Bohol Election Returns

The results of the May 2007 Bohol Election is already out. You can check out the list of election winners at www.BoholChronicle.com.

Election in Bohol turned out to be peaceful with no bloodshed, but it was marred with vote buying and money indeed flowed in the city of Tagbilaran and in all towns of Bohol. An editorial ran the "If The Price Is Right" and another opinion column on " Value Your Vote" by Engr. Jes B. Tirol is also talking about the monetary consideration of the recent election.

Nevertheless, what happened is already something to do with the mindset of the Boholanos. I hope there is still a chance to change their view on choosing the right candidate and not base their decision on monetary factors.

Election is Over

Yesterday, May 14, 2007, the Boholano people have cast their votes to the candidate who they believe is capable to serve them.

As of today, election returns are still being tabulated final results will be out soon. Winner and loosers will be determined.

I will be posting in the next issues the list of winners in different areas in the province of Bohol.

Keep posted.

Candidates' Forum

The Bohol Community Cable TV (BCCTV), Bohol Chronicle, DYRD and DYZD sponsored a two-session candidates forum.

Last April 28, 2007, the candidates for Tagbilaran City councilors were invited to speak and answer questions and issues on-air.

The candiates who represented the Nationalist People's Coalition party under the Dan Neri Lim and Nuevas 'Jas' Tirol-Montes tandem were: Oscar Glovasa, Dandan Bantugan, Nerio Zamora III, Djingo Rama, Leah Tirol-Magno , and Elvie Macalandag.

The Lakas-NUCD/PDB Laban party under the Jose Torralba and Toto Veloso tandem was represented by: Edi Borja, Kits Oppus, Batchoy Alba, Charles Cabalit, Archie Sarmiento and Beben Inting.

Last April 29, 2007, there was another set of candidates forum and this time for the candidates for Tagbilaran City mayor (Jose Torralba and Dan Neri Lim), vice mayor (Toto Veloso and Nuevas 'Jas'Tirol-Montes).

For April 30, 2007 forum, it was time for the candidates for provincial vice-governor (Julius Herrera and Freda Tirol) and congressman for 1st district (Edgar Chatto and Victor de la Serna) to also air their views and answers on questions and issues thrown to them.

(Photo above shows the candidates of the Nationalist People Coaliation with few of the the BCCTV staffers, after the Candidates' Forum)

Let the Battle Begin!

Last March 29 was the last day of filing for candidacy for those who are running for public office for the coming May 14, 2007 local election.On that day, the comelec offices were so busy accommodating late filers.

Picture above shows the team of Dan Lim and Nuevas "Jas" Tirol-Montes (6th from the left) with the candidates running for city councilor. L-R : Bompat, Olario, Kapirig, Bantugan, Macalandag, VM Montes, Magno(yours truly), Zamora, Cabalit, Glovasa, and Rama.

For the provincial scene, the following are those running for governor: Erico B. Aumentado (Lakas-CMD);Roberto "Bobby" Cericos (PDP-Laban), Sixto Dejan (PDP-Laban), Renato Dalay (Independent), Teofanes Dumaluan (Independent), Mario Magat Jr. (Independent) and Peter Peligrino (Independent).

For vice governor: Julius Caesar Herrera and Godofreda O. Tirol.

For the congressional race:
Ist District - Atty. Edgar M. Chatto (Lakas-CMD) and Atty.Victor de la Serna (PDP-Laban);
2nd District - Roberto Cajes (Lakas-CMD)and Wenceslao Garcia (PDP-Laban).
3rd District - Adam Relson Jala as (Lakas-CMD), Rene Relampagos (LDP), Dionisio Balite (Kampi), Alexander Lim (Aksyon Demokratiko), Victoriano Inte (Independent) and Rigoberto Madera (Independent).

For the Board Member position:
1st District - Jose Veloso, Felix Uy , and Alfonso Damalerio II (Lakas-CMD) and Cesar Tomas Lopez (PDP-Laban).
2nd District - Amalia Tirol, Ma. Fe Camacho-Lejos, Josephine Jumamoy (Lakas-CMD), Mario Auxillo (PDP-Laban), Eliseo Boyles Sr. (PDP-Laban) and Felipe dela Torre (PDP-Laban).
3rd District - Ester Corazon Galbreath (Lakas-CMD), Mario Balbin (Kampi),Artemio Cabatos (PDP-Laban), Salvador Diputado (Kampi), Bienvenido Molina (Lakas-CMD), Aster Piollo Apalisok (Lakas-CMD), Petronilo Sarigumba (PDP-Laban), Edgar Tac-an (Kampi) and Josil Trabajo (Lakas-CMD).

For Tagbilaran City:
Mayor - Dan Neri Lim and Jose V. Torralba
Vice-Mayor - Nuevas "Jas" Tirol-Montes and Jose Antonio "Toto" Veloso
City Councilors - Dandan Bantugan, Oscar Glovasa, Edgar Kapirig, Edgar Bompat, Macky Olario, Elvie Macalandag, Nerio "Butchie" Zamora II, Djingo Rama, Faro Cabalit, Leah Tirol-Magno, Lucio Balbin, Archie Sarmiento, Edi Borja, Jun dela Torre, Mariquit Derikito-Oppus, Bebiano Inting, Jerry Pabe, Roberto "Batchoy" Alba, Charles Cabalit and Jayvee Bullecer.

Let the battle begin!

De La Serna for Congressman?

Atty. Victor dela Serna, has been very vocal with on his demands for transparancy of the personal bank accounts of the incumbent congressmen - Cong. Edgar M. Chatto of the 1st district; Cong. Robert Cajes of the 2nd district; and Cong. Eladio Jala of the 3rd district. This time, talks is getting hot that Atty. Victor dela Serna himself is considering of joining the election arena by challenging Congressman Edgar M. Chatto.

A few days ago, a local radio station (DYRD) conducted a random survey among the local residents of Tagbilaran City. The survey was asking the radio listeners if they were infavor of De la Serna running for Congress. The survey resulted that most of the listeners (over 70%) are in favor that De la Serna will challenge Cong. Chatto.

A day after that radio survey was done, I saw Atty. De la Serna with the Boy Guingguing of the Bohol Sunday Post and Atty. Isabelo Sales at the coffee shop at the mall. I passed by them and Atty. de la Serna called my name. Since I was in a hurry, I just said "Hi and Hello" and waved to them. I wish I dropped by and ask him some words about the survey result.

Anyway, let's wait and see if he will really file for candidacy and indeed run for the congressional elections.

Montes join Lim?

In the recent issues of the two local newspapers : Bohol Chronicle and Bohol Sunday Post, it became obvious that incumbent Tagbilaran City Mayor Nuevas Tirol-Montes is running for re-election and would join the team of Mayor Dan N. Lim. A one on one interview with VM Montes, conducted by Mr. Loy N. Palapos, Montes shared her views about the situation.

Keep posted as the election fever in Bohol is getting hotter as the date of filling for candidacy for local election arena is getting near.

Battle of the Uys in Baclayon, Bohol

As published in the Bohol Sunday Post last March 11, 2007, the municipality of Baclayon will be experience a battle of the Uy clan as Councilor Marilyn Uy booted our from the administration camp where her brother-in-law incumbent mayor Benecio Uy belongs.

Councilor Marilyn Uy will be running as an independent guest candidate of Atty. Alvin Uy who is running for mayor of the said municipality.

The husband of Councilor Uy, Provincial Board Member Felix Uy is seeking reelection under the Lakas-CMD (administration ticket.

Mayor Benecio Uy will also be pushing his wife, Elena Uy to run as mayor to take over his seat, against Atty. Alvin Uy.

Another possibility also would be Mayor Uy may field any of his brothers Provincial Board Member Felix Uy or former councilor Angelito "Dodong" Uy to run for mayor instead of his wife, Elena.

Let the battle begin!

Cesar Montano running for Bohol governor?

This question was the banner headline of the Bohol Chronicle March 14, 2007 issue. The same question raised a lot of speculations. Indeed, the election fever is caught by a lot of people here and abroad.

I have heard comments over the radio that Cesar Montano has filed his transfer of voters registration only last May 2006 from Metro Manila to Baclayon, Bohol. So, therefore, he is indeed a voter in Bohol. And this development added fuel to the 'possibility' that our fellow Boholano actor would run for governor against the incumbent Gov. Erico B. Aumentado, instead of running for senator.

An angle came out of this question. Some say that should Montano indeed run for governor, it wouldn't be an easy way for the veteran governor Aumentado to the winning stand.

Others say that senior provincial board Atty. Dionisio Balite, who wasn't taken as a party candidate (of Aumentado) for congressman of the 3rd district of Bohol will line-up with Montano, who might also get incumbent vice governor Julius Herrera to be his runningmate.

There are only two answers to this question though. Yes or No.

The answer came this morning when I heard over the radion that Montano held a press conference yesterday in Quezon City that he is not backing out from his senatorial bid despite of a few hitches with his party. Therefore, the answer would be NO. Cesar Montano is not running for governor of Bohol.

But, the deadline for filing of candidacy for the local arena is still days away. He may still change his mind.

Team Unity

The election fever was felt even more in Bohol that day when the Team Unity senatoriables came to visit Bohol last March 10-12, 2007. Team Unity is the first senatorial bets line-up that came (as a team) to visit and campaign in Bohol.They wowed the Boholano crowd during their rally and their campaign sorties all around the province island.

Last Sunday, March 11, 2006, my Dad asked me to join him with my Mom during the dinner at the Bohol Tropics Resort Club with the Team Unity senatoriables. And of course, I went, together with my daughter -Karla.

Me, my daughter and my Mom were seated at the front table facing the presidential table where the senatoriables and top Bohol local officials were seated. My Dad was seated with them.

I had fun posting for pictures with some of the senatoriables. Of course, it's election time so they are more than willing to pose for a pictures with anyone.
With Migz Zubiri, picture taken a day earlier. Miguel "Migz" Zubiri is the guy wearing green all the time ( I bet he bought at least 2 dozens of forest green Lacoste t-shirts for his official uniform for the entire campaign period). I heard him speak that night and he can well speak in bisaya as he is from Bukinon.




When I entered the Bohol Tropics Resort Club Grand Ballroom I saw Senator Ralp Recto and oh boy, he is very good looking and I approached him and asked to post for a picture with him and he willingly said 'yes'! Posing for a picture with him felt like I was Vilma Santos (hahahhaha).

My daughter was so eager to have a picture taken with Senatoriable Pitchay. We only see him on TV with his very catching TV commercial "Itanim si Pitchay sa Senado". I was surprised to learn that he speaks very good bisaya too. He is from Surigao.

Senator Tito Sotto and former senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta with senator Ralph Rector were at the front chatting and I shamelesslly approached them to ask for a picture with them too.

We stayed until the dinner meeting was over and before everybody was gone, I caught-up with Senator Edgardo Angara and introduced myself. And since we are inviting him to be a guest speaker on March 20, 2007, Sen. Angara told me that we will be seeing each other again on the 20th.

Others present during the affair were senatoriables Vic Magsaysay, Sultan Kiram, and Mike "Tol" Defensor. However, I missed having pictures with them too. The night was so busy with all of them trying to shake hands and pat shoulders with almost everyone present in the hall.

I really missed having picture with our very own Boholano senatoriable Cesar Montano. The day before, although I was only a few meters away from him, I didn't insisted on having a picture taken with him because there were too many people crowding around him. The closest picture I took of him was when he was on stage, waving to his fellow Boholanos. He was not present in the dinner meeting, although my sister texted me that Cesar Montano had dinner with his team at her restaurant at Cainget Fish Grill & Restaurant.

GMA Bohol Visit

Last Saturday, March 10, 2007, President GMA came for another visit to Bohol to be the guest during the Bohol Youth Day rally at the CPG Sports Complex. I was 'fortunate' to be standing infront of the stage just next to the PSG and be able to take closer shots of GMA and the other people on stage.

The day was so hot and the crowd was huge. The rally was well-attended by different Bohoholano youth group representatives and local officials.

GMA visit to Bohol is always like this anyway. GMA loves Bohol and most Boholanos love GMA too.

Bohol Election 2007 Blog

I am creating this Bohol Election 2007 Blog intending to provide readers a few or some information or updates about what's happening here in Bohol with regards to the election fever.

Entries posted here would be based on my personaly experiences, observations, opinion and thoughts. Some entries may also be extracted from other sources.

Enjoy the election fever!