Monday, July 02, 2007 (Philippines)

CHURCH AND STATE. A campaigner takes his position at a churchyard, hoping to get parishioners to visit their polling centers after hearing mass. (Sun.Star Photo/Amper Campaña) CARCAR CITY—A fireworks display that started at 9:05 last night and lit up the skies for two minutes signaled the triumphant end of the long campaign to make the new city of Carcar. A total of 13,483, about 28 percent of the former heritage town’s registered voters, turned up to vote. Of them, 11,699 or about 87 percent voted “yes.” The “no” votes amounted to 1,748. “We should not miss this opportunity because this town deserves to become one,” newly reelected Mayor Patrick Barcenas told reporters after he cast his “yes” vote at 9:35 a.m. in Barangay Poblacion 1. Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 [full story]