Baricuatro visits best friend's grave after winning governorship

CEBU, Philippines — A day after her proclamation, Cebu Governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro visited the grave of her best friend, the late Dr. Rowena Burden, at Cebu Memorial Park. Burden was a well-known critic of outgoing Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

During her visit, Baricuatro was overheard expressing her gratitude to Burden, saying, “Sila, ako ilang governor, pero ikaw akong governor.”

In September 2023, Burden announced her intention to challenge Garcia in the 2025 gubernatorial elections. However, three months later, on December 15, 2024, she passed away unexpectedly.

At the time of her death, Burden was facing 10 counts of cyberlibel filed against her by Garcia.

“I am sure Rowena is smiling in heaven right now. She must be very happy that I won as governor,” said a teary-eyed Baricuatro in an interview while awaiting her official proclamation on May 13, 2025.

Baricuatro reflected that had Burden lived, she might have been the one to win Cebu’s top post, adding that the pain of her best friend’s passing still lingers.

In a previous interview, Baricuatro shared that Burden’s untimely death was what compelled her to run in the 2025 midterm elections.

Baricuatro now becomes the second woman to be elected as governor of Cebu, securing a decisive victory over Garcia with a commanding 1.1 million votes. —/FPL (FREEMAN)