Archival's election victory marks BOPK's return to the top post in Cebu City.

In the electrifying 2025 Cebu City polls, the local political stage saw a refreshing shake-up as perennial powerhouse, Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), snatched back the mayoral seat, four years after it was last held by their party's leader, Tomas Osmeña. On Monday, May 13, Cebu City's Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared BOPK candidate, Councilor Nestor Archival, the victor with a commanding 253,325 votes. Thrust into the position of Mayor, Archival expressed his profound gratitude, acknowledging the voters' trust, and emphasized their common vision for Cebu City's future.

Simultaneously, Osmeña seized the vice mayoral seat, bolstered by 231,259 votes. The triumphant duo, Archival and Osmeña, set to lead Cebu City, pledged to strengthen the bonds within the metropolis, cementing it as a unified and resilient community.

Competing mayoral contenders, including incumbent Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Michael Rama, Yogi Ruiz, and Julieto Co, accrued 175,116, 118,054, 27,394, and 3,136 votes, respectively. The vice mayoral race saw rivals Donaldo Hontiveros and Joey Daluz achieve 187,805 and 145,809 votes, respectively.

The congressional contests played out with Edu Rama maintaining his South District representative seat and Rachel "Cutie" del Mar earning another term in the North District. North District councilors elected were Winston Pepito, Nice Archival, Harold Kendrick Go, Jaypee Labella, Joel Garganera, Alvin Arcilla, Pastor "Jun" Alcover, and Sisinio "Bebs" Andales. South District councilors newly elected were Dave Tumulak, Phillip Zafra, Paul Labra, Jose Abellanosa, Mikel Rama, Francis Esparis, Michelle Abella, and Harry Eran.

Fully fortified, the novel administration, led by Archival and Osmeña, is poised to embark on an ambitious journey to renew and elevate Cebu City. Six councilors will align closely with the BOPK, including Nice Archival, Alvin Arcilla, Sisinio Andales, Paul Labra, Jose Abellanosa, and Michelle Abella. Meanwhile, the Kusug-Panaghiusa coalition, previously helmed by Mayor Garcia, will be represented by Winston Pepito, Harold Kendrick Go, Jaypee Labella, Joel Garganera, Pastor Alcover, and Dave Tumulak. Joining forces with Partido Barug, the locally revered former mayor, Michael Rama, will be councilors Phillip Zafra, Harry Eran, Mikel Rama, and Francis Esparis.

[1] Cebu Daily News. (2025, May 13). Nestor Archival proclaimed as Cebu City's new mayor. Retrieved from https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/387222/nestor-archival-proclaimed-as-cebu-city-s-new-mayor

[2] Manila Bulletin. (2025, May 13). Tommy Osmeña proclaimed Cebu City's vice mayor. Retrieved from https://www.manilabulletin.net/2025/05/13/tommy-osmena-proclaimed-cebu-citys-vice-mayor/

[3] SunStar Cebu. (2025, May 13). Election results for Cebu City. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/eleksyon-2022/cebu-city

[4] Apayao, JVD (2025, May 13). Winners of Cebu City elections. SunStar Cebu. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/2183669

[5] Cebu Daily News. (2025, May 13). Cebu City election results. Retrieved from https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/387222/nestor-archival-proclaimed-as-cebu-city-s-new-mayor

The victorious candidate, Nestor Archival, having been proclaimed as Cebu City's new mayor, expressed gratitude for the voters' trust and emphasized a unified vision for the city's future, following a major shake-up in the local political scene during the 2025 elections.
As the Cebu City Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared Archival's victory with a commanding margin, Tomas Osmeña, a former party leader, snatched the vice mayoral seat, demonstrating the dynamics of post-election politics in the city.
The election results, as reported by various news outlets such as the Cebu Daily News, SunStar Cebu, Manila Bulletin, and Philstar, showed that Archival and Osmeña were not the only ones contesting positions - war and conflicts, policy and legislation, and general news - several other candidates vied for the mayoral and vice mayoral seats, as well as council positions.