EDITORIAL - Serious bets have to take Cebu seriously

Last Sunday, Senator Manuel Villar visited Cebu with his wife, Rep. Cynthia Villar. The reason offered was that the couple preferred to celebrate their wedding anniversary here by doing something meaningful, like planting trees.

What was not said was that the presidential contender is giving Cebu great importance. The visit was not his first in the last few months. Neither will it be his last. With more than three million voters province-wide, it is no wonder Villar is giving Cebu much attention.

Cebu is the biggest province in the country, vote-wise. In the highly controversial 2004 elections, Cebu gave President Arroyo a one-million-vote margin, the same margin that gave her the win.

And while that win was contested in the “Hello Garci” controversy, the Cebu margin was legitimate and cannot be contested. Arroyo had all the local officials. And the opposition had neither the money nor the machinery. If there was cheating, it was not here. There was no need.

Given the clout of Cebu in national elections, it is no wonder that serious contenders for the presidency such as Villar and Mar Roxas, before he gave way to Noynoy Aquino, had been frequent visitors.

Even Joseph Estrada has touched base with Cebuanos. It remains doubtful, however, if he can gain a respectable foothold. During his presidency, Estrada virtually neglected Cebu, the reason being his utter rejection in the polls here. And the rejection was easy to understand.

While Cebuanos may run to see a movie star in a motorcade, it is grossly naive to count the crowds as automatic votes because Cebuanos have never been known to vote in accordance with the level of their curiosity. Cebuanos vote intelligently.

And that is why serious contenders like Villar do not try to titillate Cebuanos in accordance with their entertainment values. They come here to do serious business. If they can come across as candidates to reckon with, they can expect to fare well in this great province.