Mayor Michael Rama mulls cemetery tour

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama eyes Gabie sa Kagikan, a walk to Cebu City’s old cemeteries with heritage values.

“If naa man gani Gabie sa Kabilin, naa pud nyay Gabie sa Kagikan (GSK),” Rama said during yesterday’s flag-raising ceremony at the City Hall grounds.

Rama plans to do the cemetery tour a week before the observance of All Saints and All-Souls' Day.

“I am encouraging you, visit the cemetery, visit…adto ta padong,” added Rama.

Close to a decade ago, Ka Bino Guerrero led a tour to the cemetery, which he dubbed as “CemenTouryo”.

Along with this, Rama also gave out another special task for his eldest son, Atty. Mikel Rama, to take charge of Lorega cemetery’s transformation.

“Si Mikel mo-handle sa Lorega cemetery…Unya naa nay i-assign nako sa Carreta, ug uban pa,” Rama said.

The mayor also presented again one of his special assistants, Ramil Ayuman and City Health Department assistant head, Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, the first two individuals he assigned to clear and beautify cemeteries.

Ayuman is assigned as project overseer of Dona Pepang while Ibones for the Chinese cemetery. During the commemoration of the Battle of Tres de Abril, Rama also named Msgr. Roger Fuentes of the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish to head the heritage preservation of old cemeteries.

“With the church, Raymond Garcia (Cebu City Vice Mayor, the head of the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission), and CCHAC, ato gyung buhaton tanang cemetery of heritage value,” Rama added. — FPL (FREEMAN)