, Tagasilay, Taguiti, Talabaan, Talon-Talon, Taluksangay, Tetuan, Tictapul, Tigbalabag, Tictabon, Tolosa, Tugbungan, Tumalutap, Tumitus, Victoria, Vitali and Zambowood.
2007 Vote: The Congressional District boundary line as based on the Comelec district, will be Veterans Avenue.