CHAC remembers Don Vicente Sotto’s 136th birthday

CEBU, Philippines - Paying tribute for his efforts and contributions, the Cebu City government through the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission yesterday commemorated the 136th birth anniversary of the late senator and father of Cebu journalism, Don Vicente Sotto.   Organizers and the family of Sotto represented by his grandson, Senate majority floor leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto, III, remembered him by highlighting his contributions to the community especially in journalism, medicine and culture.

Former undersecretary of the Dangerous Drugs Board Atty Clarence Paul Oaminal recalled the contributions of Sotto, specifically on laws that are still in effect today like the Press Freedom Law. Republic Act No. 53 or now known as the Sotto Law, protects rights of the press including the right not to be compelled to name news sources.

Tito  underscored the contribution of his grandfather in giving medical assistance to the Cebuanos through the establishment of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

“He was thirty six years old when he helped initiate the establishment of the hospital which is one of the best things that happened to the Visayas and Mindanao because it is the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) of the south.”   Together with Tito was United Nationalist Alliance senatorial bet Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, who expressed gratitude for the late senator’s contribution, not only for Cebu but for the whole country, especially on giving importance to one’s culture.

Senator Sotto stressed on giving importance to one’s culture by not twisting facts like that of a diaper commercial. Earlier, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza reacted to the diaper commercial and the “grave insult” the message it brings to the residents of Mactan Island.

Like Radaza, Sotto said if he would have his way, he would want to have the advertisement pulled-out.

“I think the people who have thought of the commercial or the advertisement have forgotten the sensitivities of not only the Cebuanos but Filipino. There is only one battle or war that the Philippines have won and that is the Battle of Mactan and the hero is Lapu-Lapu. Tapos ganun, palalabasin nila na pang-diaper lang,” he said.

Sotto added that the number one holiday in the Philippines should be the Battle of Mactan. He has even filed a bill pushing for battle of Mactan to be a holiday but instead was made local. Sotto said he will push for it again in the 16th congress as well as have a further study on how to protect better facts of culture of the Philippines. —/FPL (FREEMAN)