Analysis: Young voters cause giants’ fall

CEBU, Philippines - Predominant young voters seeking new changes in government have contributed to the defeat of political giants in Cebu during the May 13 midterm elections, according to a political science and sociology professor of the University of the Philippines.

Phoebe Zoe Sanchez, in her doctoral dissertation which analyzes the defeat of local candidates belonging to a long line of politicians in Cebu, said that the young voters have changed the voting turnout.

Sanchez is currently on her final oral defense requirement at the UP Diliman on the Viability of Reform Politics in the Cebuano Political Field.

Her analysis on the May 13 elections show that relatively young voters wanted “something new and groovy” for Cebu and did not reach the glorious days of Osmena politics in Cebu City.

“A substantial number of the local voters are no longer in the ages 50 and above who could speak of the durability of an Osmena to be a mayor of Cebu City. The bulk of the population had changed into the 20s, 30s, and the 40s or those who could have been babies yet at the time of heydays of Tom O’s father and grandfather,” Sanchez said.

Fresh minds tend not to favor traditional “stiff old leaders” (Osmeña) while embracing “attractive” reelected Mayor Mike Rama who “comes naturally frisk.”

She described Rama as a natural, approachable person willing to answer your queries and even go to lengths of offering help.

Anti-Rama smearing campaign also contributed to the very first political defeat of the former mayor and outgoing congressman.

“He was even almost here all throughout the period of his congressional work just to criticize the Rama administration over and over to gird himself back to the executive office of the city,” her analysis continued.

Despite a majority of winning councilors coming from Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), Sanchez noted that reelected Councilors Nida Cabrera and Alvin Dizon have gotten lower number of votes compared with their first term in office.

At the provincial scene, combined efforts of veteran father Pablo and sister suspended governor and now congresswoman-elect Gwen did not help in ensuring Pablo John “PJ” Garcia’s gubernatorial aspirations.

“PJ mustered the strength of voters only from District 2 (of some 250,000) and that of District 3 only (of also some 250,000). The votes from District 5 from running mate for Vice-Governor, Buboy Durano (that is another 250,000) was practically cut LP’s Vice Gubernatorial bet Agnes Almendras-Magpale and the Gubernatorial candidate now Governor-elect Hilario “Junjun” Davide, III. The rest of the four other districts and the lone district of Lapu-Lapu City was likewise poured out for Junjun Davide’s votes,” her discussion went to illustrate adding that the Garcias “had their time before.”

Another veteran politician, outgoing Congressman Eddie Gullas, was also defeated for the first time in 38 years by Talisay City mayor-elect Johnny delos Reyes who is “not a big landlord figure” but “educated on how to manage organizations.”

“Some Talisaynon (Talisay City folk) expressed, that that is good post for him (Gullas) now that he lost position in politics so that he can mentor his grandson, (congressman- elect Samsam Gullas) who once said in an interview that ‘it doesn’t matter if I am a neophyte because I have my lolo who can teach me how to become a good representative for the first district.’,” Sanchez’s analysis said.

She then concluded that there is a “slight shifting of power.”

“Slight, because Cebuanos still have to see a wider space of democratic participation from the modest classes to the more lower, lower classes.-——(FREEMAN)