The Ramas and the Garcias in the political horizon

Time shall come eventually, when the most powerful political beasts in the electoral jungle shall confront and seek to exterminate each other. The lions and the tigers of Cebu shall ultimately come to head. This shall be survival of the fittest and elimination of the unfit. Mike versus Raymond is the first episode of this series of konfrontasi. But the elephant in the room is Tomas Osmeña with his minions and subalterns not far behind.

One on one, most Cebuanos today believe that Mayor Mike Rama is the better man, the better lawyer, the more experienced with superior leader, manager and administrator, with superior wisdom and erudition, albeit with many errors in judgment and surrounded by mediocre rascals. Raymond Garcia is a good man whose time has not yet come. He is being pushed by ageing relatives to carry on the Rama banner, But very raw, untried, untested. Hinog sa pilit.

If the vice president is acquitted from impeachment, and she becomes president in 2028, Mike Rama can run for governor of Cebu, or accept becoming executive secretary, and that will be the day. Gwen Garcia today cannot ride on two horses forever. She cannot have her cake and eat it too. She cannot keep on dancing to the music of the Palace while dancing boogie with the Dutertes so as to deny Pam the privilege of cornering all pro-Duterte loyalists in Cebu.

It would appear today that the Ramas, led by the truly and genuinely elected mayor of Cebu City, Atty. Michael Rama, and the Garcias, led by Gwen Garcia in the province and the sitting de facto mayor, Atty. Raymond Garcia in the city, are in a direct and confrontational collision course.  It is important to know where each of them came from so that we shall know where they are going to bring Cebu and the Cebuanos.

The first well-known Rama was Don Vicente Rama in whose honor was named the long V. Rama Avenue. He was the author of the Cebu City Charter and it is appropriately called The Father of Cebu City. With the help of president Manul Quezon, Don Vicente was able to get the approval of the Philippine Congress of law that transformed the old municipality of Cebu to Cebu City. The Osmeñas, led by Don Sergio opposed the cityhood because it would substantially reduce the revenues of the province which was controlled by the Osmeñas then. At those times the Garcias were unknown entities in Cebu.

The first great Garcias were the brothers Pablo, whom we called in Dumanjug and the whole south Noy Pabling because he was loved by the people, and his elder brother whom we also called Noy Jesus for the same reason. Noy Pabling was the father of Governor Gwen, Congressman PJ and former GSIS head Winston. Noy Pabling was Cebu vice governor from 1969 to 1971, and governor from 1995 to 2004. From 1997 to 1995, he was congressman representing the third district. He was elected as congressman of the undivided second district, from Argao round south to Dumanjug in 2007 and 2010 but lost to Willy Caminero in 2013.

Noy Jesus Garcia was elected delegate to the 1973 Constitutional Convention. He was a very successful trial and corporate lawyer. His family owns The Sun Star group of publications. His sons included Jesus Garcia Jr, former DOTC secretary, and Alvin Garcia, former mayor of Cebu City. One of his grandsons is the current mayor of Cebu City, Raymond Garcia. Noy Jesus was reputed to be more bright but I admired Noy Pabling more as a trial lawyer. As a court interpreter for four years, while studying law, I personally witnessed his courtroom expertise of Noy Pabling, especially in the art and science of cross-examination.

Our criminal law and procedural law professor Judge Jesus Narvios and Atty Amadeo "Matoy" Seno always told us to go the Capitol Hall of Justice to learn trial techniques from famous Cebuano lawyers, Noy Pabling, Noy Jesus, Matoy Seno, Noy Dodong Jun Davide and his mentor Kikoy Remotigue against such famous courtroom great men like Maning Zosa, Regino and Hihinio Hermosisima and others. The Garcias rose to prominence due to their successful law practice. The Ramas were already well known in the field of politics, and journalism.

Michael Lopez Rama is a lawyer who started as an HR or Human Resources manager of COACO, or Cebu Oxygen and Acetylene Company owned by the Aboitiz family. He won a landmark case when he defended the company in a labor case filed by ALU and which was decided for the union by hen DOLE secretary Franklin Drilon in favor of the union. Atty. Mike singlehandedly fought the decision of Drilon and obtained a favorable judgment. The case, entitled COACO versus Drilon was decided by the full court en banc signed by 15 justices. Mike won it and thus I believe he is an excellent lawyer. I am biased because I was his law professor.

As a public servant, Mike has started from the bottom, mentored by Tomas Osmeña and eventually challenged his mentor and won. Mike has gone through so many political and legal battles. At first, he would be beaten black and blue. But he has the distinct record of always vanquishing his mentors and tormentors. I have researched and did not find such a sterling record in the credential of Raymond Garcia. He is a good person, a decent and likeable one. But he still could not hold a candle before Mike.

For the greater good of the Cebuanos, the Ramas and the Garcias should not be fighting each other. Like the old Osmeñas and the old Cuencos, they should forge a Garcia-Rama alliance, ala Osmeña-Cuenco Fusion of the good old sixties.  They should be on the same side of any battle. But when push comes to shove, when the rubber hits the road, I honestly feel that Mike is the better and more deserving one than Raymond. Again, I am biased. but it does not necessarily mean I am wrong.

I can tell you now that Edu Rama and Mikel Rama are going to make the Ramas great again, led by Mike after 2025. The Garcias are going down. The Ramas are going up. It is time that we, Cebuanos should be able to decipher the political horizon. PJ Rama is not warm to Martin Romualdez, he was not made a Deputy Speaker. The Frascos are just being used by the BBM partisans to secure the big block of Cebuano voters. But after 2025, if and when VP Sara is absolved, that shall be the beginning of the end for the Garcias.

And if the Dutertes should recapture the Palace, Mike Rama's trajectory shall rise directly to the meteors, and the Garcias may have to be relegated to the footnotes of modern history. Again, I can be wrong, but I can also be right. And that will be the day.