Are there senatoriables from Cebu for 2019?
Next years' elections will most probably be dominated by candidates from Luzon and other provinces. Cebu will hardly be represented in the 18th Congress. Will Deputy Speaker Gwen Garcia try? I nominate Eddie Gullas, former chief justice Jun Davide, and Serge Osmeña III. We need wisdom in the Senate.
At least 20 Cebuanos (or those with Cebuano roots) have been senators. As of today, only Senate President Vicente Sotto III has Cebuano roots, being a grandson of Don Vicente Sotto elected in 1946, while his elder brother, Don Filemon Sotto was elected senator of the Philippine Commonwealth. Don Filemon and Don Celestino Rodriguez served from 1916 to 1922. Then Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. and Rodriguez served from 1922 to 1925. Don Sergio and Don Pedro Rodriguez were elected from 1925 to 1928, and again from 1929 to 1931.
Don Sergio was elected with Manuel Briones from 1931 to 1941. After the war Don Vicente Rama (grandfather of Michael Rama) and Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco (great grand uncle of Councilor Cuenco) were elected to Congress. Manuel Briones and Don Vicente Sotto served from 1950 to 1953. From 1954 to 1957 no Cebuano was elected except Emmanuel Pelaez from Misamis Oriental, who had Cebuano roots. Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco served from 1958 to 1961, 1962 to 1965. Serging Osmeña (father of Tomas and Serge,) served from 1966 to 1969.
Rene Espina, Landring Almendras, and Sergio Osmeña Jr. served from 1970 to 1973. There were no senators from 1973 to 1986. Ernesto Herrera and John Henry Sonny Osmeña served from 1987 to 1991, and 1992 to 1995.
In tenth Congress from 1995 to 1998, Sonny and Marcelo Fernan (elected Senate President) were joined by Vicente Sotto III. From 1998 to 2001, Sotto and Fernan were joined by Serge Osmeña III (grandson of Don Sergio).
Sonny, Serge III, and Tito from 2001 to 2004. From 2004 to 2007, only Serge was in the 13th Senate. From 2007 to 2010 no Cebuano was elected senator. In 15th Congress from 2010 to 2013 Serge Osmeña III and Tito (both grandsons of former senators), were elected. From 2013 to 2016 both Tito and Serge were still there. But in the current 17th congress from 2016 to 2019, only Tito has Cebuano roots.
If we count the late Cesar Climaco of Zamboanga, whose roots are from Cebu, we have 20 senators. Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco was elected six times, Don Sergio five, Manuel Briones four, and Serge Osmeña III, and Sonny three times each.
Cebu is too important to the country. It needs a voice in the Senate. There are many brilliant Cebuanos who have the potential, but as things look today it might be for quite a long, long time. Sayang.
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