Rama, Osmeña compete for 'Likes' in FB

Aside from scrambling to press hands and cover as much campaign space, the two main mayoralty contenders of Cebu City are also battling it out in cyberspace. Reelectionist Mayor Mayor Michael Rama and incumbent south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña, mayoralty bet of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan and Liberal Party (BOPK-LP) have made their presence felt in the top social networking site Facebook. Rama's social media campaign involves more than 10 Facebook accounts, with the 'Mayor Mike Rama' group account with 4,105 members as of 9 p.m. last night. The fanpage account 'Michael “Mike” Rama' has 12,979 likes as of last night and 2,700 people talking about him. Osmeña also has more than 10 Facebook accounts and one official page group under the name 'Tommy Osmeña' with 8,995 members, 6,251 likes and 3,164 people talking about him in the social media site. In his ‘Tommy Osmeña’ FB page has acquired 6, 251 likes, with 3,164 people talking about him. The Facebook accounts of Rama and Osmeña are updated daily with photos of their campaign and articles and comments on their respective advocacies. Discussions in their respective accounts are about the merits of their candidacies. Supporters are actively criticizing the rival candidates. Some voiced out their complaints and suggestions on how to run the city. Atty. Jade Ponce, consultant of Rama said that social media campaigning is important because a lot of people now are online and it is a venue where people can really express their opinion. “That is one venue where people can really express their opinion. Unlike in our traditional media, your messages are being edited and are not always carried,” he said. “I'm not surprised that Mayor Mike Rama has more than 12,000 likers while Cong. Tomas only has 6,000,” he said. Cebu Daily News tried to get a comment from Osmeña and BOPK but was told they are not commenting on their social media campaign strategy. “Our opponents may know our campaign strategy,” said a BOPK campaign staff who asked not be named for lack of authority to comment on the matter. /Christine Emily L. Pantaleon, Correspondent