“I chose to go into politics because there were opportunities open to me,” former Bukidnon congressman Nereus “Neric” Acosta says. But instead of using politics to enrich himself, this educator and environmentalist used it to further his causes.

	J.R. NEREUS Acosta is completing his third and final term in Congress and is aiming to become provincial governor. [Photo by Vinia D. Mukherjee]

SHE BEGAN her political career by accident, but when Socorro 'Coring' Olaivar Acosta ran for Congress in 1987, she was part of a strategy to topple the Fortich political dynasty in Bukidnon, a province in the heart of Mindanao. Then her son J. R. Nereus or Neric took her place in the legislature while she eventually went back to her old mayoralty post in Manolo Fortich town. Now Coring Acosta is considered by many as part of yet another new political dynasty. The other part being Neric, of course. Mother and son say, however, that they can hardly be compared with traditional politicians, even if they have formed a political bloc of sorts in Bukidnon and are not about to give up their respective political careers anytime soon.