The 1971 election in Cebu

In the provincial front, Dr. Osmundo G. Rama, the incumbent governor of Cebu (who succeeded Atty. Rene G. Espina who resigned as governor in 1969 to run for --and win as-- senator) ran for governor. Espina and Rama in the 1967 election ran under the Nacionalista Party. They both won and so did their board members. In the 1971 election Dr. Rama shifted alliances and was supported by Serging Osmeña.

Rama was opposed by Beatriz Duterte Durano, the wife of the legendary, Congressman Ramon “Manoy Amon” Durano of Danao. Durano was supported by President Marcos while Rama by Osmeña. Beatriz Duterte, who married a Durano, was the first cousin of the lawyer brothers, Ramon and Vicente, who were both Osmenistas. Ramon Duterte was the vice mayor of Serging Osmeña and succeeded him when the latter resigned to run for Congress, while Vicente Duterte was appointed by President Sergio Osmeña as mayor of Danao, Cebu, in 1946.

In 1963, Ramon Durano ran for mayor of Cebu City, challenging Serging Osmeña. The third candidate was Dr. Osmundo G. Rama. Durano and Rama lost to Osmeña.

Dr. Rama won as governor in 1971 with Osmeña's support and he held the office up to 1976 and was replaced by Atty. Eduardo Gullas who was appointed by President Marcos. until the former was likewise evicted by Dr. Osmundo Rama upon orders of President Cory Aquino in 1986, appointing him as OIC governor. During the first post-EDSA election, in 1988, an Osmeña retook the Cebu Provincial Capitol with the election of Emilio M. Renner Osmeña, Jr. more known as Lito Osmeña, the architect of the Cebu Boom. He is the son of the martyred military surgeon, Col. Emilio Chiong Veloso Osmeña, the elder brother of Serging Osmeña Jr.

In the Cebu City political arena, Serging Osmeña was challenged by Atty. Mario D. Ortiz (the Last of the Legends) who was the candidate of President Marcos.

Osmeña won, and so did his entire slate; Vice Mayor Eulogio Enriquez Borres, Atty. Ronald R. Duterte (son of Mayor Ramon Duterte), Raymundo A. Crystal (Founder of the Cebu City National Science High School), Bienvenido B. Tudtud, Atty. Florencio S. Urot, Jose V. Cuenco (younger brother of Antonio V. Cuenco who is now running for councilor of Cebu City), Dr. Pablo U. Abella, Atty. George M. Baladjay, Arturo L. Abellana, and Atty. Jesus S. Gabuya.