Pam’s daughter may consider running for public post due to ‘trolling’

Local

LAUGHING reactions on social media may have given Cebu Provincial Government public health consultant Elisse Nicole Catalan-Vizcayno a reason to reconsider her plans of staying out of electoral politics.

Catalan-Vizcayno, daughter of Gov. Pamela Baricuatro, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, Oct. 14, that she might reconsider seeking elected office if the online activity was intended to discourage her from public service.

She said several posts made after her birthday last Monday showed around 50 laughing reactions, while another received 85, but the accounts behind the reactions did not appear when she opened the lists.

Catalan-Vizcayno suggested the reactions were intended to discredit her posts about health services, hospital improvements and public service announcements across Cebu province.

“To anyone trying to use these reactions to discredit my posts on health services, hospital improvements, and public service announcements across Cebu Province: you will have to do better,” she wrote.

She said the activity would not stop her from sharing information about available services or continuing her work.

“If the intention is to make useful information look ridiculous or discourage me from sharing our work, expect the opposite. I will post more. I will work harder. The people who need these services remain the priority,” she said.

Although she said she had no personal desire to seek elected office, Catalan-Vizcayno indicated that the online activity could change her position.

“I have no personal desire to seek elected office. But if this is an attempt to keep me out, you may give me a reason to reconsider,” she wrote.

She did not announce a candidacy or identify who she believed was behind the reactions.

Catalan-Vizcayno serves as a public health consultant under the Baricuatro administration, focusing on healthcare services and hospital development.

Her appointment, along with those of other consultants, was approved by the Cebu Provincial Board in August 2025.

In her role, she has highlighted efforts to strengthen provincial healthcare, including a proposed medical scholarship program in partnership with Cebu Normal University’s Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center College of Medicine. The initiative aims to support medical students who will commit to serving in government hospitals in Cebu.

Her possible entry into politics had previously been raised by Balamban Mayor Edwin “Amos” Cabahug, who in July encouraged her to consider running for the congressional seat in Cebu’s third district. Catalan-Vizcayno dismissed the suggestion at the time, saying she had no plans to enter politics and was focused on healthcare work.

Her mother has also spoken out against what she described as online trolling.

During Holy Week in April, Baricuatro took a swipe at supposed “paid trolls and bashers” in a social media post, saying they also needed a break and referring to a “no work, no pay” policy.

The governor also claimed she knew who was funding the attacks and said she was praying for them. She described the online attacks she faced during Holy Week as intense.

Catalan-Vizcayno also said those behind the reactions would not dictate whether she continued to speak, work or serve the public.

“Whatever time, effort, or resources you are putting into this, understand one thing: you will not dictate whether I speak, work, or serve,” she wrote.(MyTVCebu)