Gwen cites TF publisher Jabat's tale of an anti-Sugbuak Cebuano

Governor Gwen Garcia was touched and moved by The Freeman publisher Juanito Jabat's anecdote in his column yesterday that told how his friend took a flight from Manila to Cebu the other day for one purpose: To affix his signature in the list of Cebuanos against the "Sugbuak" bills.

Garcia hoped that the anecdote would send a strong message to some Provincial Board members who have opposed PB member Victor Maambong's proposed resolution backing the signature drive against the "Sugbuak" move.

Jabat in his anecdote entitled "My friend Daido and the Sugbuak bills" quoted his friend, Leonardo "Daido" Angel, as saying, "Nianhi gyud ko aron lang mopirma sa dokumento kontra sa Sugbuak."

Jabat then quoted an employee at the governor's office asking Daido: "Tinuod Sir, wa ka magkomedya?"

"Ila nang buakon ang Sugbo, komedya pa ta," was Daido's reply, which Jabat described as showing how concerned Daido has been about this move to break Cebu apart.

Jabat said Daido is a nephew of Fructuoso Ramos, the late mayor of Cebu, after whom F. Ramos Street in the city has been named.

Daido's love for Cebu knows no bound because even in Manila, where he lives "by force of circumstance", he speaks to everyone in Cebuano, said Jabat in his column.

Citing Jabat's anecdote on Daido, the governor called on every Cebuano living in the country and outside to have their voice heard in whatever way they could.

Garcia yesterday ordered the activation of a Sugbuak campaign online from which anybody could enter the Cebu provincial website-into the link where people could write their names, addresses, ages, and contact numbers-to be counted among the signatories against "Sugbuak."

The provincial website is www.cebu.gov.ph or they can log on to www.notosugbuak.cebu.gov.ph., said the governor.

Garcia earlier dared the PB members to take a stand on the "Sugbuak" bills that seek to create three more provinces out of the existing Cebu province.

She said the Cebuanos have long made up their minds on "Sugbuak" because most of them do not want the province subdivided into more provinces.

The PB members, if confused, should now try listening to the voice of the Cebuanos, she added. - Gregg M. Rubio/RAE