Octogenarians, millennials seek votes in today’s polls

IN AN election, does a candidate’s age matter?

The oldest and youngest candidate running in today’s elections leave it to the voters to decide.

Incumbent Talisay City Mayor Eduardo “Eddiegul” Gullas Sr. is considered as the most senior candidate in the midterm elections on Monday, May 13.

The 88-year-old leader of the Alayon Party wants to return to Congress and is running for the first district congressional seat.

Other elder statesmen running in the elections are former congressman Antonio Cuenco and former senator and congressman John Henry Osmeña.

Cuenco, 83, is running for councilor in Cebu City’s south district while Osmeña, 83, is gunning for the third district’s congressional seat. Osmeña is the incumbent mayor of Toledo City.

Considered as a veteran and a savvy politician, Gullas has held various positions in the government for more than 40 years.

In his speech during his party’s miting de avance, he urged fellow candidates to fulfill their promises and help the people who approach them.

“We should serve with utmost honesty. We should not hide from them. If they visit our office, we should face them,” Gullas said.

He served as congressman for 25 years. He was also appointed Cebu governor in 1976 and was elected governor from 1980 to 1986.

Gullas was elected as the first mayor after the Municaplity of Talisay was declared a city.

For Gullas, the district’s biggest problem is road congestion.

If elected congressman, he will help address traffic concerns by making sure there is a budget to implement road and infrastructure projects.

In the many years he was first district congressman, he counts the electrification of all 130 barangays in the entire district as one of his biggest achievements.

He also authored the law establishing the Central Cebu Protected Landscape and the laws that created the City of Naga, City of Carcar and City of Talisay.

Gullas is already 88 and will take over the post that will be vacated by his grandson if he wins. What made him run at his age?

“The first district is very dear to me. I want to retire where I started. I may not be young anymore but I believe that the years I spent with the Cebuanos, particularly with my constituents in the first district, gave me a broad community engagement with the people I represented and served,” he said.

As for the call to give others a chance to serves, Gullas said it is up to the public.

“At the end of the day, it is the public who decides. I would welcome a new generation of public servants. I will always submit to the will of the people,” he told Superbalita Cebu.

Like any millennial, Carillo, 23, is described by his family as flippant or “kiatan.”

He takes the description as a compliment because for him, that means he is energetic enough and open to do what he has to do as a leader.

“My age is not my identity. And just because kiatan ta doesn’t mean that we’re inept,” said Carillo.

Carillo, 23, said young candidates like him tend to be more critical of things and issues.

They also tend to veer away from traditional practices, which he said makes him different from candidates who have been in government for a long time.

Even at a young age, Carillo already thought of serving the public, saying his exposure to social work, politics and the legal practice since he was seven years old influenced him to do so.

Carillo is the son of lawyer and former Cebu City councilor Gerardo Carillo and former Department of Social Welfare and Development 7 information officer Jaybee Binghay.

His interest in politics started when he worked as a paralegal officer at his father’s law firm and he was asked to handle the case of a person who was wrongly accused by authorities.

That’s also what started his concern for the poor, he said.

“I want to focus on people. In order for you to be a politician, you have to love the people,” said Carillo.

If elected city councilor of the south district, Carillo said he will push to eliminate the requirement of voting for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) who avail themselves of the cash assistance from the City Government.

He also wants to legislate a student loan program so those who can’t afford to go to school can borrow money from the government and pay it off only when they are already earning.

Carillo also tackled the need for rehabilitation centers for drug offenders and said the government should help with their rehabilitation.

These programs are what motivated him to run in the election.

“I am running because of the social welfare problems,” said Carillo.