Candidates take chances on ‘lucky’ dates

CEBU CITY -- Hundreds of candidates in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections signed up over the weekend, particularly on October 8 and 10, with the hope that the “lucky” dates will bring them the right numbers on October 25.

Among the candidates on Sunday, 10/10/10, were six broadcast and print journalists.

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In Mandaue and Talisay cities, some aspirants went a step further and filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) at 10 a.m.

“Puerte gyung alegreha dinhi sa opisina tungod lang anang tuo-tuo nga swerte kuno nga mo-file within 10/10/10 (We were kept busy by that belief that those who filed Sunday would get lucky),” said Talisay City Election Officer Corazon Moran.

Candidates identified with the administration in Talisay brought along a drum and bugle band, which made the registration more festive than chaotic, said Moran.

In Cebu City, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) noticed there were more candidates who filed last Friday, October 8, than Sunday. (Eight is considered an auspicious number, particularly in the Chinese culture.)

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, there were 609 barangay and SK candidates who filed their COCs, compared to the 916 who did last October 8.

Other candidates are expected to wait until the last day of the filing of COCs on October 13, when Comelec offices will stay open until midnight.

Among those who filed on Sunday was Michael Gacasan, who is aspiring for the barangay captain’s office in Guadalupe, Cebu City’s most populated barangay.

“Para namo lucky number ba,” he said. Gacasan filed his COC together with his candidates for barangay councilor.

Gacasan recently drew attention after Representative Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) expressed support for his bid and not for Dino Faelnar. Dino is the son of the incumbent Guadalupe Captain Eugenio “Jing-Jing” Faelnar, president of the Association of Barangay Council (ABC) and an ex-officio member of the City Council.

Six journalists separately filed their COCs in Cebu City and Mandaue, among them: dyHP broadcaster and Sun.Star Cebu correspondent Elias Bolonos, who is running for barangay councilor in San Nicolas Proper; Lawaan I barangay captain Joseph “Joy” Tumulak, a Sun.Star SuperBalita reporter, who arrived with his lineup; Lawaan I council candidate Vincie Monterde, also a Sun.Star SuperBalita reporter; and dySS and Cebu Daily News correspondent Gabriel Bonjoc, who is seeking a second term as Barangay Poblacion, Talisay councilor.

Liv Campo of the Freeman will also try her hand in local politics by running for councilor, also in Barangay Poblacion.

Gacasan and Bolonos, however, pointed out winning the elections will take a lot more than just luck, and will require competence, leadership and hard work.

Ofelia Ylanan, wife of Talisay City opposition councilor Val Ylanan, filed her candidacy as barangay captain candidate in Linao.

In Poblacion, incumbent barangay chief Teodoro “Balo” Belleza will also be running under the opposition, with his own slate.

Formerly an independent candidate, he no longer considers himself as such due to his affiliation with defeated vice mayoral candidate Aberdovey Belleza, who is supporting his candidacy.

Belleza appealed to his opponents to fight fairly and not let tensions between supporters rise. (PDF/JKV/Sun.Star Cebu)