They do not build that rare, collectible, old, durable, high-value classic model of public officials like Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. anymore. Today's politicians, to borrow from that famous movie line, are just "nothing but second-rate, trying-hard copycats". Our best model was Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. whose birth anniversary we celebrate today.
Iconic and historical figures like Don Sergio Osmeña belong to that rare collection of old models in the mold of Manuel Luis Quezon, Manuel Acuna Roxas, Jose P. Laurel, Ramon Magsaysay, Elpidio Quirino, Claro M. Recto, Don Filemon Sotto, Don Vicente Sotto, Don Vicente Rama, Manuel C. Briones, Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco, and later joined by Lorenzo Tañada, Jose W. Diokno, Jovito Salonga, Ambrocio Padilla, and Arturo Tolentino. The other Cebuanos we should be proud of are Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr, a living icon of decency, honor, and integrity.
Don Sergio was imitated but never equaled in his high principles of honesty and fidelity to duty. Like vintage cars, the iconic collectibles were custom built between the years 1919 to 1930, such as Ford Model T in 1919, Hudson Super Six Phaeton of 1921, Cadillac V-16 of 1930, Duesenberg Model K of 1928, and Austin 7 of 1922. Don Sergio has no parallel, and no other Osmeña, nor any Cebuano for that matter, has reached the pinnacle of his success with intact values and principles.
He was born in Cebu on September 9, 1878. If men could still live to longer life spans like the times of Methuselah who reached the age of 969 , Don Sergio would have been 148 years old today, He would have been pleased with his beloved province, and how Governor Pam is doing with hospital care. But Don Sergio might feel bad at the performance of Mayor Nestor Archival, the protégé of his good grandson, Tomas.
Don Sergio was the son of an unmarried 14-year old Juana Suico Osmeña. In 2023, DNA tests reportedly revealed that his father was a wealthy Chinese businessman, Don Antonio Sanson, thereby abandoning the century-old belief that his father was another rich tycoon Don Pedro Lee Singson Gotiaco. Genealogist Todd Sales Lucero conducted a scientific DNA chromosome testing and discovered a 100-percent match with the Sanson lineage, thus ruling out the Gotiaco genetic linkage.
Don Sergio studied at the Colegio de San Carlos. He then went to San Juan de Letran where he met Don Manuel L. Quezon, Don Vicente Madrigal, Don Juan Sumulong, and Emilio Jacinto of the Katipunan. He transferred to UST where he obtained his Law degree. He took the Bar in 1903, Jose Quintos got the first place with 96.33; Don Sergio the second, with 95.66, and Quezon, the fourth with 87.83. There were only 13 who took that exam.
He was elected governor in 1906 at age 28. He was only 26 when he was appointed acting governor when Cebu governor Juan Climaco was sent to the U.S. as Philippine commissioner. He then ran for congressman in 1907 and won, then he was elected speaker at the age of 29. He was reelected over and over again and served as speaker until 1922.
In 1922, he was elected senator and was chosen as Senate president pro tempore. Briefly, he served as acting Senate president when Quezon got sick. Don Sergio had a falling out with Quezon purely on matters of principles but they reconciled. In 1935, Quezon ran for president with running mate Don Sergio. Osmeña got more votes than Quezon but both of them won. When Quezon died, Osmeña became president in 1944 until 1946.
He ran for president in 1946 but his friend, Manuel Roxas who bolted their party Nacionalista, and founded the Liberal Party, defeated Don Sergio by a very thin margin. Osmeña accepted his destiny and came home to Cebu where he lived humbly for 15 years until he died on October 19, 1961 at the ripe old age of 83.
Don Sergio gave us his sons and grandsons, including Serging Osmeña, Sonny Osmeña, Lito Osmeña, Serge Osmeña, and Tomas Osmeña, and many others. None of them could hold a candle to the stature of the Grand Old Man of Cebu, Cebu City should be named Osmeña City. They have Roxas City, Quezon City, but no Osmeña City. I hope there will be one. He deserves it immensely.