Vendors, seniors, barangay folk show up for Binay

Roads around the Cebu Coliseum were closed to traffic starting 6 a.m. Some City Hall buses were seen ferrying people to the venue.

Rally goers who entered were given attendance sheets and UNA membership forms to sign.

Identification cards, T-shirts and fans were handed out, as well as mid-morning snacks.

Golria Aranas, a fish vendor from barangay Ermita, said she and other vendors from Carbon market went to the rally after they were done selling their wares at 8 a.m.

She said she was a solid supporter of Team Rama and would support Binay.

“Nalipay pud ko bisan naa mi sa gawas makasuporta lang mi. Ganahan pud ko makakita ug makadungog sa mga pulong ni Binay (I am happy even if we are here outside the coliseum. We just want to support Team Rama. I also like to see and hear Binay’s words)” she said.

Traffic flow was moderate and “manageable” said Rey Gealon, executive director of the Cebu City Transportation Office.

At least 30 policemen secured the premises, along with 8 SWAT members.

Team Rama supporters came from different barangays in Cebu City.  There were also UNA supporters and delegates from  provinces of Siquijor, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, and Bohol.

Not everyone was an UNA fan.

A 63-year-old woman from barangay Mambaling, Cebu City was  surprised to see  UNA banners and colored flaglets as she stepped off a Kaohsiung bus and entered the Cebu Coliseum.

Last week someone in the neighborhood was listing down names and “told us to attend the event because something good would happen,” she told Cebu Daily News.

Registration tables outside welcomed the attendees. After each signed up, they were given a flaglet to wave.

“I’m not an UNA supporter. I support Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), “ the old woman said in surprise.

Front seats were mostly occupied by senior citizens from different provinces.

There were given UNA membership cards and application forms, fans printed “Fan ni Binay” and visors.

A co-participant Ester Ylaya, 69, from Mambaling, said she attended because she was an UNA supporter.

She denied that they received any money or favors to join the UNA Visayas launching.

“I am here because I support them,” she said.

Blue and orange balloons adorned the stage, with big tarpaulins of faces of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Gringo Honasan.

The “Dos Companeros” and a ukulele band entertained the crowd. Outside the coliseum, a video screen was set up along Sanciangko street for live streaming the event.

Among those who watched the live streaming was a 32-year-old vendor of bottled water.

“I want a president who is not corrupt and makes the poor the top  priority,” he said, while selling water to spectators.

Asked who he would vote for in 2016, he answered, “I still don’t  have a list.”

He said many were still hungry and jobless.

Some residents from barangay Cogon Pardo said they were brought to the coliseum by a barangay councilor.

But Laura Gambalan, 41 and Elena Cabalida, 48, said they were genuine supporters of Team Rama and Binay.

Rosita Cabanes, 51, showed the attendance sheet of at least 40 people from their barangay. She said thiis was the basis for distribution of food after the event.

Dominica Nacua, 81, president of the Seamen’s Wife foundation of the Philippines and from Guadalupe, joined the mass oathtaking. She said all her family members  are Binay supporters.