The Freeman

The 1934 national elections in Cebu

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The 1934 National Elections was held on June 5, 1934, the country at that time was divided with two national figures as protagonis­ts. They were Senator Manuel L. Quezon (first Senate president) of the 5th senatorial district and Senator Sergio Osmeña Sr. (first Speaker of the National Assembly) of the 10th senatorial district (Cebu). During that time there was yet no elected Filipino national leader, as the chief executive was not a Filipino president but an American governor general. It was only on September 16, 1935 that the first national election for president was conducted, with Manuel L. Quezon as president (Nacionalis­ta Party) winning over Emilio Aguinaldo (National Socialist) and Gregorio Aglipay of the Republican. The vice presidency was won by Don Sergio Osmeña of the Nacionalis­ta (in the election, the two joined forces) defeating Raymundo Melliza and Norberto Nabong.

In the 1934 elections, Quezon and Osmeña were at odds, they were split on the issue of approving or rejecting the Hare, Hawes and Cutting Law and the Tydings-McDuffie Law of the United States. Quezon's group was called the ANTI faction, while Osmena and Roxas were called the PRO faction.

In Cebu, Quezon designated Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco as his candidate for governor, who defeated Sotero B. Cabahug, Osmeña's candidate (who was an assemblyma­n for the old 2nd district during the election).

For several years before the 1934 elections, Cebu had a party called "Cebu Democrata", the candidates in the elections for the district were members of the party, and were divided in that election, for the Anti Faction, the group was led by Don Vicente Rama while the Pro faction of the Democrata was led by Nicolas Rafols.

For senator, Don Sergio Osmeña sought for reelection, and defeated Don Vicente Y. Sotto (Anti Faction), the seven districts of Cebu had the following candidates and winners:

First District: Tereso Dosdos of the Anti defeated Wenceslao Fernan (father of Senate president and Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan) of the Pro faction.

Second District: Tomas Alonso of the Anti lost to Hilario Abellana of the Pro faction.

Third District: Don Vicente Rama of the Anti defeated Maximino Noel of the Pro faction.

Fourth District: Agustin Y. Kintanar of the Anti defeated Juan Alcazaren of the Pro faction.

Fifth District: Miguel Cuenco of the Anti (brother of Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco) defeated Dr. Leandro Tojong of the Anti (also became Mayor of Cebu City).

Sixth District: Miguel Raffinan of the Anti was defeated by Nicolas Rafols of the Pro faction.

Seventh District: Buenaventu­ra Rodriguez of the Anti defeated Eulalio Causin of the Pro faction.

The following year, when the 1935 Constituti­on was ratified and congress reverted back to unicameral (the Senate was abolished, later re-establishe­d in 1941) Frank Murphy, the American governor general exited as the country's chief executive with Manuel L. Quezon installed on November 15, 1935 as the country's first elected president with Don Sergio Osmeña as the country's first elected vice president.

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