One Cebu

The party was formed in response to the Sugbuak, or the failed Cebu-split movement, in time for the 2007 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.{{cite news|work=Manila Bulletin|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/node/97786|title= 'Sugbuak'|date=October 22, 2006}}

In founding One Cebu, the Garcia family and their supporters capitalized on the widespread opposition to the Sugbuak movement, declaring that there is only one Cebu; hence, the party's name.{{cite news|work=The Philippine Star|url=http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=41503| title= New provinces or cities: More politicians?|date=January 30, 2008}} They later left the Lakas—Christian Muslim Democrats, once the dominant majority party in national politics, and joined former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's political party, the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI).{{cite news|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|url=http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/eleksyon2007/view.php?article=20070211-48818| title= Lakas downplays rift with Kampi, Garcias’ breakaway}} Inquirer.net. Posted February 11, 2007. The party's strength was further bolstered by internal alliances with the Alayon Alang sa Kalambuan ug Kalinaw (Alayon) party in the first district, led by the Gullas family,{{cite web|url=http://66.117.4.124/cebu/mongaya-misunderstood-alliance| title= Mongaya: Misunderstood alliance}} SunStar Cebu Online. Published April 11, 2010. and the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (BAKUD) party of the Durano family in the fifth district.{{cite web|url=http://ph.politicalarena.com/gilbert-teodoro/news/another-cebu-influential-political-clan-backs-gibo| title= Another Cebu influential political clan backs Gibo|date=April 7, 2010}} This led to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia's wide margin — around half a million votes — in the votes cast for governor in the 2007 elections.

A year after Benigno Aquino III was elected President of the Philippines in 2010, One Cebu again switched party allegiance— this time, to the National Unity Party, which former Cebu governor Pablo Garcia founded.{{cite news|work=SunStar|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/opinion/wenceslao-one-cebu-wins-round| title= Wenceslao: One Cebu wins round|date=February 5, 2011}}. In 2016, the party formed a local coalition together with the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).{{cite news|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/una-one-cebu-sign-unity-pact/245324/|title=UNA, One Cebu sign unity pact|work=The Manila Times|date=February 16, 2016|access-date=February 19, 2016|last=Tolentino|first=Reina}} One Cebu broke ties with UNA in March 2016, and instead supported Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's presidential campaign.

As of the last elections for the House of Representatives, One Cebu holds 7 out of 277 seats.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}} Cebu's six congressional districts and the newly created district of Lapu-Lapu City are currently represented by the following members of One Cebu:

• Rep. Rhea Mae Gullas (1st District)
• Rep. Atty. Pablo John F. Garcia (3rd District)
• Rep. Janice Z. Salimbangon (4th District)
• Rep. Vincent Franco D. Frasco (5th District)
• Rep. Daphne A. Lagon (6th District)
• Rep. Emmarie M. Ouano-Dizon (Lone District of Mandaue City)

One Cebu also dominates the provincial council with Gov. Garcia and Vice Governor candidate Daphne Salimbangon leading a large majority of Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, plus the presidents of the local Liga ng mga Barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan and the Councilors' League.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}} In the local level, the party has the backing of 31 out of 53 city and municipal mayors throughout Cebu.{{cite news|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/77051/barili-mayor-moves-out-of-one-cebu-joins-lp| title= Barili mayor moves out of One Cebu, joins LP|date=October 16, 2011}}

In the 2010 national elections, One Cebu strongly campaigned for the candidacy of Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro, Jr., the standard bearer of the now-merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://cebudailynews.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/how-cebu-voted| title= How Cebu voted for national officials|work=Cebu Daily News at Wordpress.com|date=May 18, 2010}}

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.{{cite news|work=The Philippine Star|url=http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=549478&publicationSubCategoryId=101| title= Gwen ug Glenn may "date" karon|date=February 14, 2010}}

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|date=October 2011}} Sanchez later bolted out of Gov. Garcia's group after One Cebu welcomed Tuburan, Cebu mayor Constancio Suezo and his team as party members.{{cite news|work=The Philippine Star|url=http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=520288| title= Greg Sanchez leaves One Cebu|date=November 4, 2009}} 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.{{cite news|work=The Philippine Star|url=http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=520288| title= Greg Sanchez leaves One Cebu|date=November 4, 2009}}

In 2010, Rep. Pablo John 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.{{cite news|work=The Philippine Star|url=http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=641947&publicationSubCategoryId=107| title= PJ-Glenn tandem; One Cebu bares 2013 candidates|date=December 23, 2010}} But in May 2011, Pablo John said he decided not to run for governor because he wants to continue serving his home district.{{cite news|work=SunStar|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2011/05/04/pj-i-won-t-run-gov-2013-153431| title= PJ: I won’t run for gov in 2013|date=May 4, 2011}}

The party joint-forces with the United Nationalist Alliance party of Vice President Jejomar Binay to form a local coalition for the 2016 national elections. The coalition was launched on February 16, 2016 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino.{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/765242/una-local-party-one-cebu-to-launch-coalition-in-cebu-city|title=UNA, local party One Cebu to launch coalition in Cebu City|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=February 16, 2016|access-date=February 19, 2016}} One Cebu later withdrew support for Binay and his party UNA on March 21, 2016.{{cite news|last1=Mosqueda|first1=Mars Jr.|title=Garcia’s One Cebu party withdraws support for Binay|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/garcias-one-cebu-party-withdraws-support-for-binay/|access-date=21 March 2016|work=Manila Bulletin|date=21 March 2016}}

On April 2, 2016, One Cebu has announced that they will support the presidential candidacy of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/777582/one-cebu-party-chooses-duterte-promises-1m-votes|title=One Cebu party chooses Duterte, promises 1M votes|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=April 3, 2016|access-date=April 3, 2016}} The party has pledged to deliver more than 1 million votes for the Visayan candidate.{{cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/128075-one-cebu-party-endorses-duterte|title=One Cebu promises 1M votes for Duterte|work=Rappler|last=Macasero|first=Ryan|date=April 3, 2016|access-date=April 3, 2016}} The alliance between One Cebu and Duterte was launched on April 21, 2016.{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/563461/news/regions/duterte-gains-one-cebu-party-s-support|title=Duterte gains One Cebu party's support|work=GMA News|date=April 21, 2016|access-date=April 21, 2016}}

Winston Garcia, a former Provincial Board Member and former chairman of (GSIS) during the Arroyo administration was fielded for the gubernatorial post in the province with Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz, former Sixth District congresswoman, running for the vice gubernatorial post.{{cite news |last1=Basilan |first1=Rebelander S. |title=‘WinNer’ of One Cebu launched |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/36322/Business/WinNer-of-One-Cebu-launched |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=SunStar Cebu|date=12 October 2015 |language=en}}{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com:8080/cebu-news/2015/08/19/1489788/winston-run-cebu-governor|title=Winston to run for Cebu governor|work=The Philippine Star|date=August 19, 2015|access-date=February 19, 2016}} Garcia and Soon-Ruiz were defeated by incumbent Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.

After several months, Gwen Garcia officially endorsed the tandem of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte for upcoming 2022 presidential elections.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-12 |title=Garcia-led One Cebu endorses Marcos for president |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/garcia-led-one-cebu-endorses-marcos-for-president/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}} The endorsement of Marcos and Duterte caused Pablo John "PJ" Garcia (one of the political supporters of Isko Moreno's presidential campaign) to step down as secretary-general of the party,{{Cite web |date=2022-04-12 |title=PJ Garcia steps down as One Cebu secretary general after Marcos endorsement |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/pj-garcia-steps-down-one-cebu-secretary-general-after-marcos-jr-endorsement-president/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-12 |title=PJ Garcia steps down as One Cebu secretary general after Marcos endorsement |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/pj-garcia-steps-down-one-cebu-secretary-general-after-marcos-jr-endorsement-president/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}

PJ Garcia returned as secretary general, and will run for reelection seeking final term.{{Cite web |last=Cordova |first=Calvin |date=Oct 1, 2024 |title=Garcia of Cebu third district files candidacy for last term |url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/1/garcia-of-cebu-third-district-files-candidacy-for-last-term |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en}}

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Category:Politics of Cebu