City Youth Expresses Support for Team Rama’s Bid

About 200 young voters yesterday expresses support for incumbent Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s bid for this year’s mid-term elections.

In an orientation activity of the youth organization, Youth-For-Mike (YFM), held yesterday at Rama Compound in Basak Pardo, 200 young voters from Cebu City barangays manifest their support to Team Rama’s election bid this May 13, 2013. Young voters from barangays Mambaling, Punta Princesa, Tisa, Carreta, Kinasang-an Pardo, Day-as, and Mabolo assured the incumbent mayor the sanctity of their votes. “Dili mi mo-pareha sa uban’g botante nga mobaligya sa ilahang boto” (we won’t follow other voters who sell their votes), one participant said.

Speaking in the orientation, Mayor Rama said to the youth that he can’t give them money but only the services that the City has rendered.”Wa’ man koy kwarta na ikahatag ninyo, pero naa ang atong sinserong serbisyo sa syudad nga para kaninyo.” (I have no money to give you, but I can give the sincere services that the city has rendered.)

Team Rama’s Congressional bet, Aristotol “Totol” Batuhan, who also spoke before the assembly, said that the young voters must compare between the programs of Team Rama and that of other contenders. He said that as young voters, it is important to compare, not for the sake of comparing, but for assessing who among the candidates has the capacity to serve the interest of the young. “ ..Dili ta mo pugngan nga maminaw usab sa pikas mga kandidato, mas maayo nga matimbang ninyo kun kinsa jud ang mas adunay maayong programa para sa mga kabatan-onan ug sa syudad.”(I wont prevent you from listening to other candidates, it is important that you compare us against them so that you can assess who among us have the better program that can serve you and the City.) Batuhan said.

Batuhan, a lawyer, revealed that he already had the draft of his proposed legislation for the youth once he will win in the election. He said that his “Study-Now-Pay-later” law will come as his first legislation to address the problem for those deserving students who has no means to sustain their education.

Program organizer AJ Castillo said that they welcome the development of the organization, Youth-For-Mike, for its successful orientation program. She added that when it comes to the City’s concern, it is the youth sector that has less representation. She said that this development is geared towards pressing the youth to move and participate in the City activity for their welfare.

Castillo added that the activity provides the youth a venue to be vigilant when in comes to choosing their leaders.