Two Ilonggo govs prod Garcia to run for Senate

Iloilo City, Philippines  — Two Ilonggo governors from Western Visayas are prodding Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to run for senator in the 2013 elections.

Governors Arthur Defensor Sr. of Iloilo and Alfredo Marañon of Negros Occidental declared support for Garcia during the 4th Visayan Sea Summit held in Iloilo City last Saturday.

In his speech, Defensor introduced Garcia as the next senator while Marañon asked her to run for the position knowing that she is already on her last term as governor.

“Ginawiktan ko siya nga mag-ari ka sa akon kung magdagan ka sang Senador kay buligan ka namon, (I urged her to approach me if she runs for Senate because we will help her)” Marañon said as the audience applauded.

During the fellowship dinner, each of the four provinces involved in the Visayan Sea Summit were asked to render presentations.

Garcia sang her favorite “Matud Nila” joined by Cebuano convenor of the Visayan Sea Project lawyer Antonio Oposa and backed up by some Capitol staff and members of the media.

As she sang the line, “ingna ko nga dili mo kawangon. . . (tell me that you won’t deny)” Garcia inserted “ang boto mo (your votes)” which was applauded by the audience.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Garcia said she is flattered by the endorsement of her colleagues whom she said are very respected public officials who have been in politics for quite a long period.

“I am truly flattered and honored by their endorsement,” Garcia said.

However, she said all these prodding for her to run need to be weighed.

“Nalipay lang ko og daku ug makatandog sa kasingkasing nga ang imong fellow governors nihatag niana nga pagtagad ug pag-endosar, (I am just so happy and it touches my heart that my fellow governors endorsed me)” she further said.

Earlier, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and some mayors also expressed support to Garcia.

The common goal is to have representation from the Visayas to the Senate.

Garcia spent two days in Iloilo to attend the 4th Governors’ Meeting on the Visayan Sea Protection and Coastal Law Enforcement.

The meeting was initiated by Marañon in 2010 bonding together the governors of Cebu, Masbate and Iloilo in implementing projects and programs to protect, conserve and rehabilitate the coastal and marine resources of the Visayas Marine Triangle.

Yesterday, Garcia was also the guest speaker during the general assembly of Cebu CFI Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Iloilo City.  (FREEMAN)