By Calvin Cordova
CEBU CITY — It was a big family affair for political clans in Cebu province. Many of the family members made it but there were also some disappointments.
Leading the winner’s circle in the recently concluded midterm elections was the Garcias, one of the most prominent political clans in the province.
Incumbent Cebu 3rd District Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia was elected governor after beating current Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.
Taking over Garcia’s current post is her younger brother Pablo John, who defeated two other candidates for the Third District congressional race.
Another Garcia sibling Marlon won as mayor in Barili town but their brother Nelson failed in his bid to become a congressman in the Seventh District.
Gwendolyn’s daughter Christina was re-elected as mayor in Liloan town.
Christina’s husband Duke Frasco scored a huge victory after he won the Fifth District congressional race against the incumbent Red Durano.
Red’s father Nito and brother Mix were reelected as mayor and vice mayor in Danao City.
In Dumanjug town, brothers Gungun Gica and Wado Gica won as mayor and vice mayor, respectively.
Their brother Erick was also elected as a provincial board member.
In Bogo City, former city mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. lost in the Fourth District congressional race but his children Carlo and Maria Cielo won another term as mayor and vice mayor, respectively.
In Daanbantayan town, Sun Shimura will be replacing his step-father; the controversial retired police general Vicente Lo-ot as town mayor.
Shimura’s wife Kerrie won as a provincial board member.
A mother-and-son tandem is set to lead San Fernando town after Lakambini Reluya was re-elected as mayor.
Her son Ricci Regen was also elected as vice mayor.
Ricci Regen replaced his father Ricardo, who was killed in an ambush last January 20.
Naga City will now have a father-and-daughter tandem after Valdemar and Kristine Vanessa Chiong won as mayor and vice mayor, respectively.
Kristine is the incumbent mayor.
The father and son pair of incumbent Madridejos Vice Mayor Salvador dela Fuente and incumbent Mayor Jay River, topped the mayoral and vice mayoralty races, respectively.
Alex Binghay was elected as mayor in Balamban while his son Alfie also won as vice mayor.
In Sogod, incumbent Vice Mayor Richard Streegan won as mayor, while his wife, incumbent Mayor Moonyen Durano-Streegan, was elected vice mayor.
In Talisay City, Cebu 1st District Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas will replace his grandfather Eduardo Gullas as city mayor.
The two will just switch places after the elder Gullas was elected First District Representative.
In Carcar City, couple Mercedita and Nicepuro Apura were elected as mayor and vice mayor, respectively.
Lionel Bacaltos was elected as mayor in Sibonga town, while his wife, incumbent mayor Caroline, earned a seat in the council.
In Compostela town, Froilan Quiño was elected as mayor, while his uncle Felijur succeeds in his re-election bid as a councilor.
In Mandaue City, Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon was elected as 6th District representative, while PB Member Thadeo Jovito Ouano succeeded in his reelection bid.
Their brother Alfie is one of the new elected councilors in Consolacion town.
Winning as mayor in Poro town, Camotes was Edgar Rama as well as his running mate, his uncle Luciano, who is the town’s incumbent mayor.
Incumbent Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr. won as mayor in San Francisco town, while his brother the incumbent Mayor Aly Arquillano was elected as vice mayor.
In Aloguinsan town, Mayor Cesare Ignatius Moreno succeeded in his reelection, while his sister Raisa won as vice mayor.
Siblings Raul and Rex Geron were elected as mayor and vice mayor in Tabuelan town.
Another pair of siblings also won in Tuburan as Danilo and Democrito Diamante topped the mayoralty and vice mayoralty races, respectively.
In Malabuyoc, Lito Narciso Creus and his son Lito Narciso III were reelected as mayor and vice mayor.
In Alegria, mayor Verna Magallon was reelected while her husband Gilberto won as vice mayor.
Consolacion will be led by Joannes Alegado and his mother incumbent town Mayor Teresa Alegado.
The two ran unopposed as mayor and vice mayor.
Samboan Mayor Emerito Calderon and his son incumbent Vice Mayor Emerito Jr. were reelected.
Emerito’s son Peter John was also reelected as 7th District Representative.
Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho was reelected as mayor in Cordova town, while her running mate, Ximgil Dino Sitoy, her cousin, won as vice mayor.