Philippine elections: How Pam Baricuatro, ex-flight attendant, toppled Cebu’s Garcia dynasty

Manila: Who says small-town girls can’t dream big?

Meet Pamela S. Baricuatro — once a young girl collecting shellfish on the shores of Pinamungajan (a town on Cebu island), now the newly-elected governor of Cebu.

In so doing, she unseats a decades-old political dynasty that has ruled the island province in central Philippines.

On Tuesday, Baricuatro was officially proclaimed winner: The Commission on Elections (Comelec)'s official count showed Baricuatro received 1,107,924 votes as against Garcia’s 765,051 votes.

So, who is the woman behind this historic shakeup?

From the beach to the ballot box

Born in 1966 in a sleepy coastal town, Pam’s early life was all about grit, grace, and good-hearted hustle. 

Raised by parents who championed hard work and education, she grew up with a strong sense of empathy — and a fierce love for her community.

Pam’s story took flight (literally) when she became a senior flight purser at Cathay Pacific.

Over two decades of globe-trotting gave her front-row seats to the world's best — and worst — realities. 

From glittering cities to underserved communities, she saw firsthand the power (and pain) of unequal development.

Harvard mind, Cebuano heart

Driven to make a real difference, Pam pursued political science in Cebu, studied law (no bar, no problem), and took her smarts all the way to the Harvard Kennedy School for executive education. 

But she never forgot her roots. Instead, she used her global know-how to fuel local change.

In 2015, she launched the Simply Share Foundation, a nonprofit that turned farm produce into life-saving meals for undernourished kids. 

Her formula? Community power, transparency, and no-nonsense compassion. Soon, Simply Share was doing more than feeding children — it was feeding hope.

From foundation to first office

When she announced her run for governor in 2024, skeptics called her a “newbie.” 

Voters called her a fresh start. She crisscrossed Cebu — riding habal-habals (motorcycle taxi or motorcycle-for-hire), sharing meals in fishing villages, and shaking hands in mountain barangays. 

People listened. And more importantly, they believed.

On May 13, 2025, Pam made history, defeating incumbent Governor Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia, and claiming victory for those tired of politics-as-usual. 

Her win wasn’t just electoral — it was emotional.

“This is your win,” she told Cebuanos. “For every voter who chose courage over corruption, this is just the beginning.”

What makes Governor Pam… Pam?

She’s not your typical politico. 

Pam blends the precision of a flight crew chief, the warmth of a community mom, and the brain of a Harvard grad.

Her governance style? Think NGO transparency, grassroots engagement, and cold, hard data. No fluff, just facts (with heart).

Her pop priorities as governor:

The first 100 days: Eyes on the ground

Pam’s already shaking things up. She’s rolling out digital tools to track government projects and launching “barangay watchdog” teams to keep spending in check. 

In health, she's boosting mobile clinics and fast-tracking upgrades in provincial hospitals.

Farmers? She’s got their backs too — with support for crop diversification, microloans, and direct-to-market programs. 

And tourism? Cebu’s going green, with plans for responsible homestays, heritage tours, and environmental protection.

Most importantly, she’s calling for unity: launching a “Healing Cebu” summit to bring rival politicians to the same table. 

Because for Pam, it’s not about partisanship — it’s about people.

Mom mode

Beyond the public speeches and policies, Pam’s a proud mom.

She raised her daughter, Elisse Nicole "Nikki" (now a medical doctor), as a single parent — juggling jobs, school, and mom duties with unmatched drive.

Now married to businessman David Alon, she’s built a loving, blended family grounded in faith, food, and Cebuano values.

She still starts her mornings with prayer, cooks hearty seafood stews, and shops local to support artisans.

And every Christmas, she hosts her signature barangay bingo — because for Pam, joy and service go hand in hand.

Ready for takeoff

With Pam at the helm (from June 30, 2025), Cebu is in for a transformation fuelled by vision and a whole lot of heart. 

She's proof that real leadership doesn’t always come from political dynasties — it can come from a girl who once gathered shells, and decided she’d rather build bridges.