Barangay chieftain ready to serve as city councilor

CEBU, Philippines — After serving as barangay captain of Bacayan, Winston Pepito is now transitioning to a city-wide role after winning a seat as the top councilor in the North District.

Pepito lost the first time he ran for city councilor in 2022. But not giving up, Pepito decided to run in 2023 as barangay captain of Bacayan, a mountain barangay in the city, and won.

His efforts at the barangay level did not go unnoticed, and in the 2025 midterm elections, he secured the number one councilor spot in the North District.

“I am deeply humbled by the trust and support of the Cebuano people. Your confidence in me is both an honor and a responsibility I take by heart,” Pepito shared via Facebook.

This time, Pepito said he felt more confident about winning, given that he almost made it during his first attempt while running as an independent.

“I almost won last time, so I was expecting a better result this time… Of course, it helps a lot if you have a party. I’m just grateful and happy that all our hard work paid off, even though I got tired and sick,” he said.

Pepito was initially seen with former mayor Michael Rama and his Partido Barug BagOng Sugbo Team Rama months before the filing of certificates of candidacy.

However, he ultimately aligned with sitting Mayor Raymond Garcia’s Partido Kusug following a family decision.

Although Pepito will soon vacate his barangay post, he assured his constituents that he will continue to support them.

“I will still be helping them… So it’s not like I’ll be gone completely,” he said.

He is confident that his barangay council team will continue what he started, noting that if the first councilman had not been part of the same team, he wouldn’t have pursued his City Council bid.

Looking ahead, Pepito hopes to contribute to Cebu City's development, particularly in making the city more business friendly.

He believes that attracting more businesses will lead to job creation, increased revenue, and improved security.

“More businesses mean more jobs, more money for the people, more income for the city, and fewer crimes,” he explained, emphasizing his vision for a safer and more progressive Cebu City. — (FREEMAN)