Tomas named naval reservist of the year

CEBU - The Philippine Navy national headquarters in Manila picked Mayor Tomas Osmeña as Naval Reserve Officer of the Year for 2008.

Other awardees are to be recognized in a ceremony on December 8 wherein Navy flag officer in command, Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez will personally hand over the awards.

Since Osmeña could not attend the affair, M/Sgt. Luigi Quisumbing will receive the award on behalf of the mayor. Quisumbing was once a member of the Cebu Provincial Board.

Osmeña, grandson of then President Sergio Osmeña Sr., holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Philippine Marines Reserve Command and was designated commander of the Cebu-based 51st Marine Battalion.

Philippine Navy officials admire Osmeña for his active involvement in various civic organizations despite his hectic work schedule as mayor of Cebu City.

Osmeña’s men were also involved in the evacuation of families living in landslide-prone barangay Sinsin sometime in May.

Further, the members of the 51st Marine Reserve Battalion rendered 22 days of “selfless service” during the establishment of the action center at the Cebu City Sports Center to ensure the safety of relatives of the victims of M/V Princess of the Stars.

They also helped in the establishment of tents as temporary shelter of the 16 families in sitio Dakit, barangay Guadalupe affected by flashfloods.

On top of these, the unit headed by Osmeña was admired for its commitment when they provided blood to the indigent and needy children in various hospitals in Metro Cebu.

Also under the leadership of Osmeña, the City of Cebu provided a training grant to the personnel of the 51st Marines Reserve Battalion for a period of four days.

The city provided the reserve battalion with rounds of ammunition that were used by its members in the said training.

In 2002, Osmeña was the recipient of the Outstanding City Mayor Award given by the Department of Interior and Local Government. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)