Gwen, D’bantayan mayor kiss and hug
Yesterday’s meeting between Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Daanbantayan Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot left the two of them wiping tears after exchanging hugs.
Accompanied by philantrophist and Beautiful Cebu Movement head Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, Garcia was received by Loot in the parade ground inside the Daanbantayan National High School.
Garcia and Loot had a political falling out when the governor dropped the mayor from the One Cebu party after the 2010 election.
The two also have differences on the Capitol’s management of Malapascua Island, a world renowned dive resort off the coast of Daanbantayan. Loot has revived this year the town’s right to manage the prime tourism destination from the Capitol.
After exchanging hugs and wiping tears, both proceeded to the front of the spectator gallery where the program of the Haladaya festival took place. They were seated together as the town’s rich cultural heritage was showcased in dances and other cultural numbers.
Provincial Board (PB) member Sun Shimura, Loot’s son, said in his welcome remarks that the occasion was a “welcome back” for Governor Garcia who has not visited the town since 2010.
“For three years, gimingaw na mi ni Gov. Gwen (We have sorely missed Gov. Gwen.),” he said.
“Atong ipadayon ang panaghiusa ug panaghugpong,” (We shall continue our unity.),” Shimura said in his message.
Garcia, in her message, lauded Loot for how the town has improved aesthetically.
“Dugay nako wala kabalik dinhi… Matahom ang mga tanom… And I’ve learned that Mayor Loot herself takes a bicycle ride to check the plants planted along the highway (It has been a long time since my last visit. The plants are very beautiful),” she said.
She also congratulated the officials of the town for a “Wow na wow” Haladaya sa Kandaya Festival.
After that Garcia handed over financial assistance of P500,000 to Loot and said that “pasiuna pa lang na (That is just an advance.)”
Both politicians who minced no words in their three years of animosity however did not issue statements related to the 2013 elections.
Governor Garcia is set to run for senator under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). Her younger brother and Cebu 3rd district Rep. Pablo John Garcia will be running against the administration Liberal Party bet (LP) and former Cebu City councilor Hilario “Junjun” Davide III.
