A full-page advertisement published in local dailies is offering Cebuanos the tandem of Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district and reelectionist Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young.
The advertisement dubbed “buy one take one” displays Osmeña and Young as among the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardees in 1989 and 1994.
“That’s what BO-PK will have to offer,” said the advertisement, which added that the two top candidates of Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) are “nationally recognized for (their) public service.”
Mayor Michael Rama said in his press conference that it would still be up to the Cebuanos to decide whom they would vote for in next year’s election.
The Osmeña-Young tandem will run against Rama and third-term councilor Edgar Labella in 2013.
“As far as I am concerned, there is no need for me to comment because the advertisement speaks for itself. It is very clear that you have to buy one to take one,” he said.
Councilor Jose Daluz III said the advertisement may be grounds for pre-mature campaigning.
Young said the advertisement does not necessarily ask Cebuanos to vote for him and Osmeña.
It is just a “teaser” used to catch Cebuanos’ attention and make them talk about their tandem “and it’s working.”
“Whether maayo and comment or bati, win-win situation gihapon na for us kay gi storyahan man mi. It is raising awareness (on our tandem),” he said.
Young said the “buy one take one” slogan was Osmeña’s idea. They first used it to campaign for Councilors Edwin Jagmoc and Augustus Pe Jr. who occupied the two bottom spots in the north district during their first election in 2004.
The vice mayor said supporters paid for the publication of their “buy one take one” ad in local dailies.
Young said he does not see anything wrong with the publication.”Even Mayor Rama has a 30-minute daily morning program paid for by his own supporters and aired over CCTN where he attacks us,” he said.
“Ni lihok man sila og ila. Ni lihok sad mi og amo,” said Young.
With the election still a year away, Rama said he still doesn’t want to start campaigning. Instead, he said he wanted to continue the delivery of services to the Cebuanos.
“There will always be time for everything. We don’t even want to go to printing an advertisement (for our group),” he said.
Young said Rama has long been campaigning for his reelection; that’s why BO-PK also came up with a teaser on his and Osmena’s tandem.
“Depende na nila ug ila na i-consider nga electioneering,” he said.
But the advertisement, Young said, simply means that “we make a good team and you need a good team to management City Hall.” /Doris Bongcac, Chief of Reporters