Tuesday, October 07, 2008 Editorials: Trying times for Mayor Osmeña
FOR many Cebu City residents, including even some of Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s allies, reports of him having a serious health problem may not have been that surprising.
He had health issues in the recent past, the most serious being the hypertensive crisis he suffered in 2002, and is at an age when the body breaks down ever so often.
Besides, aside from the pressure inherent in his job as mayor, reports of him loosening up on the regimen he followed after his 2002 illness had many of his supporters, and even some of his critics, worried about its effect on his health.
Until a second check-up on the mass found in his bladder is completed, however, the mayor’s constituents won’t know how serious his health condition is and the extent and duration of the treatment that will be required for it.
Support, prayers
While his wife Margot has been guarded in her statements to the media, Osmeña himself brought up the possibility of cancer, meaning, this could be something serious.
Still, both his supporters and his critics hope the illness is not bad and treatment won’t take long so he will be back at City Hall to finish his third and last term of office.
The mayor may try to sound combative—which is his nature—even with the illness but there’s no denying that he and his family need the support and prayers they can get in this very trying period.
SRP, letting go
What should bother the mayor is that this came at a time when his pet project, the South Road Properties (SRP), is showing signs of life with the offer of Filinvest to buy SRP lots and enter into a joint venture with the Cebu City Government.
For someone who has always been hands-on, to the extent of being overly possessive, on matters involving the SRP, this should be exciting times for him.
Osmeña, however, must accept what reality is telling him: that whether his illness is serious or not, there are always instances when you have to let go and believe in the capacity of other people to be equal to the task you leave behind.
This is one such instance.
And while the mayor may want to be in the US to undergo a series of medical tests while at the same time dictate the operation at City Hall, it would be better for his health and for the peace of mind of his family for him to prioritize his treatment.
