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Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Ex-councilor goes on serving despite cancer
By Linette C. Ramos
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AFTER 15 years in politics, former Cebu City Councilor George Rama is now busy raising hogs and tending his 1,700-square-meter vineyard, but he’s still active in helping solve the city’s garbage problems.
His battle with cancer wouldn’t distract him either.
But Rama, who easily got irked by uncollected garbage and defective dump trucks during his term as councilor, admitted to taking things lightly now that he has to be watchful of his health.
Politics too tiring
Politics was too tiring for the former councilor but looking back at his 15 years in public service, Rama is grateful for having been given a chance to serve his constituents.
“Politics is so tiring but I think I didn’t disappoint my constituents. I’ve helped many, and I have donated many coffins and medicines. I’ve also sent several people to jail, even the children of my political leaders,” he told Sun.Star yesterday.
Rama served as Basak San Nicolas barangay captain from 1989 to 2001 and as city councilor from 2001 to 2004, where he was also chairman of the City Council’s committee on public services.
Shortly after he decided to retire from politics early this year, Rama was diagnosed as having non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
He is hopeful, though, that he will overcome his ailment since he is responding positively to medications, even if weakness, loss of appetite and stomach pains keep him in bed most of the time.
Rama, 54, has also been in and out of the hospital for the past months because of high blood pressure, low sugar count and pneumonia.
In an interview at his residence, the former councilor said he is very thankful to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Vice Mayor Michael Rama for helping him pay for his chemotherapy and other medications, even if he decided to leave the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan to support the opposition party Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino before the elections.
He and his family spend P160,000 for the monthly therapy alone and P140,000 for his daily radiation for one month.
Risks
Rama was advised to undergo operation to remove the lymph nodes on his cheeks but because of the risks involved, he opted for the chemotherapy.
“I refused to undergo any operation and chemo because I’m afraid of the results so I postponed it up to the fifth month until Tommy finally convinced me to do it, he even paid for the first session,” he said.
His siblings also helped shoulder other expenses and just last week, the late Fernando Poe Jr., a close family friend, asked him to fly to Manila so the movie actor can also help him.
As the mayor’s consultant on public services, Rama continues to meet with Councilor Edwin Jagmoc Sr. and other officials of the Department of Public Services at his house.
(December 15, 2004 issue)
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