MANILA, Philippines — Cebu Governor-elect Pam Baricuatro has officially taken her oath as a member of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP)–Laban, and was also named as the party’s Cebu Provincial Council President.

The oath-taking ceremony took place on Friday at the PDP-Laban headquarters in Sta. Mesa, Manila, and was witnessed by key party officials including Vice Chair Alfonso Cusi, Coco Naik, Astravel Pimentel-Naik, and members of the media.

Baricuatro, now the head of the PDP-Laban Council in Cebu, secured a landslide victory in the May 12, 2025 Midterm Elections, defeating long-time incumbent and veteran politician Gwen Garcia by a wide margin.

Fondly known as the “Lumad Probinsyana,” Baricuatro grew up in Pinamungajan, Cebu. A Political Science graduate and former law student, she had no initial plans of entering politics due to economic hardship. However, her years of grassroots leadership and the overwhelming call from her fellow Cebuanos pushed her to run for governor.

Despite being a newcomer in politics, Baricuatro’s decisive win signaled a shift in Cebu’s political landscape. Her victory sparked spontaneous celebrations across the province, with supporters holding street parades and thanksgiving festivities.

In her message to constituents, Governor-elect Baricuatro pledged to deliver honest, heartfelt, and selfless public service—especially for the underprivileged sectors of the province. “I am here to serve with integrity and compassion, grounded in the trust of the people who believed in me,” she said.