Wednesday, September 10, 2008
‘Learn from accomplishments amid anomalies, graft in gov’t’
ON the occasion of his grandfather’s 130th birthday, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña rallied Cebuanos and government leaders to find inspiration and a good example in Don Sergio amid anomalies in government.
Osmeña reminded the public that despite his young age, the late president Sergio Osmeña Sr. served the country well and played a major role in seeking independence from the Americans.
Despite the political turmoil during his leadership and the struggle against the Spaniards and Americans who conquered the country, Cebu’s Grand Old Man was steadfast in serving the country, the mayor said in his speech.
“We proud to have had a Cebuano, a real key player in the formation of our country. Now when we look at the newspapers, we read about the lamppost and other controversies, we ask ourselves and be grateful to Don Sergio and his generation for leading as example to Filipinos,” he said yesterday.
The mayor led some 200 government officials and employees, civic groups, military and the police and members of the Osmeña clan in paying tribute to Don Sergio, his allies and colleagues in government who helped him throughout his political career.
A mass and flower offering at Don Sergio’s marker at the corner of Lapu-Lapu St. and Osmeña Blvd. was held early yesterday morning.
Don Sergio’s 42 years in public service began in 1904 when he served as Cebu’s youngest governor at 25. Four years later, he became speaker of the First Philippine Assembly.
He also became senator and was elected vice president in 1935. Following the death of president Manuel Quezon in 1944, Don Sergio assumed the presidency.
Don Sergio was born and grew up in their family residence, which used to stand on the present site of the marker in downtown Cebu City.
“Today, 130 years later, let this be a source of inspiration to all of us, that during those trying years, the Philippines did not enslave ourselves to the Americans. So we salute all of those who were behind him during his leadership,” Osmeña said.
His cousin, real estate businessman Antonio Osmeña, thanked those who attended the ceremony for remembering what their grandfather has done for the country.
Aside from celebrating Osmeña Day, he also urged government officials to commemorate the establishment of the de facto Republic of Cebu sometime between Dec. 25
and Feb. 22.
The celebration, he said, will showcase the entrepreneurial skills of the Cebuanos and Cebu’s role in international trade in the mid-18th century.
Antonio said it was around this time when Cebu became a major international port, and allowed foreign trade to flourish. (LCR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 10, 2008 issue)
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