Why Mike Rama and Gwen Garcia are winning despite BBM

Mike is more dynamic, more people-oriented, and with due respect to Ma’am Margot, he is more competent, more experienced, and more prepared. Gwen Garcia is more decisive, more action-oriented, more grounded with the grassroots, and is bolder, braver and more aggressive than her opponent, what's his name? Ace who?

Mike Rama is competent. He knows the law, he masters public administration. He knows the ins and outs of City Hall. He is aware who among the employees are hard working and who are hardly working. Mrs. Osmeña always constantly needs the guidance of former mayor Tom in trying to unravel the mysteries in the city government. Mrs. Osmeña, not being a Cebuana by birth, does not really fully comprehend the culture, the soul of a Cebuano. Mike Rama knows the Cebuano character even while he is sleeping. Mike can recognize the voice and the smell and the favorite song of any barangay captain, barangay kagawad, or barangay tanod. Mike knows what is happening on the ground.

Gwen Garcia knows every mayor, vice mayor, councilor of all the towns and component cities. She is the master of Cebu geography and Cebu culture, Ace is a stranger in his own province. He is a boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth, like his idol Bongbong who has never had any work outside the government. Ace has not even visited all the barangays in the 5th District. Gwen has gone to all the nooks and crannies of the whole province, even to the tiniest and remotest islands. Small folks like farmers and fishermen can go and talk to Gwen anytime and anywhere. You have to look good and to smell good before the cordon sanitaire of Ace Durano will allow you to approach their boss. Ace is only good for Cabinet posts, but not as a leader of a province, the premier province of Cebu.

The Osmeñas have had their days, from the years where Don Sergio was always the pride of Cebu in local and national politics. Serging Osmeña had been dubbed as the savior of Cebu democracy from the terrorism of the "bungotons" and the armed private armies of opposing camps. The Osmeñas served us well, with Sonny in his days of wine and roses, with Lito in his Ceboom years, and with other Osmeñas. It is time that they give way to the Ramas whose patriarch was the father of the Cebu City charter, Don Vicente Rama. Anyway, Tom was also the mentor of Mike. And Mike is a lawyer, an excellent HR and labor law expert. He is an arbitrator, a conciliator, and a mediator.

The Ramas are very professional, honest, brilliant, and well-connected with the people. As between Mike who is the grandson of Don Vicente and Margot who is the grand daughter-in-law of Don Sergio, Mike commands a big edge. The Garcias have better records in public service than the Duranos. That could be the most plausible reason why the Garcias had been elected and reelected to the Capitol. The Duranos never had that chance. The last time the Duranos attempted was with Ace's grandma, Manang Ate or Beatriz who was overwhelmingly defeated by Mike's uncle, Dr. Osmundo G. Rama, a very well-loved doctor and public servant. Ramon Durano Sr. never became governor. The late Noy Pabling was a three-term governor with excellent records and sterling accomplishments.

And so, there is nothing that can beat Mike and Gwen. Mrs. Margot's support for Leni gave her more votes. Mike's support for Marcos diminished his winning edge. But it will still be Mike by a ratio of 65 to 35. Gwen's and Ace's support for Marcos were both their monumental mistakes. But Ace lost more support by that political blunder. Junjun Davide will win 88 to 12. Gwen will win 68 to 32 and Ace's bid will be buried deep in the first, second, and the seventh districts, and knee deep in the third, fourth, and sixth districts. He will win only in the fifth but Gwen won't be far behind.