- Selling of the delicacy called Biko was banned in Pasig because of Vico Sotto running for Mayor.
- Biko is Pinoy rice cake that most Filipinos like to eat.
- To avoid popularity attached to its name and resemblance to Vico Sotto’s name, Biko was banned by Pasig government during the campaign period.
One of the local races that is talked-about in the 2019 midterm election is the mayoral race in Pasig City because of the duel of two mayoral candidates, Robert C. Eusebio who is from a family who had held the city in a longest 27-year reign against the 29-year-old newbie, a former Councilor named Vico Sotto.
Sotto’s name is son of comedy king Vic Sotto and seasoned actress-host Coney Reyes. Apart from such, he is armed with the background in studies of public administration and is passionate about serving the people or running a good government in Pasig.
One of the main factors that heated the campaign more is the rumor that the selling of Biko was banned in Pasig City, due to its resemblance on mayoral candidate’s name and it gives a great recall to Eusebio’s young opponent.
Biko is a Filipino rice cake made from sticky rice (locally known as malagkit), coconut milk, and brown sugar. Like other rice cakes, this is referred to as kakanin (derived from the word “kanin” which means rice) and is often eaten as dessert or meryenda (mid-afternoon snack).
The councilor had even shared his experience on the banning of biko selling in the place.
“@jhayzon88 Nung nasa palengke ako nung kampanya, may lumapit sa kin, pakyawin ko daw biko niya. Sabi ko, Ate wala ka naman dalang biko, sapin-sapin yan eh! Yun pala nasa ilalim ng bilao, quiet lang daw. So hindi ko alam kung bawal talaga o natatakot lang sila. Pero ayun.”
@jhayzon88 Nung nasa palengke ako nung kampanya, may lumapit sa kin, pakyawin ko daw biko niya.
Sabi ko, Ate wala ka naman dalang biko, sapin-sapin yan eh!
Yun pala nasa ilalim ng bilao, quiet lang daw.
So hindi ko alam kung bawal talaga o natatakot lang sila. Pero ayun.
— Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) May 15, 2019
Which garnered a lot of reactions from the netizens…
https://twitter.com/christinexjjj/status/1129393164379348992
Because Pasig has a new mayor, we served biko at last night's #MidweekService Congrats Mayor @VicoSotto join us next week @VictoryPasig Valle Verde, see you there! pic.twitter.com/jco49bKmH1
— HummusBeCrazy (@BeHummus) May 16, 2019
Pasig city govt allegedly banning the sale of kakaning BIKO during the campaign period because of VICO SOTTO is a whole other level of PETTY. Lol
— Dan Aleta (@DanAleta) May 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/sungminies/status/1127767347563864064
@VicoSotto I've been craving biko in Pasig. But there's none available! I think you should turn this ridiculous ban around. Give a biko food program. Stat! #millenialshare #pr #marketing #memes
— Niña Celine Recio (@ninaceliner) April 2, 2019
lowkey want to reach the level of pettiness as those who banned biko in pasig bc of vico
— َ (@jennielfo_) May 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/staytzenorbit/status/1128616398102548480
Since the biko selling was banned in the city, it was also heard that the moment Vico Sotto announced his mayoral candidacy, the Sugod Bahay segment of ‘Eat Bulaga’ was also banned to avoid riding the popularity of the show for it might affect the fight between the two candidates.
Since, the election has ended the results were out and the is already the end of Eusebio’s reign. Vico Sotto won as the new mayor if Pasig City, but the opposing team still cannot accept the defeat.
Thus, the former mayor had filed an electoral fraud at the Commission On Elections. Eusebio has even stated on an interview of State of the Nation.
“Hindi ko tinatanggap ang resulta dahil alam ng tao kung sino ang nanalo. Alam ng tao rin kung sino ang ibinoto nila, at ito mapapatunayan natin sa pamamagitan din ng pina-file namin na election fraud”
