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AMID the sounds of a drum and bugle corps and 1,500 supporters cheering them on, Mandaue City candidates under the administration One Cebu party filed their candidacies before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) city office yesterday morning.
Among them was former board member Gabriel Luis Quisumbing, who will run for Cebu's sixth congressional district against Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes' older brother Ariston ?Balodong? Quisumbing.
Ariston, who along with Mayor Cortes will run as independents next year, filed his own bid last Sunday.
He chided Quisumbing for ?riding on different parties? and ?having no clear stand on issues.?
?He (Quisumbing) had several talks with Mayor Cortes saying he was on his side. (But) all the while, he (Quisumbing) was also with (outgoing Cebu 6th district Rep. Nerissa) Soon-Ruiz...he serves several masters,? Balodong said.
But Quisumbing said he left his alliance with the Cortes camp in order to help achieve political unity in Mandaue City.
?It has been a long while since there was unity in Mandaue City. Here comes an opportunity that we can be united and I took that opportunity,? he said.
Quisumbing, whose family owns the Norkis Group of Companies, ran with the Cortes camp against Soon-Ruiz and lost by a slim margin.
The Quisumbings had a feud with the Ouano family and at one time, with Soon-Ruiz for several years.
?By joining the group, it's the least that I can contribute to families that are filled with traditional rivalries,? Quisumbing explained.
?But even if we choose different paths (with Cortes), we still maintain very good relations,? he said.
Exchanging handshakes and smiles with Quisumbing for photographers during the parade, former Mayor Thadeo Ouano said it has been a long dream of his father, former Mayor Alfredo, that their family would be reunited with the Quisumbings.
?This unity is for the progress and development of Mandaue and with the Province of Cebu as well,? Ouano said.
?In many cases (in the conflict with the Ouanos in particular) would have been prevented if we keep our communication lines open,? Quisumbing added.
The Ouanos and Soon-Ruiz previously had a spat but united against the Cortes group in the 2007 elections.
Prior to filing their candidacies, the administration lineup heard the 9 a.m mass at the St. Joseph Shrine at the reclamation area.
The mass celebrated at the fully-packed Saint Joseph Shrine was attended by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Provincial Board Member Wenceslao Gakit.
Garcia, Gakit and Quisumbing are still scheduled to file their COCs at the Capitol today.
Former Mayor Ouano whose name was considered as Garcia's running mate was joined by his father, wife, and children.
Quisumbing's father Luis arrived at the Norkis Park where a political rally was held for the group.
Soon-Ruiz later trooped to the Comelec office to file her certificate of candidacy (COC) for Mayor of Mandaue along with her slate including incumbent Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna and Councilors Emiliano Rosal, Noeleen Borbajo, Alfonso Albaño Jr., and Editha Cabahug.
Most of them wore the party colors of white and blue and had supporters bearing huge placards and tarpaulins that had either the name or the enlarged photos of the candidates.
The drum and bugle corps was accompanied with motorcycle riders.
In addition to the incumbent councilors, the Soon-Ruiz slate also included Ouano's daughter Emmarie ?Lollipop Dizon, Umapad barangay captain Zaldy Lumapas, Wilmer Sanoria, Harry Ceniza, and Soon-Ruiz' nephew John Soon.
There were only nine councilors under the Soon-Ruiz slate.
But spokesperson Gonzalo Maligon said an additional councilor bet from a well-known family in the city will be announced later today.Reporter Dale G. Israel
