CEBU, Philippines — He was recognized as the father of Cebu City. Don Vicente Rama authored the bill which was approved into law on October 20, 1936.
Rama, a journalist before he entered politics, also founded the leading pre-war Cebuano periodical, Bag-ong Kusog.
He was born to in Cebu on June 6, 1887 to Bernabe "Abi" Raffiñan and Engilberta "Iya Bita" Ramas. It was not known why he carried the last name Rama.
Rama attended at the Seminario-Colegio de San Carlos, now known as the University of San Carlos, from 1904 until 1908. After his graduation, Rama pursued further studies in Manila where he later became a lawyer.
He started his political career as councilor of then municipality of Cebu on June 16, 1916. He was later elected as representative of the third congressional district of Cebu and served three terms from 1922 to 1928 and 1934 to 1935.
He won as assemblyman in the fourth district of Cebu and became a member of the first National Assembly in 1935. After his bill was approved to transform Cebu from a municipality to a chartered city, Rama was appointed as inaugural mayor of Cebu City and took his oath before President Manuel L. Quezon. — FPL (FREEMAN)