IT was just like old times.

Mayor Edgar Labella walked with us at the Abellana oval yesterday morning before proceeding to Parklane for our regular Saturday breakfast. It was his turn to host; we rotate hosting breakfast as we do our Thursday lunch.

There were 29 of us, Alex Ong counted, including the mayor’s sister Baby and her husband Peter, a renowned orthopedic surgeon in Boston. She came home, she said, because she promised the Sto. Niño that she would if her brother won.

Breakfast made the mayor a few thousand pesos poorer. A tip to would-be doleout seekers: his wallet wasn’t any thicker than mine and that’s not very reassuring. There isn’t much to throw around these days and none during the remainder of his term since he does not steal. So, easy on the solicitation, will you?

He looked relaxed, so unlike the candidate who looked like he would doze off in between bites during lunch and who in fact, slept during one of our meetings. No, it was not an election-related thing, just a gathering of friends, who love coffee and, in my case, tea, after a heavy meal.

He knew he was among friends, people he walked, talked, ate and laughed with even before he dreamed of becoming Cebu City mayor. I wanted to say he couldn’t have known truer friends but that would be stretching it a lot. Suffice it to say that in Walk and Talk, there are no egos to massage, no requests for special favors to accommodate, including and most specially appointment to his government. We’re just happy for and proud of him but at the same time we’re worried for him because of the enormous burdens that lie ahead of him.

I am not exaggerating when I say that no mayor in the history of Cebu City carried so much expectations from the day he won the election than Edgar Labella. The problems he has inherited are mind-boggling: traffic, garbage collection and flooding. In addition, he has to take care of basic services such as water, peace and order, education and health while at the same time making possible the creation of a business climate that is attractive to investors.

As expected, there was no shortage of unsolicited opinions on how to address these concerns. He not only listened patiently to all of them but interacted with his friends. Streamline the process of issuing of new and renewed business permits. Make the period of waiting for the approval of building permits shorter. Make it easy for investors to do business in Cebu City.

He said he has already met with his people and given them their marching orders. The building official asked for eight new personnel. In return, he will complete the processing of applications for building permits not a day longer than 45 days. Payment of licensing charges can be made through the city’s depositary banks. No more red tape. No more corruption.

Three days ago, he met with Teresita Sy-Coson, the mayor said. She is the daughter of the late Henry Sy and heir to the vast SM empire. He asked her if they could finish construction of the huge dome at the SRP in time for the grand celebration of the Magellan landing in 2021. She said no, if only they were able to start work six months ago. The mayor shook his head but he knew there was no time for recriminations.

During the meeting, Sy-Coson told the mayor that she prayed for him and will continue to pray for him. That made him emotional. With so many people rooting for him and still even more whose lives depend on how he governs, he knows that failure is not an option.

It was like old times yesterday but it is not. Our friend, the mayor, has much more on his plate this time.