IT was unplanned, but supporters of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) filled the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel in the South Road Properties (SRP) to the brim for a thanksgiving mass yesterday afternoon.
Led by Cebu City mayoral candidate Tomas Osmeña, the BOPK slate, attended the Mass officiated by Msgr. Vicente Tupas, chaplain of the San Pedro Calungsod chapel.
Team Rama meanwhile heard Mass at 8:30 p.m. in the Rama compound in barangay Basak-Pardo.
According to Rama’s spokesman, the Mass was attended by about 300 people, mostly candidates and their families. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Jerome Cayetano, chaplain of the University of San Carlos.
After the mass, they will have an overnight vigil until voting opens at 7 a.m.
In his homily, Tupas likened the plight of candidates in general to the joys and sacrifices of Jesus Christ during his time.
He mentioned the joys of giving the best to the people, organizing the people, knowing what strategies to make and the support from the people.
“We pray for a favorable elections,” Tupas added. But to whose favor, nobody is sure.
BOPK north district congressional candidate Raul Del Mar came in late during the mass. He told Cebu Daily News that he had last minute meetings with leaders of various barangays in his house.
Right after the mass ended, Osmeña, went on stage.
“Lets pray for a peaceful election. And we’d like to greet also all the mothers. I think if all the mothers voted for BOPK, that’s enough,” he told the crowd who immediately applauded.
He then told the crowd to wait and then asked his candidates to go outside first so that they will be able to “greet the people as they leave.”
Some supporters wore “Type O” shirts, ballers and button pins. The candidates, though, wore their Sunday’s best with no trace of the colors blue and yellow which their party is known for. /Jose Santino S. Bunachita, Correspondent with reports from Doris C. Bongcac