Who wants to "shoot" me in Fuente Osmeña?    

There are some people who are reminding me of those figures of speech that I made in the heat of the campaign, that if BBM wins in Cebu, I am willing to be shot in Fuente Osmeña. Well, I will be there on June 30 during the day of inauguration of the new president, in case some wishes to take my hyperbole literally.

I remember the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago making the same figure of speech when she nonchalantly said that she would jump from a flying airplane if and when Erap would be indicted and impeached. I also remember President Rodrigo Duterte made a promise to ride a jet ski and carry the Philippine flag then he would erect the flag pole right on top of Scarborough shoal. Of course, he was kidding and was just pulling our legs. We should be foolish to take such figures of speech literally. I am neither senator, much less president but I did make such a statement in jest. And people now want their pound of flesh. They can have it on June 30.

I have made bold and rather reckless predictions but I was proven true in most of the cases. For instance, I predicted the landslide victory of Governor Gwen Garcia and dared to write that among the seven congressional districts in Cebu province, Ace Durano would only win in the fifth. I was proven right, except that in the fifth, the two Durano brothers (Red for congressman, who was heavily beaten by Duke Frasco, and Ace for governor who was badly defeated by more than a million votes in the whole province of Cebu) were not doing well either, even in their age-old Durano bailiwick. If I hurt people with my write-ups, I do apologize for such audacity.

I also predicted the victory of my former Law student, Mayor Mike Rama, by about 20,000 votes over the gracious lady of former mayor Tom, Madam Margot Osmeña. She gave Rama a good fight and she performed well in many barangays and voting centers. But at the end of the day, as in all elections, there are winners and there are losers. And, as good-natured Cebuanos, we all grin and bear it all, be it victory or defeat. In the old tradition of Don Sergio Osmeña Sr., the winners should accept victory with grace and the losers should face defeat with dignity. There is life beyond elections and we just have to move on for the next episodes of life and living.

What I did not foretell and where I was proven wrong is the unexpected defeat of incumbent congressman Willy Caminero of the 2nd District, who failed by a little above a thousand votes in his bid to reclaim his old post as mayor of the great town of Argao. He was beaten by incumbent mayor Allan Sesaldo who, by the way, was the one who won in 2019 over Dr. Stanley Caminero, the brother of Rep. Willy. This is Congressman Willy's first political defeat in his career, and it must not be so easy for him to take. Dr Stanley won as a member of the Provincial Board representing the 2nd District of the province.

Of course, I predicted the victory of Samsam Gullas over Alan Bucao in Talisay City and of Junard Chan over Paz Radaza in Lapu-Lapu City. The surest prediction I made was the convincing victory of Vice Governor Junjun Davide, but not in the intensity that I foretold. His opponent gave him a good fight, and the lady teammate of Governor Gwen lost her bid in great honor and dignity. I reiterate my apology to those who were irritated by my words. But I hereby state humbly that you cannot shoot me in the name of my audacious hyperbole. I promise to be more restrained in my figures of speech.