TEAM RAMA FILE THEIR COC’S/OCT. 16, 2015: Cebu City mayor Machael Rama and Vice mayor Edgardo Labella wave to ther hundreds of supporters after attending the mass with their congressional and councilorial slates in Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral before proceding to the Cebu City Comelec office to file their certificate of Candidacy.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama and his entire slate filed what he called “people’s certificates of candidacy” yesterday at the Comelec office, with a parade and a dash of gimmickry.
A drum and bugle corps played atop a multicab.
“Bayan Ko” blared from a sound system. Hundreds of supporters in green and yellow shirts chanted “Team Rama Daug Na” as the candidates linked arms and walked “kapit bisig” from the
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral to the Comelec office.
Before this, they heard Mass at the cathedral and asked Msgr. Roberto Alesna to bless their complete lineup.
The mini-parade stopped vehicles on Legazpi St. from Plaza Independencia to Colon Street and disrupted traffic in front of the cathedral on Burgos Street. One block on Osmeña Boulevard in front of the Comelec office was closed.
Along the way, a fire truck hose sprayed water on the crowd passing the corner of Burgos St. and Legazpi St.
“You have to remember, water is life. Water means blessing,” said Mayor Rama.
“This is not just our individual certificates of candidacy. The people have spoken. So the people now filed the people’s certificate of candidacy,” said Rama.
He said the crowd of supporters was bigger than the one seen when they filed their papers in the 2013 elections.
“We don’t want to boast but we are just being proud that the people stood for us,” Rama said.
The mayor led the delegation with his running mate Vice Mayor Edgar Labella, congressional candidates former mayor Alvin Garcia (north district), and Councilor Gerardo Carillo (south district) and 16 candidates for councilors.
The 16 are Ramil Ayuman, Pastor Alcover, Edwin Jagmoc, Joel Garganera, Edgardo Labella Jr., David Tumulak, Hanz Nendell Abella, James Cuenco, Jose Daluz III, Jocelyn Pesquera, Eduardo Rama, Renato Osmeña Jr., Lutherlee Ignacio-Soon, Raymond Garcia, Jerry Guardo and Noel Wenceslao.