Why did Mike and Raymond lose to Nestor?

If we have to call a spade a spade, it was really Tomas Osmeña who won in the last mayoralty race in Cebu City. I say this with my utmost respect for the newly-proclaimed mayor of Cebu City. Tomas is not unlike his late dad, Serging, who made mayors out of Yoyong Borres, Carling Cuizon, and Ronnie Duterte. He mentored Sonny and fathered Serge and Tomas.

Serging ran for mayor five times and won. But always asked the vice mayor to take over. Serging ran for senator and won, Then he came back to run for Cebu City mayor and won. Serging ran for vice president and president and lost and then came back again. The name Osmeña is a brand like the names Rama and Garcia. But this Archival is unknown. You cannot win an election by simply being good. You need money, you need machinery, you need a good message.

Last elections, both Garcia and Rama had the money and the machinery. But Nestor had a very good message. Most of all, Nestor has Tomas. Without Tomas, Archival might not have made it at all. Nestor Archival is a good man, he is an honest professional and a commendable public servant. But without the Osmeña magic, the Osmeña name and the Osmeña strategy, Archival would be slugging it out with Yogi Ruiz while Mike and Raymond would fight tooth and nail to get the crown.

Tomas has chosen Archival who is not too aggressive like Mike Rama or too passive like Raymond Garcia. Tomas has found a new disciple. Remember that Mike was the original Saint Peter and the father of Raymond. Alvin, was the original Saint Matthew. But when Tomas was crucified, only John, who happens to be Archival, stayed with Tomas. Many men who were mentored by Tomas betrayed him like Judas. Now, with Nestor, Tomas has found his John the Beloved.

Rama and Garcia had more barangay captains than Nestor who only had two who stayed with BOPK until the end. The incumbent Raymond had control of the city resources. Mike was stripped of logistics and equipment. But Nestor has Tomas. Nestor has Bebot Abellanosa in the south because of Tomas. Nestor has Mary Ann delos Santos in the north because of Tomas. In a way, Nestor is also a very lucky man. He is the solution looking for the problem. Tomas knew the problems and Nestor and Tomas both know the solutions.

The main problem now is the City Council. There are great potentials like Philip Zafra who is loyal to Mike and Dondon Hontiveros. There is Pastor Alcover but he is loyal to Raymond Garcia, having disowned his original ally, Mike Rama. And there is a young Mikel Rama, who is very promising. If these guys play their cards well and do not become obnoxious obstructionists, then they can make a good impression on the Cebuanos. And they can be potential mayors in the future too.

Why did Mike Rama and Raymond Garcia lose to Nestor Archival? Well, they did not play their cards well. They surrounded themselves with the wrong people. This is where they should learn from Tomas Osmeña. This is where they should study the life and politics of Serging Osmeña. What made Mike lose was that he failed to choose the right people. What made Raymond lose? He did know how to use power to serve the people well. With Gwen losing the Capitol, and Raymond losing City Hall, perhaps the time of the Garcias is finished.

This is now the time of the likes of Nestor Archival and Pam Baricuatro, of Edu Rama and still of Cutie del Mar. If they have a mentor like Tomas, it can also be the time of Mikel Rama, Philip Zafra, and many other younger men with vision for greatness and passion for excellence. I hope Nestor, under the tutelage of Tomas, can really make Cebu City the queen again.