Governor Gwen's 7th SOPA

As the song One Cebu was played, Sam Costanilla announced: “Ladies and gentlemen, the first woman governor of Cebu…Governor Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia.” She walked past the audience to the stage to deliver her seventh State of the Province Address (SOPA). She was wearing a beautifully made Piña Suksok Barong Tagalog over tangerine pants fashioned by designer Philip Rodriguez. And of course, with glitters on her ears.

We were awed by the very impressive report of the governor had to the province, enumerating everything she did for her constituents…the infrastructures, the electricity to the far-flung areas, the water system installed, education and health programs set up, putting up of hospitals, and everything else that people from all over the province need.

What was so moving again, this time, was the revelation of a stormy afternoon, when she braved to cross to the remote island of Lipayran in Bantayan Island, where so many people were waiting for her arrival. The congressman who was with her and even the boatmen were so afraid to cross the stormy sea, but with her strong will and determination to go to the island because people were still waiting for her, her “decision” was carried. The audience gave her a deafening applause. Not to mention that her speech was always interrupted by applause, as we counted, that reached 45 times.

As has been in the past, Governor Gwen’s audience would always have the vice-governor (now Agnes Magpale), the provincial board members, the town and city mayors and vice-mayors of the province, businessmen, officers of big corporations, and media. This time, the governor made special mention of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama who spearheads the restoration and beautification of Cebu City which is being implemented by a group called Beautiful Cebu Movement Foundation, Inc. chaired by Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung. In fact, the province, headed by Gov. Gwen has started already work from the Capitol going to Fuente Osmeña sidewalk.

We congratulate Governor Gwen Garcia for the hard work, her dedication and love for the Cebuanos and the Province of Cebu. Cheers and more power! (FREEMAN)