CEBU City Vice Mayor Michael Rama has stepped down as chairman of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI), a post which he had held for 14 years.
His move came more than two months after Mayor Edgardo Labella issued an executive order that created the Cebu City Sinulog Governing Board to oversee the activities in next year’s Sinulog festivities.
Rama submitted his resignation on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019. He left it to the foundation officer and the board of trustees to pick his successor.
SFI members include Pericles Dakay as president, Renato Dychangco as secretary, Barbara Tan as treasurer and Robert Go as auditor. The board of trustees is composed of Alfredo Go, Augusto Go, Edward Gaisano, Edward Hayco, Enrique Benedicto, Frederick Ong Jr., Michel Lhuillier, Rafaelino Barino and Tomas Osmeña.
Rama had a parting message for the Sinulog Governing Board: “For me, I have crossed the Rubicon so the die is cast. The ball now is on their side. We pray and wish perhaps all is well that ends well.”
Although he is no longer SFI chairman, Rama will continue to be a member of the SFI board. He said as vice mayor, he presides over the City Council. The budget that the City Government gives to the SFI requires council approval, he said.
Rama also said he remains an ally of the Labella administration. He said it is not his nature to sever a good relationship.
“It has never been my ‘cup of tea’ that I will sever a relationship. Depende ra gyud na sa mga tawo (It all depends on them), maybe uncomfortable with me. Ila na nang (That’s their) ballgame,” he said.
Meanwhile, the mayor was shocked by Rama’s announcement, considering the Sinulog festivities are less than three months away.
“Nasubo ko niana nga ang atong pinalangga nga bise mayor ni-resign sa (I am saddened that our much beloved vice mayor resigned as chairman of the) Sinulog Foundation. But I think this thing should better be addressed to the foundation members themselves kay ako (since) I am not even a member of the foundation,” Labella said.
Labella, who is chairman of the Sinulog Governing Board that has more than 20 members, said that during their meeting with Dakay and SFI members, they did not question even a single item on matters that were brought to them.
“We adopted what was taken up by the foundation,” he said.
Labella said he even changed several provisions of the Sinulog Governing Board that Rama had wanted amended like it would no longer organize Sinulog festivities since this was the job of the foundation.
The mayor, though, is confident that Rama, with his 14 years of experience organizing the festivities, can help with the Sinulog preparation. He looks forward to exchanging ideas with the vice mayor to ensure the success of Sinulog 2020. (From PAC of SuperBalita Cebu, PJB)