Let's preserve Osmeña Shrine

As past president of Beverly Hills Assn. Inc., I was belatedly informed of a public hearing called by Representative Tomas Osmeña on the protest filed by Kalunasan residents over the proposed construction of a “common cemetery for the members of the Evangelical Christian Coalition of Cebu” on Lot No. 1273 of TCT No. 31010 of the City of Cebu with an area of 42,687 square meters, which was earlier designated or reserved as an Osmeña Shrine in honor of our President Sergio Osmeña.

It appears that on 04 May 2010 a Deed of Donation of said lot was executed by then Mayor Tomas Osmeña representing the City of Cebu in favor of the Evangelical Christian Coalition of Cebu Inc., and authorized by SP Resolution No. 2317 dated 4-13-10.

The lot known as the Osmeña Shrine is actually part of Beverly Hills. It overlooks the Center of Cebu City, adjoining Taoist Temple, the Girl Scouts Headquarters and Boy Scouts Camp site.

The donation was made without prior public hearing, so that it’s good to know that Rep. Tomas Osmeña, and City Mayor Michael Rama are entertaining serious and valid objections of residents of Kalunasan and Beverly Hills.

There is no doubt that the Greatest Cebuano Leader, Don Sergio, deserves a shrine to perpetuate his memory.

A shrine is a sacred place containing the relics of a saint or fitting monument of a great leader. In the US, past presidents are honored with public shrines and museums and cultural centers, which became tourist destinations.

The late Eddie Woolbright, developer of Beverly Hills, together with other officials of the City and Province of Cebu were privy to plans for the development of the Osmeña Shrine.

A cemetery for the exclusive use of members of a religious sect would not make a good substitute for the Osmeña Shrine. That group can certainly afford to set up their cemetery in other areas of Cebu.

(SGD.) Atty. Mario D. Ortiz