Proem

First of all, if you are Chinese, then allow me to greet you HAPPY NEW YEAR! Today, February 18, is the beginning of the Year of the Pig of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

Pigs are either appreciated or hated. Majority of the Filipinos appreciate the existence of pigs because they use them during fiestas and other celebrations. However, the Muslims, the Seventh Day Adventists and some religions hate pigs.

The Two Candidates

Two Boholanos are candidates for senator for the May 2007 elections. They are Sonia Malasarte-Roco and Cesar Montano. Roco is in the line-up of the opposition and Montano is in the line-up of the administration. Montano substituted for Gov. Petilla of Leyte who withdrew his candidacy.

Maybe the pig is symbolic of the situation. You either appreciate or hate these Boholano candidates depending on which side of the political spectrum you are. If you are pro-administration, you would not like Sonia Roco who is on the side of Ex-President Estrada. The Late Senator Roco was not a fan of Ex-President Estrada.

If you are pro-opposition, you would not like Cesar Montano who is on the side of the administration. The roles acted by Montano always championed the small people similar to the roles acted by Ex-President Estrada.

Two Senators in One Election

The last Boholano to be elected Senator was Senator Ernesto Herrera. Even though he grew up and made his name in Cebu, he claimed to be a Boholano because he was born in Calape, Bohol.

Did you know that during the April 23, 1946 Presidential Election, won by President Roxas against President Osmeña, two Boholanos were elected Senators of the Philippines? They were Senators Carlos P. Garcia and Olegario Clarin of Loay, Bohol.

During that election, 24 senators were to be elected. The first eight would serve six years, the second eight would serve four years and the third eight would serve two years.

The two Boholanos ran under different political parties. Senator Carlos P. Garcia ran under the Nacionalista Party while Senator Olegario Clarin ran under the Liberal Party.

Senator Garcia landed within the first eight elected Senators to serve for six years.

Senator Olegario Clarin landed in the second eight senators to serve for four years.

During that time, party loyalty was still very strong. However, the Boholanos crossed party lines in order to vote for the two Boholano candidates. Do you think the same thing will be the situation this coming May election? Your guess is as good as mine.

The Big Difference

Senators Garcia and Clarin were serving politicians in Bohol before the 946 election.

Senator Garcia was Governor of Bohol before he was elected Senator in the 1941 election. However, World War II prevented Senator Garcia from serving. Senator Olegario Clarin was Congressman for the Second District of Bohol before the war.

Senatorial candidates Roco and Montano have not served the Boholanos in any political office. They are always outside the province of Bohol and return to Bohol only occasionally. In fact they have no experience in any political office. They would be lucky if they can approximate the overwhelming votes given by the Boholanos to Senators Garcia and Clarin.