Osmeña: Cebuanos won’t settle for showbiz

“DI na magsilbi ang showbiz sa Cebu (Showbiz glamour won’t be enough for Cebu).”

Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district said this as he laughed off reports that talent manager Annabelle Rama would run for the city’s north congressional district.

The former Cebu City mayor told reporters yesterday that this only proved how shallow and showbiz-driven Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s leadership tyle was.

His brother Sen. Sergio Osmeña III was more upbeat. He was quoted in an ANC report as saying, “It will be fun! It’s like having (Sen.) Miriam (Santiago) run there (in Cebu City),” he said.

In a separate text message, the senator said Annabelle’s success would depend on the programs she would present to Cebu City’s north district.

Former councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, one of two prospects for Cebu City’s north district, welcomed the report.

“It is definitely a pleasant surprise. She will be a very good addition to Team Rama north. I believe her chances of winning will be a lot more than if any of us were to run for Congress,” Jakosalem said in a text message.

Jakosalem, chairman of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom), said Annabelle can help promote Team Rama’s council slate in the north. Jakosalem declined to run for the city’s north district citing financial restraints.

He and Lahug barangay councilor Mary Ann delos Santos were earlier floated as prospects.

Rep. Rachel del Mar of Cebu City’s north district and her father Raul, a former congressman, have yet to decide who among them would run under the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) banner.

“We have so much faith in the Cebuano voters. We know that we have never elected anybody based on popularity alone,” said Cutie.

But she said no one should be barred from running for public office, including Annabelle Rama.

Cutie said she was confident that she would keep her friendship with actress Ruffa Gutierrez and her actor-brothers Richard and Raymond even if she or her father would run against Annabelle.

She said she once watched a title bout of boxing champion Manny Paquiao in Ruffa’s house.

Councilor Alvin Dizon said next year’s election won’t be about popularity alone.

“Let’s submit to the sound judgment of the Cebuanos, who they think could best represent their interest in Congress,” said Dizon. With Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac