Saturday, October 11, 2008 Libre: Two mayors and a prayer By Mel Libre Seriously Now
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Talisay City Mayor Soc Fernandez are totally different individuals whose styles of leadership are poles apart. But for the moment, they are sharing something in common: personal problems.
Osmena is a boastful and stern local chief who demands subservience from those who owe him their positions in City Hall. Once you lose his trust and confidence, you are unwelcome in his office or functions he attends.
He has a pugilist mindset, one that always looks for an opponent in whatever issue that could bring about public conflagration. And the foes he exchanges blows with need not come from within his turf. They can be from the province or even from the national government.
Fernandez, a former priest, was and still is popular as a Catholic faith defender. But his leadership just could not be contained within religious circles, thus he was lured to politics by veteran legislator Eduardo Gullas, who knows a good ally when he sees one.
Brod Soc is not one who promotes his person but simply goes about doing his job as local chief executive. Even in the heat of controversies involving him and the mayor of Cebu City, Fernandez refused to throw sharp words at his critic but remained cool and conciliatory.
Still, even strong leaders have their own Achilles’ heels. Osmeña is known for his love of wine and other liquor drinks.
Even though the mayor has figured in incidents that may have been a result of his drinking, the public seems not to take this against him because he gets overwhelming approval from voters each time he runs for election.
If this indulgence keeps the mayor happy-–and still allows him to deliver his best for the city---why stop him?
For months now, Fernandez has caught the media’s attention, but not in a good light. His adopted son, Joavan, has been involved in many incidents that could not be kept away from the public.
Instinctively, the mayor protected his ward from the accusations, but the latter continues pursuing his wayward antics. Brod Soc even went on leave to put his house in order; but then the problem just won’t go away.
Osmeña has grown sideways physically since he first caught public attention in 1986 when he laid out his plan to contest the plum seat of Cebu City. Other than his temper, the state of his physical health has been subject of speculation and now it is confirmed that he is not well. He has left for the United States for treatment.
Fernandez has declared that it is business as usual for him. But having his son undergo trial by publicity most likely has affected his work and his ministry.
Both Osmena and Fernandez have invested much of their time, talents and resources to public service. And even though some do not agree with their differing styles, they both deserve our gratitude.
They may ask why they have been marked for the burden that they now carry. For sure there is reason for being.
It is during storms in life that the true strength of the character of a man is tested. To both gentlemen, let us pray that they will come out unscathed and that the struggle that they are going through will make them better persons and wiser leaders.
