The Gwen Garcia's huge defeat: The whys and wherefores

In the same manner that Governor Gwen Garcia made Ace Durano "eat the dust" in 2022, this time, Pam Baricuatro who never held any elective post before and who did not have a single mayor and a single congressman supporting her, gave Gwen a dose of her own medicine. The defeat was so overwhelming, so unexpected by all that it astounded even Pam Baricuatro herself.

Pam led Gwen by no less than 300,000 votes, overall, and to think that she had no money, no logistics, no experience in the rough and tumble of dirty politics. Gwen was defeated in all the component cities like Carcar where both the contending mayoralty candidates were for Gwen, Baricuatro garnered a whopping 54,253 compared to Garcia's only 13,523. That was devastating and that trend happened in all the cities and towns of the first district. Samsam Gullas and Rhea Gullas have a lot to explain to Gwen. But it is the people who have spoken.

In Naga, with the mayor and all the elected officials aligned with Garcia and Gullas, Baricuatro got a mind-boggling 47,438 while Garcia got only 19,347 or not even one-half. What happened? In Talisay, the bailiwick of the Gullases, Baricuatro walloped Garcia by a staggering 85,730 while Garcia could manage only with a little more than one third, or a measly 31,757. Et tu, Samsam and Rhea? In Minglanilla, the original home of Samsam's grandma, Garcia got only 8,822 which is a miniscule, not even one-fourth of Pam's devastating 36,545.

Garcia even lost to Pam in San Fernando with only 9,509 vis-a-vis Pam's commanding 31,040. In Sibonga, Garcia got 11,521 while Pam got a respectable 16,009. This trend was driven by the overconfidence of the incumbent. Besides, Pam was so adept in using social media in projecting herself as the better, fresher and more appealing choice as compared to the overbearing, high sounding and at many times, abrasive, confrontational and antagonistic Lady Dragon of the Capitol.

Thus, the greatest loss of Garcia was in the first district with the highest number of voters among the seven congressional districts in the province. In the second district, Garcia lost to Pam overall, with Baricuatro beating Gwen in Argao, 26,108 to 11,286. Pam also defeated Gwen in Dalaguete with 20,946 compared to Gwen's 12,303. Pam also won over Gwen in Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob. Gwen only won in Santander and Samboan but with the slimmest margins.

In the third district, Garcia's own district, Pam won in Toledo with 56,664 to Gwen's 37,613. In Balamban where Gwen is building a capitol in the mountain jungles, Pam won with 20,102 to Garcia's 10,942. In fairness, Gwen won in Barili, in Pinamungajan, in Aloguinsan and in Tuburan, but with the smallest margins. In the fourth district, Gwen put up a respectable fight. But Garcia was soundly defeated in the fifth where her son-in-law, Duke Frasco won overwhelmingly.

The unkindest cut of all was in Liloan where her own daughter used to be a mayor for the longest time, Pam won handsomely with 30,008 compared to Gwen's 22,099. The Fascos have a lot of explaining to Mama Gwen. In Danao, the Duranos made Gwen "eat the dust" with Pam getting a staggering 50,035 while all that Gwen could muster was 23,448. In Argao where I was born, Gwen got only 11,286 but Pam had 26,108. Both the mayor and the congressman are Garcia's allies and Junjun Davide, her friend, is a registered voter.

Governor Gwen was suspended and she refused to comply. The Cebuanos did not like that. Gwen was endorsed by BBM and majority of the Cebuanos are for Duterte. The voters are mostly Gen Zs and millennials and they prefer a more carinosa, more easy-to- approach, more humane and one who listens rather than pontificates. The Cebuanos want free toilets in their terminals, and better healthcare and not "Pasigarbo" and "Suroy Suroy."

The time has come for a change. And it is Pam who represents change. Pam is a great idea whose timing is perfect. The Cebuanos are tired with the Garcias. Both Gwen and Raymond were rejected. There is always an end to any era. Walang forever. The people want someone new, someone who represents hopes and better things to come. And Pam just happened to be it.