The end of a historic 9-year term as Cebu’s first woman governor left Gwen Garcia reflecting on what she called “a good fight” and a “journey” full of accomplishments and sacrifice.
“Through the joys and the pains, I know that I have remained faithful to my motto: Dili sulti ang pabuhaton; buhat ang pasultihon,” she said during the turnover rites at the Capitol social hall where she gave her last speech as chief executive.
Governor-elect Hilario “Junjun” Davide III sat in the front row listening intently as Garcia spoke for almost 50 minutes. She spent most of it reporting about the finances and projects of her administration, and a list of “challenges” for him ahead.
She said Cebu province remains “debt-free” as when she started her first term in 2004, with a greatly improved financial status — P28.1 billion in assets, P615 million in income and bank accounts of over USD $517,000 and and P791.4 million. (See table on page 2)
“I have done the best that I could throughout these three terms. I know much has been said and much will continue to be said about the past nine years and about the first woman governor of Cebu, yours truly Gwen Garcia,” she said.
Her brother 3rd district Rep. Pablo John John Garcia who lost to Davide in the gubernatorial race by a wide margin of over 150,000 votes was not present in the hall.
On Sunday, Gwen will start a new term as congresswoman of Cebu’s 3rd district covering western Cebu.
Gwen, whose speeches usually ring with bravura, was businesslike in her report of accomplishments.
Towards the end, in more somber tones, she thanked Cebuanos “for the singular honor and privilege” of allowing her to lead the “premier province” in the country for three terms.
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith,” she said, quoting St. Paul the Apostle in the Bible.
BEST FOR CEBU
She earlier encouraged all mayors , local officials and provincial employees to “join hands and work together, and give our newly elected governor all your support.”
“For beyond political divides and narrow interest, there is, and there still will be and will always be the bigger and nobler goal of doing what is best for Cebu and the Cebuanos,” she said.
On stage, Garcia turned over to Davide the seal of the Province of Cebu and a final report. Department heads also took turns going up to hand over documents to the incoming provincial administrator Mark Tolentino and Davide’s chief of staff Ramil Abing.
As a welcome gift, Garcia also turned over to Davide a painting of the Sto. Niño de Cebu that hung in her office.
The formal ceremony was witnessed by about 100 guests from the private sector, six mayors, a vice mayor, two Provincial Board members, some judges, prosecutors and Capitol employees.
The program started about 10 a.m. with the outgoing and incoming governors entering the hall together. Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale did not attend the event. Documents were turned over before Garcia gave her final speech.
Davide’s acceptance remarks were brief: “Thank you very much Gov. Garcia. God bless all of us. God bless Cebu.”
In an interview after, Davide, expressed gratitude for the warm reception.
“Thank you to Governor Garcia. The governorship is a tall order. I have a lot of things to do. It’s a challenge for me because it’s an entirely new beginning for me. I’m new to the job. But I’m ready for the big things ahead. I’ll prepare for that,” he told reporters.
Lunch was later served for guests but Davide left for another appointment.
SMOOTH TURNOVER
Garcia said she was complying with the legal requirements for her to give a final report to the incoming governor, but also wanted a smooth turnover so as not to repeat the burden she experienced when she first assumed as governor in 2004.
“I had no proper turnover even though I succeded my own father, then Gov. Pablo Garcia. I know how difficult it is when the incoming administration would not be given the luxury of a smooth transition and a proper turnover,” she said.
“And that is why I vowed to myself that at the end of my three terms, I would see to it that the next governor shall not go through what I went through, or worse, what the province went through,” she added.
For her last working day and public speech, Garcia wore a fuschia silk dress and was accompanied by family members – daughter Christina Codilla-Frasco and husband Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco with their daughter Sophia; and son Paolo with his wife Michelle.
Gwen summarized the gains of her “12.2 point program of government” highlighted by its financial wealth.
“There were zero debts to any financial institutions in 2004 and today Cebu still stands at zero debt at any financial institution, she said. She said this was different from payables which the government incurs for regular operations to contractors and suppliers.
“To the governor-elect, I wish you well. My prayers go with you as you start a new era in the history of the the oldest and the number one province in the entire country, our beloved Cebu,” said Garcia, whose statement drew applause.
“And I shall leave with a quiet sense of fulfillment that throughout this entire journey- and what a journey it has been – together with you my beloved Cebuanos, through the twists and turrs, through the challenges, through the joys and the pains, I know that I have remained faithful to my motto: Dili sulti ang pabuhaton; buhat ang pasultihon. (Don’t just talk about what you will do; do what you say.)”
Although half of Cebu’s 52 towns and cities are led by mayors who belong to Garcia’s One Cebu party, only a handful were present yesterday.
They were Asturias Mayor Allan Adlawan, Borbon Mayor Bernard Sepulveda Aloguinsan Mayor Cynthia Moreno of Aloguinsan, Gwen’s son-in-law Mayor Duke Frasco of Liloan and an ally, Mayor Socrates Fernandez of Talisay City (Alayon party). Samboan Mayor Raymund Calderon of the Liberal Party was also present.
Also present were Provincial Board Members Sun Shimura and Peter John Calderon. Santander Vice Mayor Wilson Wenceslao, Cebu Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Silvestre Maamo Jr., Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane.
Garcia’s friends in the Beautiful Cebu Movement led by Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung also attended, including Carmen Campbell, Teresin Mendezona and Msgr. Roberto “Boy” Alesna.
Her daughter Christina, who serves as one of her defense counsel in a pending Sandiganbayan graft case in relation to the Balili land purchase, said she was “very proud” of her mother.
“She turns over the province of Cebu as the number one province in the Philippines. I hope that the brand of governance that my mom has showed to the Cebuanos will be continued by her successor,” she told reporters.