Fiesta atmosphere in BO-PK, Team Rama campaign rallies

A fiesta atmosphere pervaded the campaign sorties of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) and Team Rama in Cebu City yesterday.

While the BO-PK held a three-hour caravan through north district barangays, Team Rama had a longer program with a “panag-abot” or gathering and stage show of entertainment talents in congressional candidate Annabelle Rama’s stable.

BO-PK’s caravan of 100 motorcycles, multicabs and private vehicles visited barangays Tejero, San Roque, Tinago, Luz, Lahug, Talamban, Pit-os, Carreta, Capitol Site, Sambag 1 and 2, Sto. Nino and Ermita.

Candidates of both camps stayed inside their vehicles and kept their windows open to wave to supporters.

Traffic was tied up in parts of Osmeña Boulevard by the proclamation rally.

Carrying torches and yellow and green balloons, Team Rama supporters walked to the beat of drums to arts of Cebu City and converge at the Plaza Independencia grounds that was festooned with campaign streamers.

Cebu City government buses and vehicles were spotted bringing supporters from hinterland barangays to the plaza while the actors and actresses arrived at the area on board air-conditioned coasters.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el, Cebu City police chief, estimated the crowd that attended the Team Rama proclamation rally at 25,000 to 30,000.

The rally which began at 7:30 p.m. started with Cebuano youth ambassador Gian Paulo Godofredo of the Cebu City Youth Movement introducing Mayor Michael Rama as the “only healthy mayor of Cebu City.”

In his message, Rama thanked the crowd and led them in chanting “daug na (Already won).”

While he said the “panag-abot” won’t consist of long speeches, each candidate was allowed to speak about themselves to the crowd.

Sharon Jakosalem, who represented her husband Sylvan Jack Jakosalem, urged the crowd to vote for him due to his dependability as a public servant.

Mary Ann delos Santos, north district council candidate, promised to represent the marginalized and poor if she wins.

Team Rama north district congressional candidate Anabelle Rama called on the cheering crowd to replace the “old order” at City Hall.

South district congressional candidate Aristotle Batuhan promised voters “brand new politics based on service” while vice mayoral candidate Edgar Labella said he will lead a council that has a heart and won’t be vindictive, nor obstructionist.

Only representatives of former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and senatorial candidate Nancy Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) sent representatives to the “panag-abot.”

After the proclamation rally ended, the crowd was treated to another hour-long program of song and dance numbers from Annabelle’s husband Eddie Gutierrez and her stable of talents.

With Raymond Gutierrez as host, actresses like Carla Abellana and Lovie Poe performed song numbers.

The crowd cheered loudest when Annabelle’s son Richard Gutierrez appeared on stage.

The Gutierrez family called on the crowd to vote for Annabelle, whom they said considered Cebu as their home.

Actress and former beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez said her mother enjoys the family’s 100 percent support.

She also asked the crowd to vote for her uncle Mayor Michael Rama whom she described as “hardworking” and “the people’s mayor.”

Ruffa also asked for a straight vote for Team Rama candidates.

“Mahal na mahal niya (Annabelle) ang Cebu. Cebu let us vote wisely sa halalan. Tandaan po ninyo mag tutulong tulong kami as one family sa halanan (She loves Cebu very much. Cebu, let us vote wisely in the elections. Remember, we will help as one family in the elections,” Richard Gutierrez told the cheering crowd.

Singer Dulce Amor performed Cebuano songs like “Usahay” after the Gutierrez family left the Plaza Independencia stage.

More than 30 personnel from the police and Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (Citom) were detailed at the three gates of Plaza Independencia. No untoward incidents were reported. With Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao