One Cebu Hiniusang Sugbo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Gwendolyn Garcia |
| Secretary-General | Pablo John Garcia |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Cebu City |
| Ideology | Cebuano interests Localism Populism |
| National affiliation | PDP–Laban(2016–2024) UNA(2012–2016) NUP(2011–2012) Lakas–Kampi(2008–2011) KAMPI(2007–2008) |
| Colors | Blue Yellow White |
| House of Representatives (Cebu seats) | 8 / 8 |
| Provincial Governor | 0 / 1 |
| Provincial Vice Governor | 1 / 1 |
| Board Members | 12 / 19 |
| City Mayors (Component Cities) | 5 / 6 |
| Sangguniang Panglungsod (Component Cities) | 48 / 60 |
| Municipal Mayors | 39 / 44 |
| Sangguniang Bayan | 306 / 352 |
One Cebu (1CEBU) is a provincialpolitical party based in the province ofCebu. It is headed byGwendolyn Garcia, former governor ofCebu.
The party was formed in response to theSugbuak, or the failed Cebu-split movement, in time for the2007 general elections. A brainchild of three Cebuano representatives who were in their last terms of office,Sugbuak entailed the supposed splitting of Cebu province into four independent provinces.[1]
In founding One Cebu, the Garcia family and their supporters capitalized on the widespread opposition to theSugbuak movement, declaring that there is only one Cebu; hence, the party's name.[2] They later left theLakas—Christian Muslim Democrats, once the dominant majority party in national politics, and joined former PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo's political party, theKabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI).[3] The party's strength was further bolstered by internal alliances with theAlayon Alang sa Kalambuan ug Kalinaw (Alayon) party in the first district, led by the Gullas family,[4] and theBarug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) party of the Durano family in the fifth district.[5] This led to GovernorGwendolyn Garcia's wide margin — around half a million votes — in the votes cast for governor in the 2007 elections.
In the2010 national elections, One Cebu strongly campaigned for the candidacy ofGilbert "Gibo" Teodoro, Jr., the standard bearer of the now-mergedLakas–Kampi.[6] Gov. Garcia promised that Cebu will give 1 million votes to Teodoro, but local election results showed the latter behind then presumptive president-elect Aquino who got more than 400,000 votes.[7]
Gov. Garcia selected businessman Glenn Anthony Soco to be her running mate in the 2010 elections. Gov. Garcia and Soco are said to have a 'romantic relationship,' which created much media hype.[8]
The vice gubernatorial hopeful, however, still lost to the late former vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr., who is the founding vice president of One Cebu.[citation needed] Sanchez later bolted out of Gov. Garcia's group after One Cebu welcomedTuburan, Cebu mayor Constancio Suezo and his team as party members.[9] The former vice governor was against the inclusion of Suezo's group after they allegedly failed to maintain the peace and order situation in the town.[10] A year afterBenigno Aquino III was electedPresident of the Philippines in 2010, One Cebu again switched party allegiance— this time, to the newly-foundedNational Unity Party (NUP), which former Cebu governorPablo Garcia founded.[11]
In 2010, Rep. Pablo John "PJ" Garcia, the governor's brother, announced that he and Soco will be One Cebu’s candidates for governor and vice governor, respectively, in the 2013 local elections.[12] But in May 2011, Pablo John said he decided not to run for governor because he wants to continue serving his home district.[13]
The party joint-forces with theUnited Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice PresidentJejomar Binay to form a local coalition for the2016 national elections.[14] The coalition was launched on February 16, 2016 at theWaterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino.[15] One Cebu later withdrew support for Binay and his party UNA on March 21, 2016.[16] On April 2, 2016, One Cebu has announced that they will support the presidential candidacy ofDavao City MayorRodrigo Duterte.[17] The party has pledged to deliver more than 1 million votes for the Visayan candidate.[18] The alliance between One Cebu and Duterte was launched on April 21, 2016.[19]
Winston Garcia, a former Provincial Board Member and former chairman ofGSIS during the Arroyo administration was fielded for the gubernatorial post in the province withNerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz, former Sixth District congresswoman, running for the vice gubernatorial post.[20][21] Garcia and Soon-Ruiz were defeated by incumbent GovernorHilario Davide III and Vice GovernorAgnes Magpale.
After several months, Gwen Garcia officially endorsed thetandem ofBongbong Marcos andSara Duterte for upcoming2022 presidential elections.[22] The endorsement ofMarcos and Duterte caused PJ Garcia (one of the political supporters ofIsko Moreno'spresidential campaign) to step down as secretary-general of the party,[23] but PJ Garcia one said that he will still support and campaign for all of the 1-Cebu candidates (especially on their district).Lolypop Ouano-Dizon appointed as interim secretary general.[24] After of the election, the fear ofSugbuak constantly gaining momentum, as another set proposal of the movements arose in July 2022,[25] withMactan Island, as a separate province.[26]
PJ Garcia returned as secretary general, and will run for reelection seeking final term,[27] with his sister Gwen seeking again the governors' office. But, PJ Garcia withdrawn on October 8, 2025 citing his personal projects' advancement, and tapped his wife Karen Flores-Garcia who won unopposed,[28] and Gwen Garcia was defeated by a neophyte Duterte-endorsed candidatePam Baricuatro.[29][30] Glenn Soco won the vice gubernatorial race and 1-Cebu snapped 12 seats in the provincial board.[31]
As of the lastelections for theHouse of Representatives, One Cebu holds 8 out of 317 seats. Cebu's seven congressional districts and the lone district ofMandaue City are currently represented by the following members/allies of One Cebu:
One Cebu also dominates the provincial board with Vice Governor Glenn Soco leading a large majority ofSangguniang Panlalawigan members, plus the presidents of the localLiga ng mga Barangay,Sangguniang Kabataan and the Councilors' League. In the local level, the party has the backing of 51 out of 53 city and municipal mayors throughout Cebu.
| Year | Gubernatorial elections | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote share | Result | |
| 2007 | Gwen Garcia | 70.25% | Gwen Garcia (1-Cebu / KAMPI) |
| 2010 | Gwen Garcia | 53.50% | Gwen Garcia (1-Cebu / Lakas–Kampi) |
| 2013 | Pablo John Garcia[n 1] | 40.98% | Hilario Davide III (Liberal) |
| 2016 | Winston Garcia | 46.04% | Hilario Davide III (Liberal) |
| 2019 | Gwen Garcia | 58.51% | Gwen Garcia (1-Cebu / PDP–Laban) |
| 2022 | Gwen Garcia | 80.80% | Gwen Garcia (1-Cebu) |
| 2025 | Gwen Garcia | 40.13% | Pam Baricuatro (PDP) |
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