CEBU, Philippines - Only seven out of 16 Cebu City councilors attended yesterday’s 78th Charter Day Anniversary celebration at the Plaza Sugbo in front of City Hall.
Councilors seen during the celebration were Team Rama members Nendell Hanz Abella and Philip Zafra, independent bloc councilors Roberto Cabarrubias, Gerardo Carillo and Noel Wenceslao, and Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) councilors Alvin Dizon and Ma. Nida Cabrera.
The BOPK councilors absent during the celebration were councilors Margarita Osmeña, Sisinio Andales, Eugenio Gabuya, Leah Japson, Nestor Archival and Alvin Arcilla.
For Team Rama councilors Mary Ann de Los Santos, James Cuenco, and David Tumulak were absent. Also, independent bloc Councilor Richie Osmeña was not seen during the celebration.
Councilor Margarita said that she had to go to her doctor’s appointment early in the morning. She debunked talk that politics was the reason for her absence.
Andales said that he had to fetch his daughter at the airport early in the morning and also had to finish the committee reports for today’s regular session.
Archival said that he was preparing his eco-house for the visit of delegates from the Cebu City’s sister city of Kortrijk in Belgium.
“I am part of the committee man gud ani, so nag-andam ko. Nothing politics,” he said.
Cuenco said that he was in Manila yesterday morning.
THE FREEMAN tried to get the side of the other councilors, however, calls went unanswered.
Mayor Michael Rama expressed his gratitude to everyone who attended the celebration.
“Proud to be attended, it may not be all, but things speak for itself that politics need not to be highlighted when we talk about celebration, oneness should be pronounced,” Rama said.
“We should never be divided for divided will never be a strength but unity will always give us power, but power rightfully exercised, for power corrupts, absolute power corrupt absolutely,” he added.
Rama said that he need not dwell on what transpired 78 years ago. He said that Don Vicente Rama was alone with his books in fighting for Cebu City.
The mayor also said that his family has more obligations to fulfill, one of which is to continue the legacy of Don Vicente.
For George
Rama also personally offered the celebration of Charter Day to his cousin, the late barangay Basak-San Nicolas captain George Rama, but added he also dedicated the celebration challenging everyone to “give meaning to living.”
“Give meaning to the word service. Don’t just live because of bonus, don’t just live because of award, don’t just live because of incentive, live that when you die, you are still alive in the heart and mind like George Rama. He will never be forgotten with his courage, conviction,” he said.
George was 67 when he died January 26 this year of pneumonia after two weeks in the hospital.
The Rama Clan, City Hall officials, police officers, and visitors then offered flower to the monument of Don Vicente Rama.
Not just the south
As Cebu City government officials and employees celebrated Charter Day yesterday, Mayor Rama asserted that Cebu City is not just the Queen City of the South, but the Queen City of the Philippines.
“Without any fear of contradiction, I, as your mayor will tell you, claim that Cebu City is the Queen City of the Philippines. If you are in contradiction of this stand then you lack memory,” Rama told reporters yesterday.
“Why Queen City of the Philippines? Because Christianity started here in the Visayas and particularly Magellan’s Cross is here,” he added.
With this he promised to make improvements to the city by providing more projects in order to sustain this claim.
He said he will address the problem of drainage system in the city which has been a problem from the past years until now. Rama also mentioned that he will be developing new parks that will contribute to beautifying the city.
“Develop what can be developed. Now we will develop Block 27 North Reclamation Area. We will continue many things to be developed,” he said.
He assured that for the implementation of the K to 12 program in the following years, he will pass a supplemental budget in order to help the schools in the city face the new system of education. — with Mechelle P. Florita/BRP (FREEMAN)