Remembering past Cebu leaders
Sons of former senator Sergio “Serging” Osmeña Jr. led last Sunday's commemoration of their father's centennial birthday with the opening of a photo exhibit at the lobby of the Cebu City Hall Legislative Building and a floral offering at the Doña Pepang Cemetery where Serging's remains are buried.
Serging, son of former president Sergio Osmeña Sr., served as governor of Cebu Province and mayor of Cebu City and won a Senate seat before challenging then president Ferdinand Marcos in the 1969 elections. He was wounded in the bombing of a Liberal Party rally in Manila in 1971 and was in the United States when Marcos declared martial law on Sept. 21, 1972.
Serging, while a politician, had many virtues as a leader that endeared him to Cebuanos. But during the celebration the other day, former senator Sergio Osmeña III saw his father more as innovator. “Serging anticipated the problem to provide the solution...That's how he was as a leader,” he said.
Also present in the gathering was Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who encouraged people to adopt his father's mentality and prepare for the future.
Last Sunday's commemoration of the centennial of Serging's birth is well deserved considering his long stint in public service. At times, though, his name is overshadowed by Don Sergio, and rightly so, considering that Cebu's Grand Old Man once became president of the country.
We hope, though, that commemorations like the one done for Serging would not be tainted with politics or selfish motives. We all know, for example, that when he became mayor in 2010, Michael Rama placed more emphasis on the Cebu City Charter Day ritual every February of the year and remembering his grandfather, Don Vicente Rama, who is known as the father of the city charter.
This seems to be an attempt to correct what is perceived as a not-so-enthusiastic remembrance under the Osmeña administration of Rama, a former senator, congressman and Cebu City mayor. Interestingly, the commemoration of Serging's birth was also perceived as less enthusiastic under the Rama administration.
Will things change in February next year when the city again celebrates charter day?