Alliance building, Oslob whale shark visit for Loren

WHILE weighing her options in Congress, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia found an ally in Sen. Loren Legarda, who supported her bid for the Senate yesterday.

Legarda, who arrived in Oslob town, southern Cebu to attend the opening of Oslob’s heritage museum, said the governor can represent the interests of Cebu’s local government units to the Senate.

“I will be more than happy to mentor and accompany her in the Senate. Politics is local. Visayas needs a voice (to represent its interests in the Senate),” she told reporters.

In a message during the inauguration of the museum, Governor Garcia said  Legarda will help bring the voice of the Cebuano to the Senate.

“One day when you watch a Senate hearing, you will see two lovely ladies seated together… Oslob town is for Gwen and for Loren only,” she said.

Legarda, who said she would spend Mother’s Day today in Oslob to watch the whale sharks there, said if the governor runs for the Senate she will campaign for her in Luzon area while Garcia campaigns for her in Cebu and the Visayas.

Legarda was the guest of honor during yesterday’s inauguration of the Oslob heritage museum located in the town’s heritage park fronting the Immaculate Conception Parish Church.

She and the governor also led in the unveiling of the markers of the Immaculate Conception Parish Church and the oldest street in the town, Calle Aragones along with the marker of the church walls and gates and the monument of Fr. Julian Bermejo.

Bermejo was hailed by Cebuanos as “El Parroco Capitan” who helped in the construction of the twelve watch towers in Carcar all the way to Santander.

The construction of the Oslob museum is worth P800,000.

Legarda later told reporters that she received an invitation to be the guest candidate for the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

UNA which is spearheaded by Vice President Jejomar Binay, former president Joseph Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, is a coalition of the PDP-Laban and the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

She said she will run for re-election under the National People’s Coalition (NPC). Legarda said she ill leave the announcement to UNA instead.

The senator also said she will spend Mother’s Day by taking the whale shark tour at 6 a.m today.

“I am excited to see the butandings (whale sharks)… I have not been to Donsol but I have been to Sorsogon,” she said.

“I support the eco-tourism and the cultural-tourism that the municipality of Oslob and the province of Cebu is doing,” she added.

Governor Garcia is scheduled to meet with Pampanga officials today.