Now that it is getting clearer that the political battle for the Capitol will be between the former GSIS chief Winston Fiel Garcia from Dumanjug and Barili and the incumbent Hilario Perez Davide III, from Argao, I have taken the initiative to make a random survey among a cross section of the electorate in the fifteen towns of the current congressional district, considering that the two are both from the south. I have asked a teacher from Langin, Ronda, a farmer from Tulang, Argao, a fisherman from Bitoon, Dumanjug, and a student from Santander. There was a doctor from Badian, a nurse from Alcantara and a retired soldier from Alegria. The results of my survey are amazing.
The peoples' minds are convinced that Winston is the better manager but the peoples' hearts are committed to the spontaneous feeling that Junjun is the better leader. Garcia's records in the GSIS indicated a pattern of bold decisions that could be considered as results of good planning, good organizing, and good control systems. But Davide, in his almost three years in the Capitol and years in the Cebu City Council have impressed people with his natural humility, his deep concern for the feelings of the small guys, his ability to inspire the common Cebuanos, his natural tendency to evoke positive feelings because of his soft-spoken sincerity.
Winston can be very aggressive, even brutally frank, while Junjun is very careful with the feelings of people, especially the simple folks. There is too much a Pabling Garcia in Winston, and too much of a Jun Davide in Junjun. They are indeed the sons of their respective fathers. Noy Pabling used to be the boss of Jun Davide, when the elder Garcia was the Dean in the College of Law in SWU in the sixties, while the young Hilario Davide Jr then was a Law professor. Before Jun Davide rose to national prominence via the Constitutional Convention of 1973, Pabling Garcia was already a long-time board member of the province of Cebu. And the rest is history.
Winston can be very good in dealing with national leaders and in putting pressures on the national government to pour in more money and more projects to Cebu. But Junjun's politics is not like that of the trapos of patronage and partisan allocation of public works. Junjun is an idealist while Winston is a pragmatist. Junjun will never compromise his deep-seated principles and will never enter into deals that his very honest dad will frown upon. Winston is a man of the modern world, practical and forward-looking, always wanting to prove that many things can be done to show concrete results to the people. Junjun is content with strict adherence to his core values. Winston is fast. Junjun is very contemplative.
When I asked some barbers in Dalaguete and some resorts owners in Moalboal as well as vacationing OFWs in Boljoon, a balikbayan in Malabuyoc and a tuba gatherer from Alcoy, a market vendor in Talaga, Argao, they told me that Winston could be a better material in the Cabinet and let Junjun stay in the Capitol. The style of Winston can be better used as Ambassador to China so that he could stand up to the bullying of the Chinese. But Junjun should remain governor because he is approachable, he has empathy and he has the common touch. Let Winston deal with diplomats and global traders and allow Junjun to continue to inspire the common people, the farmers, the fisher folks, the laborers who are always welcomed in his office.
At the end of the day, people in the south say almost unanimously that their minds tell them that Winston is the better manager. But deep in their hearts, they love Junjun more because he is the better leader. Winston is good in making things happen but Junjun is best in generating the best from people. Winston can move projects to completion by the force of his authority. Junjun makes people feel better about themselves, and about life in general by the power of his gentle persuasions. And, from the looks of it, it seems that the people are right. What does the north say? I will soon go north too to inquire.