One Cebu
One Cebu Hiniusang Sugbo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Gwendolyn Garcia |
| Secretary-General | Pablo John Garcia |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Cebu City |
| Ideology | Cebuano interests Localism Populism |
| National affiliation | PDP–Laban (2016–24) United Nationalist Alliance (2012–16) National Unity Party (2011–12) Lakas Kampi (2007–11) |
| Colors | Blue Yellow White |
One Cebu (1-CEBU) is a provincial political party based in the province of Cebu. It is headed by Gwendolyn Garcia, governor of Cebu.
History
[edit]The party was formed in response to the Sugbuak, or the failed Cebu-split movement, in time for the 2007 general elections. A brainchild of three Cebuano representatives who were in their last terms of office, Sugbuak entailed the supposed splitting of Cebu province into four independent provinces.[1]
In founding One Cebu, the Garcia family and their supporters capitalized on the widespread opposition to the Sugbuak movement, declaring that there is only one Cebu; hence, the party's name.[2] They later left the Lakas—Christian Muslim Democrats, once the dominant majority party in national politics, and joined former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's political party, the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI).[3] The party's strength was further bolstered by internal alliances with the Alayon Alang sa Kalambuan ug Kalinaw (Alayon) party in the first district, led by the Gullas family,[4] and the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) party of the Durano family in the fifth district.[5] This led to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia's wide margin — around half a million votes — in the votes cast for governor in the 2007 elections.
A year after Benigno Aquino III was elected President of the Philippines in 2010, One Cebu again switched party allegiance— this time, to the National Unity Party, whom former Cebu governor Pablo Garcia founded.[6] In 2016, the party formed a local coalition together with the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).[7] One Cebu broke ties with UNA in March 2016, and instead supported Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's presidential campaign.
Representation in the Congress
[edit]As of the last elections for the House of Representatives, One Cebu holds 7 out of 277 seats.[citation needed] Cebu's six congressional districts and the newly created district of Lapu-Lapu City are currently represented by the following members of One Cebu:
- Rep. Rhea Mae Gullas (1st District)
- Rep. Atty. Pablo John F. Garcia (3rd District)
- Rep. Janice Z. Salimbangon (4th District)
- Rep. Vincent Franco D. Frasco (5th District)
- Rep. Daphne A. Lagon (6th District)
- Rep. Emmarie M. Ouano-Dizon (Lone District of Mandaue City)
One Cebu also dominates the provincial council with Gov. Garcia and Vice Governor candidate Daphne Salimbangon leading a large majority of Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, plus the presidents of the local Liga ng mga Barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan and the Councilors' League.[citation needed] In the local level, the party has the backing of 31 out of 53 city and municipal mayors throughout Cebu.[8]
Electoral history
[edit]2010 National and Local Elections
[edit]In the 2010 national elections, One Cebu strongly campaigned for the candidacy of Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro, Jr., the standard bearer of the now-merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.[citation needed] Gov. Garcia promised that Cebu will give 1 million votes to Teodoro, but local election results showed the latter behind then presumptive president-elect Aquino who got more than 400,000 votes.[9]
Gov. Garcia selected businessman Glenn Anthony Soco to be her running mate in the 2010 elections. Gov. Garcia and Soco are said to have a 'romantic relationship,' which created much media hype.[10]
The vice gubernatorial hopeful, however, still lost to the late former vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr., who is the founding vice president of One Cebu.[citation needed] Sanchez later bolted out of Gov. Garcia's group after One Cebu welcomed Tuburan, Cebu mayor Constancio Suezo and his team as party members.[11] The former vice governor was against the inclusion of Suezo's group after they allegedly failed to maintain the peace and order situation in the town.[12]
2013 Local Elections
[edit]In 2010, Rep. Pablo John Garcia, the governor's brother, announced that he and Soco will be One Cebu’s candidates for governor and vice governor, respectively, in the 2013 local elections.[13] But in May 2011, Pablo John said he decided not to run for governor because he wants to continue serving his home district.[14]
2016 National Elections
[edit]The party joint-forces with the United Nationalist Alliance party of Vice President Jejomar Binay to form a local coalition for the 2016 national elections. The coalition was launched on February 16, 2016 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino.[15] One Cebu later withdrew support for Binay and his party UNA on March 21, 2016.[16]
On April 2, 2016, One Cebu has announced that they will support the presidential candidacy of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.[17] The party has pledged to deliver more than 1 million votes for the Visayan candidate.[18] The alliance between One Cebu and Duterte was launched on April 21, 2016.[19]
Winston Garcia, a former Provincial Board Member and former chairman of (GSIS) during the Arroyo administration was fielded for the gubernatorial post in the province with Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz, former Sixth District congresswoman, running for the vice gubernatorial post.[20][21] Garcia and Soon-Ruiz were defeated by incumbent Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.
2022 elections
[edit]After several months, Gwen Garcia officially endorsed the tandem of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte for upcoming 2022 presidential elections.[22] The endorsement of Marcos and Duterte caused Pablo John "PJ" Garcia (one of the political supporters of Isko Moreno's presidential campaign) to step down as secretary-general of the party,[23] but PJ Garcia one said that he will still support and campaign for all of the 1-Cebu candidates (especially on their district). Lolypop Ouano-Dizon appointed as interim secretary general.[24]
2025 elections
[edit]PJ Garcia returned as secertary general, and will run for reelection seeking final term.[25]
Electoral performance
[edit]| Year | Gubernatorial elections | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote share | Result | |
| 2007 | Gwen Garcia | Gwen Garcia (1 Cebu/KAMPI) | |
| 2010 | Gwen Garcia | Gwen Garcia (1 Cebu/Lakas-KAMPI) | |
| 2013 | Pablo John Garcia[n 1] | Hilario Davide III (Liberal) | |
| 2016 | Winston Garcia | Hilario Davide III (Liberal) | |
| 2019 | Gwen Garcia | Gwen Garcia (1 Cebu/PDP Laban) | |
| 2022 | Gwen Garcia | Gwen Garcia (1 Cebu) | |
- ^ Also running under the National Unity Party.
References
[edit]- ^ "'Sugbuak'". Manila Bulletin. October 22, 2006.
- ^ "New provinces or cities: More politicians?". The Philippine Star. January 30, 2008.
- ^ "Lakas downplays rift with Kampi, Garcias' breakaway". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Inquirer.net. Posted February 11, 2007.
- ^ "Mongaya: Misunderstood alliance". SunStar Cebu Online. Published April 11, 2010.
- ^ "Another Cebu influential political clan backs Gibo". April 7, 2010.
- ^ "Wenceslao: One Cebu wins round". SunStar. February 5, 2011..
- ^ Tolentino, Reina (February 16, 2016). "UNA, One Cebu sign unity pact". The Manila Times. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ "Barili mayor moves out of One Cebu, joins LP". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 16, 2011.
- ^ "How Cebu voted for national officials". Cebu Daily News at Wordpress.com. May 18, 2010.
- ^ "Gwen ug Glenn may "date" karon". The Philippine Star. February 14, 2010.
- ^ "Greg Sanchez leaves One Cebu". The Philippine Star. November 4, 2009.
- ^ "Greg Sanchez leaves One Cebu". The Philippine Star. November 4, 2009.
- ^ "PJ-Glenn tandem; One Cebu bares 2013 candidates". The Philippine Star. December 23, 2010.
- ^ "PJ: I won't run for gov in 2013". SunStar. May 4, 2011.
- ^ "UNA, local party One Cebu to launch coalition in Cebu City". Philippine Daily Inquirer. February 16, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ Mosqueda, Mars Jr. (21 March 2016). "Garcia's One Cebu party withdraws support for Binay". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ "One Cebu party chooses Duterte, promises 1M votes". Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 3, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
- ^ Macasero, Ryan (April 3, 2016). "One Cebu promises 1M votes for Duterte". Rappler. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
- ^ "Duterte gains One Cebu party's support". GMA News. April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ Basilan, Rebelander S. (12 October 2015). "'WinNer' of One Cebu launched". SunStar Cebu. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Winston to run for Cebu governor". The Philippine Star. August 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ "Garcia-led One Cebu endorses Marcos for president". RAPPLER. 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
- ^ "PJ Garcia steps down as One Cebu secretary general after Marcos endorsement". RAPPLER. 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
- ^ "PJ Garcia steps down as One Cebu secretary general after Marcos endorsement". RAPPLER. 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
- ^ Cordova, Calvin (Oct 1, 2024). "Garcia of Cebu third district files candidacy for last term". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
