Cebu celebrates Osmeña Day today

Today, Cebu celebrates the 127th birth anniversary of the late president Sergio Osmeña Sr., dubbed as "The Great Old Man."

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 06953, September 9 has been declared a holiday to give time for Cebuanos to commemorate his birthday. The act was signed into law by former president Corazon Aquino on May 22, 1990 in honor the late president, automatically declaring Sept. 9 every year as special non-working holiday in Cebu City and province.

Department of Labor and Employment Memorandum Circular No. 01 provides that workers in private sector who work today are entitled to a 30-percent increase of their basic salary rate.

But since it is declared as special working holiday in the rest of the country, employees outside Cebu City and province are entitled only to their basic rate. No premium pay is required since work performed on said days is considered work on ordinary working days, DOLE said.

At 7:30 a.m. today, a Mass will be celebrated at Basilica del Niño Church to be followed by a floral offering at Osmeña's marker in Lapu-Lapu St. corner Osmeña Boulevard.

Osmeña, who was dubbed as the first Filipino statesman, was born on September 9, 1878. He became Cebu's acting governor, provincial fiscal, provincial governor, member of the First Philippine Assembly and Speaker of the House at the age of 29.

He spent his 42 years in public service. In his early career of public life he worked as the editor of El Nuevo Dia. At the age of 25, Osmeña served as Governor of Cebu form 1904 to 1906. He was the Speaker of the First Philippine Assembly in 1907 at the age of 29, the youngest ever. He also became a senator and was then elected vice president in 1935.

At the outbreak of World War II, Osmeña became one of the most famous politicians in the country and became acting president in 1943 and later succeeded the presidency when president Manuel Quezon died in New York during exile.

Osmeña mended the country after the war and prepared it for the imminent advent of its scheduled independence

The "Great Old Man" who brought fame and glory not only to Cebu but the entire Filipino nation died on October 19, 1961 at the age of 83. - Wenna A. Berondo