EDITORIAL - More deserving of honor

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama plans to cause the construction, at no cost to the city, of two monuments at Plaza Sugbo fronting City Hall as a tribute to two outstanding Cebuanos -- Don Vicente Rama and Sergio “Serging” Osmeña Jr.

An insurance company, Insular Life, has reportedly agreed to underwrite the cost of construction, including the commissioning of national artist Ed Castrillo to do the work on the two statues.

The plan, however, promptly ran into a brick wall of disapproval from former mayor Tomas Osmeña, who claims Rama is just patronizing the memory of his father Serging in order to realize his real objective, which is to erect a monument for his grandfather Don Vicente.

It is not clear whether Tomas is serious in his objections or is just giving vent to the political rivalry that has erupted between the two erstwhile friends and political allies. One thing sure, though, is that politics is getting in the way of a good thing.

Don Vicente is the father of the city charter. It was the law he crafted while a senator that made Cebu a city. Serging, on the other hand, was the first elected mayor of the new city. He has, in fact, been elected mayor on several occasions.

It is, therefore, unfair for anyone, least of all Tomas, to belittle the respect and honor that Don Vicente richly deserves just because he happens to be the grandfather of someone he hates to death.

It is not our intention to make comparisons nor to take away from what Serging himself deserves in honor and respect from Cebuanos. But while Serging may have been the first elected mayor of Cebu City, he is still just one among many mayors Cebu City had.

There is, however, just one father of the city charter of Cebu City. And that person happens to be Don Vicente Rama. Don Vicente owns a distinction no one else can share, and not even the loudest of protestations can change that fact.

Thus, if there be but one monument that can be erected at the City Hall plaza, that honor should go to Don Vicente and no one else. But for his grandson, Mayor Rama, to cause the honor to be shared with one of Cebu's greatest mayors is a lesson in humility Tomas ought to learn from.