Tomas says he’s the “better” psychic

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña said the local fortune teller who predicted that he will be defeated by reelectionist Mayor Michael Rama in the  May 13 elections is not credible.

Osmeña, who was mayor of Cebu City for 15 years and founded the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK), does not believe on the predictions made by Madam Luz, saying, “If she was rich, she must be a good psychic, but if she is poor, she may just be a paid hag.”

According to Osmeña he is much better psychic than Madam Luz because he predicted the South Road Properties (SRP) 20 years ago.

Madam Luz, whose real name is Luzviminda Noel, had said that even if Rama will be cheated by his opponent he will still succeed with his bid for a second three-year term.

“Siguradong mananalo si Rama kahit may daya o dadayain siya, one-hundred percent sure ako dyan,” said Madam Luz after reading cards for Rama’s political career.

The fortune teller added that while Rama will enjoy his victory, Osmeña will “suffer,” explaining that “kung hindi siya magpapagamot sa ibang bansa, posibleng may masamang mangyari sa kanya. Dahil sa politika, matatapos siya.” (If Osmeña will not have himself treated in another country something will happen to him. Politics will bring his end.)

Madame Luz’s prediction that something bad will happen to Osmeña once Rama will be reelected was made after she picked a card with a picture of a fallen man stabbed by swords. She added that Osmena’s own allies would betray him and this would result in major health concerns.

She frequently stays in a space near the Basilica del Santo Niño and claimed that she can read the fortunes of people just by looking at their palms and by using tarot cards.

Osmeña in 2008 underwent an operation at the M.D. Andersons Cancer Center in Houston, Texas to remove his urinary bladder which had cancer. When he was subjected to a series of checkups, one of which was made only last November, the doctors said Osmeña is already cancer-free.

BOPK supporters laughed when they read the predictions of Madam Luz published in The FREEMAN yesterday that only one of the BOPK candidates for councilor will win.

Madam Luz said Rama’s cousin and talent manager Annabelle Rama will also win against former congressman Raul V. Del Mar, while lawyer Aristotle Batuhan will be defeated by Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa in the congressional race for the north and south district, respectively.

Batuhan answered: “If we let fortune tellers decide our individual fates and that of this country, we might just as well all sit and wait for our fortunes to fall on.”

Abellanosa, for his part, said, “When it comes to predicting election results, objective scientific surveys are more reliable than fortune tellers. In all the surveys made so far, my opponent could hardly get 20 percent. That is why he desperately resorted to modern-day black propaganda efforts against me and his soloist giant tarpaulins.”

The Catholic Church, through Monsignor Achilles Dakay, the spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Cebu, said the public should not take fortune telling seriously, saying “Makalingaw lang na, but they should not believe in it.” (That is just for fun.) —/JPM (FREEMAN)