“I feel as strong as a bull. Sa huna-huna ra gud (Only in the mind),” he added.
It was his last birthday as a government official as Seno’s term ends on June 30.
Seno, elected vice mayor for the third time in 2004, was appointed acting mayor last April 4 when Mayor Thadeo Ouano was placed under preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas over the investigation on the purchase of the allegedly overpriced lampposts.
Seno had to balance being the acting mayor and a mayoral candidate at the same time.
Although he lost and the elections are over, Seno’s birthday wish is for the political parties in Mandaue to reconcile.
Move on
“I will move on with my life and take whatever life has to offer,” said Seno, a practicing lawyer.
Councilor Wenceslao Gakit, whose third and final term also ends this month, organized the surprise party for Seno together with some personnel of the City Council.
“Because we care,” said Gakit, who won a seat in the Cebu Provincial Board.
Gakit and his staff greeted Seno at his office at noon yesterday.
Mayor-elect Jonas Cortes, who was incidentally at City Hall, also greeted Seno.
Seno will spend his birthday with his family but he also has an “annual ritual” with close friends wherein they enjoy each other’s company over drinks.
As acting mayor for about three months, Seno is proud of his management style.
He said the processing of papers does not take long because he immediately signs vouchers and other documents that need his approval.
He also said that he was able to “cut red tape” and initiate the cleaning of the public market.
Seno was city administrator from 1996 to 1998.
He ran for vice mayor and won in 1998, 2001 and 2004.
For the third time, he ran for mayor this year but was unsuccessful in his bid.
He is a son of the late lawyer, Amadeo “Matoy” Seno Jr., author of the Mandaue City charter.
Had he won this year, he would have become the third generation of the Seno family to be mayor. (AAG)
