A sign worth understanding

"In this sign, thou shall conquer" is a line attributed to Constantine. My surfing the internet does not yield more information than what I vaguely remember from my high school history teacher, the late Remedios Sanchez, who gave us some interesting insight as to how this quotation evolved.

I recalled this quote when I read the news item about our city mayor's directing the vice mayor to delete his name as the grantor, in a representative capacity, of awards in the forthcoming city charter day celebration. Indeed, His Honor, Cebu City Mayor-on-leave Tomas R. Osmeña, in a story that looked or was designed to be harmless, said that the list of persons to be given awards contained names he was not familiar with. Being thus strangers, he had no way to validate whether they would be deserving of the honor subsumed in the awards forgetting that that list was furnished to him, I think, out of courtesy and more for his information rather than his review and approval. Just the same, explaining thus, he would not want to have his name on the awards.

The explanation package, minus the arrogance the mayor is usually perceived to flaunt, was neat. In the eyes of the conservative Cebuanos, it appeared plausible and thoroughly acceptable. Among his perennial critics though, it was rather too good to be true. Mischief aside, his exit from the award scene, on closer scrutiny, flashed a sign that carried more meaning than what was apparent. Let me explain.

Mayor Osmeña wants the whole world to know that even in his absence, he still reigns supreme in our city. Upon his barking, his minions at city hall tremble. This is proven in the issue at hand.

Immediately after the mayor-on-leave made clear his position, the present city hall occupant wagged his tail. Why? Is it to avoid severe censure and consequent profound embarrassment?

At best, when acting City Mayor Michael Rama hurriedly called a closed door meeting with the councilors, he meant to placate the hurt Mayor Osmeña felt. Yet, his dash to appease the absent mayor demonstrated that he was not functioning as a trustworthy leader and decisive mayor. A meeting, described as closed door, is supposed to address matters of confidentiality. What was confidential in determining whether or not to delete Mayor Osmeña's name from the plaques to be given to the honorees?

 This year's city charter day is to be celebrated while the mayor has not yet returned to post from his official leave of absence. Because our mayor is still on leave, he cannot perform official act with legal effect. Honoring somebody for his worthy contribution to our city on such an occasion that is so declared a public holiday by reason of its importance, is an official act. It demands authority. This conferment of honor cannot be accomplished by anybody officially detached from his public position. Since Mayor Osmeña is still on leave, he can not put his name as the public official authorized to give such an award. Therefore, he is correct in asking to leave his name out.

To me however, there was more than met the eye. Mayor Osmeña, could have coursed his stand in a private communication. A phone call would have achieved that end. Had he done that, he, could have prevented exposing the vice mayor's consequent embarrassment.

By covertly revealing to the world that Acting Mayor Rama could not be depended upon to follow the legal strictures, or that Acting Mayor Rama is made of less firmer stuff, Mayor Osmeña, in effect, is slowly giving a sign to us, Cebuanos, that he is putting in review his earlier endorsement for the vice mayor to eventually succeed him. There is no more solid indication that the mayor-on-leave is entertaining second thoughts on his choice for 2010 than showing the public some cracks in the formidable BOPK.

Perhaps, Vice Mayor Rama should also realize that a lady who carries the name Georgia Osmeña is doing her rounds trying to unravel what it takes to win the mayorship in 2010. Who knows, the sign given by Mayor Osmeña was really intended for her. It is worth revisiting Constantine's "In this sign, thou shall conquer".

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