After a whopping 1 million vote margin: Gwen vows to double efforts

CEBU, Philippines —  Reelected Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia promised to intensify her efforts over the next three years after garnered more than 1.4 million votes in the May 9, 2022 local and national elections.

“Daghan kaayong salamat mga pinalangga nakong Sugbuanon. Dili kinahanglan nga daghanon pa nakog sulti kon giunsa ko kamo pagpangga apan nakita na ninyo sa milabay nga hapit tulo ka tuig,” said the governor in his speech after her proclamation Tuesday night.

Garcia, who garnered 1,478,436 votes (80.80%), described the feat of winning by a margin of about a million as a “rare” one.

“Sa mga umaabot nga katuigan doblehon ko pa kon unsay akong napakita kaninyo tungod kay talagsaon kining inyong gasa nga gihatag kanako,” she said.

Garcia credited her recent winning to how she defended the Cebuanos during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as her responses on the Typhoon Odette that devastated Cebu.

“In the midst of times when I felt that I had no more to give because I no longer knew what I needed to do, foremost in my mind was the trust and confidence that the Cebuanos had given me in the past 2019 elections, and I told myself I cannot afford to just give up, that I needed first and foremost to rise from my own discomfort and put paramount importance to the interest of the Cebuanos. And I guess that was what had always guided me,” the governor added.

Davide thankful

After garnering over 700,000 votes, incumbent Vice Governor Hilario Davide III will get another fresh term in office.

Davide was proclaimed as vice governor-elect of Cebu Province by the Provincial Board of Canvassers yesterday afternoon. His family also witnessed the event, including his wife Jobel, his father, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., his mother Virginia and other family members and workers.

“Pasalamat ta sa tanang nisuporta kanamo ni Ace Durano and pasalamat pud ta kahitas-an nga nahatagan for second opportunity to serve. Congratulations to Governor Gwen Garcia on her reelection,” Davide said.

Davide garnered 788,081 votes or 50.60% percentage of votes, a close margin from his opponent Doc Tess Heyrosa who garnered 716,480 votes (46%), and John Enad who got 52, 784 (3.38%).

Davide described the vice gubernatorial race as “good enough.”

“Ing-ana man gyud na ang contest. She (Heyrosa) must have put on a very good campaign kay fight fight man mi, pareha ni Winston Garcia before. Nadala sad gyud siya sa paningkamot ni Governor Gwen kay uban man sila,” Davide said.

Heyrosa, for her part, congratulated Davide on his victory wishing the incumbent vice governor a good health and productive second term.

Heyrosa also thanked the over 700, 000 Cebuanos who voted for her.

Other winners

Meanwhile, for the race to the Congress, all the winners in the seven districts of Cebu were already proclaimed.  They are Rhea Gullas (1st district) ; Edsel Galeos (2nd district); Pablo John Garcia (3rd district); Janice Salimbangon (4th district); Duke Frasco (5th district); Daphne Lagon (6th district); and Peter John Calderon (7th district).

For Provincial Board members, the winners are Yolanda Daan and Raul Bacaltos (1st district); Joseph Raymund Calderon and Stanley Caminero (2nd district); Victoria “Tata” Corominas -Toribio and Jimbo Borgonia (3rd district); Kerrie Shimura and Horacio Franco (4th district); Red Duterte and Mike Villamor (5th district); Glenn Anthony Soco and Jude Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano (6th district); and Cesar “Sarsi” Baricuatro and Jerome Librando (7th district).  — Le Phyllis F. Antojado, JMD (FREEMAN)