Garcia's landslide win over Durano

Last elections' landslide victory of the dragon lady from Dumanjug and Barili practically "pulverized" the Duranos' dream to capture the Capitol by an earth-shaking landslide of 1.1 million lead, with Governor Gwen garnering, 1,478,436 compared to Ace Durano's meager 341,455. This is the biggest win ever garnered among all governors since the time Julio Aballe Llorente of Argao was elected as Cebu's governor in 1899.

Governor Gwen's victory was bigger than that of Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. in 1906, and more impressive than that of Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco in 1931, as well as more convincing than the win of Serging Osmeña in 1951. Governor Gwen's electoral performance exceeded those of Rene Espina in 1964, Dr. Osmundo Rama in 1969 and 1986, and that of Eddie Gullas in 1976 or even that of Lito Osmeña in 1988. This victory even exceeded that of her late father, Noy Pabling in 1995 to 2004. She even exceeded her own records in 2004 to 2013 and also in 2019. Governor Gwen now holds the most impressive electoral records in all of Cebu's history.

Governor Gwen won in all the seven congressional districts including Ace Durano's 5th District where Gwen got 150,212 compared to Durano's only 108,533 or a lead of 41,679. Gwen won in all nine towns of Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Pilar, San Francisco, Sogod, Tudela, and Poro. Ace only managed to win Danao City with 49,578 but Gwen had a respectable chunk of Danao votes numbering 28,299. Of course, Gwen won in all cities and towns in the 1st District, carrying Talisay, Naga, Carcar and the towns of Minglanilla, San Fernando, and Sibonga. In the 1st District, Gwen garnered a staggering 348,319 while Ace had only 55,571 or a lead of 292,748. The alliance between the Garcias and the Gullases remains formidable.

In the 2nd District, Gov Gwen won in all the seven towns of ADABOSS or Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, and Samboan with a total of 120,648 compared to Durano's only 14,310. In Samboan where his uncle Tito Calderon is the mayor, Ace only got 570 compared to Gwen's 10,451. In the 3rd District, composed of Toledo City, Barili, Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Balamban, Asturias, and Tuburan, Gwen got a total of 254,258 while all that Ace could scrimp was a measly 73,134. Gwen had a lead of 181,124 in the 3rd District alone. In the 4th District, comprising the city of Bogo and Tabuelan, San Remigio, Madridejos, Medellin, Sta. Fe, Bantayan, and Daanbantayan, Gwen got a total of 206,708 while Ace got only got 29,759 or a lead of 176,949.

In the 6th District, with Consolacion, Cordova still with Mandaue, Gov Gwen got 226,085 while all that Ace could manage to garner was 61,545. In Mandaue alone, Gwen got 139,932 while Ace had only 39,380. In my home district, the seventh or DRAMMBAG, or Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Malabuyoc, Badian, Alegria, and Ginatilan, Gwen got a total of 114,806 while it was only a mere 14,565 for Ace, or a lead of 100,241. In all component cities and towns of Cebu, in all seven districts, Ace lost heavily except only in Danao. This is a very telling set of results, making Gwen the most powerful political taipan in Cebu. The new president should give her importance and more attention and concessions.

With due respect, with no offense meant, the last elections marked the political demise of the Duranos. They were abandoned by their cousins, the Calderons of the second and the seventh districts. They have no allies in the first to the seventh districts. The only place left for them is Danao. They lost the seat in Congress, they lost the gubernatorial post. They are now consigned to political limbo, if not altogether oblivion. They need to regroup, rethink, rebrand, and recharge their political batteries. They have lost tremendously while the Garcias continue to shine with no visible opposition to match their strength.