UNA VISAYAS LAUNCHING/OCT. 9, 2015: Vice president Jejomar Binay (2nd from right) raises the hands of Cebu City mayor Michael Rama (to binay’s right) and (L-R) Edwin Jagmoc, Gerry Carillo, Cebu City South congressional candidate, Senatorial Candidate Lawyer Harry Roque; Vice mayor Edgardo Labilla, Senatorial Candidates Jacel Carem and Alma Moreno and Jerry Guardo during the launching of the United National Alliance (UNA) Visayas in Cebu Coliseum.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
UNA rally fills Coliseum but for pol leaders, it’s only Mike Rama, Sonny Osmeña
The Cebu Coliseum was more than half-filled with cheering supporters for Vice President Jejomar Binay during the Visayas launch of his party yesterday.
However, only a few elected Cebu officials showed up to be counted as allies of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Who can Binay rely on for his campaign in Cebu and the Visayas?
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Toledo City Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña sat up front with a mayor from Biliran.
Rama brought his vice mayor and Team Rama council candidates in Cebu city. The other political figures at the event were mostly former officials out to stage a political comeback in the 2016 election.
Rama, introduced Binay on stage as a leader of “service beyond comparison” and led people in chanting “daog na, daog na. Jojo Binay daog na. Gringo Honasan daog na.” (Jojo Binay .. Gringo Honasan is already a winner.)
“Libo libo tayong nagsasama sama ngayong umaga. Kung ganyan, panalo na tayong UNA,” Binay said during his speech. (Thousands of us are here this morning. If this is the case, UNA will triumph.)
While he claimed success in the Visayas launch, few of their Cebu allies showed up.
Binay came with party officials and spokesmen, his daughter Sen. Nancy Binay and three senatorial candidates – lawyer Harry Roque, Sulu Princess Jacel Kiram and Alma Moreno.
In every corner, there were tarpaulin banners in the coliseum stating “Welcome to Cebu! Binay Country”.
Notably absent were mayors of the One Cebu party and Rep. Gwen Garcia, former Cebu governor, who provided Binay’s camp the main support in the last 2013 elections along with Mayor Rama for Cebu City.
Gwen told radio dyLA a day earlier she couldn’t attend the UNA event in Cebu because she was attending final budget deliberations in Congress and Friday was the last session day.
“UNA ko, kay UNA man ang akong partido but I cannot speak for One Cebu”, said Gwen.
She said One Cebu has not yet decided who to support in the national election.
Her brother, Winston, who is running for Cebu governor, has taken over his sister’s role as president of One Cebu.
Winston, former president of the GSIS, is widely expected to announce on Sunday support for presidential bet Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero.
Binay, interviewed during a visit to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, shrugged off the absence of the Garcias. Binay said he would announce his full slate on Monday yet.
His running mate Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan was absent. Mayor Rama, UNA Region 7 coordinator, said Honasan had a prior commitment.
At the Coliseum, Binay led the mass oath-taking of new members of the party.
They included former Consolacion Mayor Avelino Gungob and former Daanbantayan mayor Maria Luisa Loot.
Negros Oriental was represented by former 1st district Rep. Jacinto Jing Paras. There were delegations from Bohol, Siquijor, Aklan, Guimaras, Iloilo , Antique, Capiz and Samar provinces.
As Mayor Rama was introducing Binay on stage, power was suddenly cut off.
It was restored five minutes later. To fill the gap, tribal drums were sounded by a percussion group.
Rama introduced Binay to the crowd as someone who is “competent, fit, educationally grounded, with a service record beyond comparison and the only one who can heal the country.”
DISCOUNT
The organizers were given a P10,000 discount on rent of the coliseum, said Susan Bacalso, acting officer in charge of the private coliseum in downtown Cebu City.
She told Cebu Daily News the management decided to accommodate UNA and bring down the original rent of P30,0000 for the day’s use of the coliseum.
In his speech, Binay promised to make income tax cuts a priority of his administration. He slammed the Aquino administration for not addressing needs of typhoon Yolanda victims.
He warned Cebuanos against choosing inexperienced candidates.
In the face of grave problems like poverty , he said in Filipino, “should the country rely on someone who is not prepared? Should we go again with someone who is incapable of leadership? ”
He cited his mayorship of Makati City as a track record of making sure the poor are not left out in progress.
“We started in Makati. With your help and with the lord’s guidance, we will continue this in the whole country,” he said.
UNA CLAIMS SUCCESS
UNA secretary general JV Bautista said the rally was a success with at least 10,000 people in the Cebu launch, exceeding the 8,0000 their Mindanao in Cagayan de Oro last October 3.
The Cebu Coliseum has an 8,100-seat capacity.
Supporters were seen occupying the court and lower boxes at the ringside. Some rows in the upper boxes were vacant.
Before Binay arrived, three of his Senate candidates addressed the crowd.
Sulu princes Jacel Kiram said that with Binay’s leadership, Sabah will be recovered from Malaysia. Moreno, a former actress and Cebuana, recalled living in Cebu. She said she would represent women’s interest in the Senate.
Roque, a law professor in UP Diliman, said he would continue to fight for human rights.
White T-shirts bearing Binay’s name and “Bingo” campaign biscuits were thrown to the crowd.
“UNA na, Bingo pa!” Binay said during his speech.
Toledo City’s Mayor Osmeña, former senator, used to be allied with the Liberal Party, but said he’s supporting UNA and Binay next year.
The 80-year-old mayor said the Liberal Party “were not sincere.”
“Binay went to Toledo City three times. Si Mar (Roxas), wala gani makaadto,” he told reporters. (He hasn’t gone there at all).