Rama to honor more families

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants to recognize more Cebuano families that have contributed to the city’s growth in a dinner party he plans to host on Independence Day.

Rama said that there were 300 nominees for the “Pinalanggang Sugbuanong Banay” but only 75 families or clans had to be chosen.

“Being a nominee alone is already an achievement. So I wish to recognize all of the nominees maybe in an Independence Day ball,” Rama said.

He said that if his plan goes well, the rest of the 225 families will also be given plaques of recognition.

The “Pinalanggang Sugbuanong Banay” was launched in September last year and was created for the celebration of the recently concluded 75th Charter Day Anniversary of the city.

The 75 families were chosen based on the guidelines set by the selection committee.

“I even wished that they all be awarded during the Charter Day, but we have guidelines to follow. So I will just look for other ways for the city to recognize them,” Rama said.

The 75 families or clans were awarded during the Testimonial Dinner last Friday. These include the Abadia, Abella, Abellana, Abellanosa, Aboitiz, Alcoseba, Aliño, Alix, Almendras, Avila-Cañizares, Aznar, Bacalso, Barba, Borromeo, Briones, Cañete, Chiongbian, Chiu-Benedicto, Climaco, Colina, Cuenco, Cui, Dakay, Del Mar, Del Rosario, Diola, Echavez, Escaño-Garcia, Escario, Espina, Estenzo, Fernan, Gaisano, Gandionco, Garces-Gorordo, Garcia, Go Tiao Co, Gonzales, Gothong, Gullas, Hermosisima, Herrera, Inocian, Jaca, Jakosalem, Jumalon, Kabahar, Lhuillier, Ludo-Luym, Osmeña, Pacaña, Padilla, Rama, Reynes-Mercado, Rodriguez, Sala, Salvador, Sanson, Segura, Seno, Singson, Solon, Sotto, Streegan, Tabada, Tabal, Tudtud, Urgello, Uytengsu, Velez-Leyson, Veloso, Vestil, Villa, Villanueva and Ylaya clans.

Not all families were able to send representatives but Rama said that some of those who were not represented, like the Gothong clan, said they want to meet the mayor and receive the plaque in his office.

Rama said he asked the organizing committee of the “Pinalanggang Sugbuanong Banay” to continue getting in touch with the families who were not able to make it.

The Abellanosa clan also did not show up because Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa, who earlier had a conflict with the mayor over the nomination of his school, the Asian College of Technology, for the outstanding institution, opted not to attend.

Rama said councilor Abellanosa was the one invited to represent his clan.

“Maybe he did not ask anybody to represent his family. He should have asked somebody else because he is not the only Abellanosa,” Rama said.

To recall, the nomination of ACT was not approved by the Mayor. Because of the Mayor’s disapproval, ACT was not included in the final list of recommendees of the Cultural Historical Affairs Commission.  (FREEMAN)