IVY AND MARIQUITA

The talk is about the vice governor “probables” who will be the respective running mates of incumbent Gov. Junjun Davide and challenger-returnee Gwen Garcia.

Two-termer Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale has repeatedly said she is retiring from politics and won’t run for any post. Junjun, looking around for his vice governor-wannabe in the 2019 return battle with Gwen, said his top choice is Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca, chief of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Office.

Ivy Meca had previously served as barangay captain of Guinsay, Danao City (two terms, 2001 and 2004), city councilor in 2007, and as president of the Cebu Councilors League and sat as Provincial Board member from 2010 to 2016. With Magpale’s nod, Meca would be it.

Just as businesswoman Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, sister of Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, would be the running mate of Rep. Gwen Garcia, former three-term governor (2004-2013). No formal announcement yet (for bigger impact, Gwen had said) but there seems to be no one else in sight.

Mariquita is better known for her charity work and links to the Beautiful Cebu Movement. She ran twice for Bogo City mayor, in 2010 and 2013, but lost both races. She transferred voting residence last May 30, 2015 from Bogo to Medellin where she grew up.