Monday, December 17, 2007 (Philippines)

MASS AT STO. NIÑO. Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal’s first dawn mass this year draws such a big crowd that they spill out of the Sto. Niño Parish in Barangay Suba, Cebu City. (Sun.Star Photo/Arni Aclao) THE Cebu City opposition hopes to bank on a rift among Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) barangay captains, many of whom are “disgruntled” with the current situation, to gain the upper hand in the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) election later this month. But the BOPK answered with a maneuver of its own, with Talamban’s Alvin Arcilla deciding he will no longer contest Eugenio Faelnar of Guadalupe’s attempt to get reelected as ABC president. Whoever wins gains a seat in the City Council. Informed of the development, opposition leader Jonathan Guardo last night said Arcilla’s decision affected their strategy, and that his brother, Sambag I’s Jerry Guardo, will only run for ABC president “if it is a three-cornered fight.” [full story]