Smaller crowd seen at Rama’s birthday
CEBU, Philippines - True to her statement that there will be a lot of stars to come the night after Willie Revillame campaigned for her party, talent manager and Team Rama congressional bet Annabelle Rama gathered more stars for her birthday celebration.
Apart from Annabelle's daughter Ruffa, who was tasked to introduced her fellow stars, and husband Eddie Guttierez, Philippine showbiz personalities also entertained the Cebuanos and campaigned for the talent manager and her party.
Stars like Pops Fernandez, Gabby Concepcion, Andi Eigenmann, Arci Munoz, and comedienne Pokwang offered dance and song numbers in a stage mounted inside the Plaza Independencia.
The same tarpaulin backdrop was used during Team Rama's proclamation rally at the same location entitled "Panag-abot."
In between performances, Team Rama candidates were called on stage to briefly greet the birthday celebrator and to campaign for themselves.
Sharon, wife of Jack Jakosalem, who is still recovering from being hospitalized last year shortly after filing his candidacy, represented her husband, tagging their son along.
But unlike the preceding "Wowowillie in Cebu Supports Team Rama" show that gathered almost 100,000 people, the birthday event drew a smaller crowd.
Waterfront Police Station chief Wildemar Tiu estimated about 3,000 to 3,500 fans and supporters trooped to Plaza Independencia.
Kugi Uswag Sugbo chairman emeritus and former mayor Alvin Garcia also attended the birthday celebration. In his speech, he attacked Mayor Michael Rama's opponent Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña.
"Dili man ko gustong modaot ni Tomas kay dili man mi kontra. Pero duna lang ko'y duha ka punto nganung dili siya angay botaran. Una, dili na mayo ang iyang panglawas. Papahuwayon nasad nato na siya uy," Garcia addressed the crowd.
He proceeded with his second reason which was to avoid the existing setup of the council whose role is reportedly to block any move of the mayor.
"Kung dili mo mobotar straight sa Team Rama candidates, wala gihapo'y gamit nga makadaug si Mike kay kontrahon lang gihapon siya sa vice ug sa konseho. Unsaon paglambo sa Cebu City ana?" Garcia added.
The KUSUG founder was also spotted during the previous night's show with Revillame.
The incumbent mayor also asked the audience to pray for Annabelle that she may win the elections and be given chance to serve Cebuanos.
"Dili ta sa flyover projects kay overpriced na sila. Ang atoa mao nga maghimo usa'g traffic master plan," he said hitting Annabelle's opponent, former congressman Raul del Mar, who is known to have actively pushed for flyover projects which were opposed by civil society.