NAPOLEON “Nap” Rama is the son of Don Vicente Rama, the “Father of the Cebu City Charter.”
Just like his father, Nap became a journalist and he stayed in journalism for decades.
Nap, a lawyer, was also a staunch critic of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the dictator who ruled the country for nearly 21 years, a period when human rights abuses, disappearances of critics and activists, and massive corruption happened.
When Marcos declared Martial Law on Sept. 21, 1972, Nap was imprisoned along with the dictator’s political nemeses, including senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
Nap was fearless during the Martial Law years.
His daughter Gina believes her father lasted six decades in journalism because of his integrity, strength of character, and courage in telling the truth (CJJ Magazine).
For his courage to fight for democracy and journalistic endeavors, Nap was recognized and honored.
Nap received the Presidential Legion of Honor with the rank of grand commander from Ninoy’s son, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, in 2011.
After President Marcos was ousted by the People Power Revolution in 1986, Nap participated in the Constitutional Commission which crafted the 1987 Constitution, also known as the Freedom Constitution.
Nap died on Jan. 10, 2016. He was 92.
On Jan. 26, 2022, 16 days after Nap’s sixth death anniversary, Nap’s nephew Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Partido Barug announced they are throwing their support for the candidacies of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio for the top two national posts in the May 9, 2022 polls.
Bongbong is the son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the person responsible for the incarceration of Mayor Rama’s uncle in 1972.
The late dictator’s son has been defending his father, saying Marcos Sr. did not commit any wrongdoing in his two-decade reign.
When asked by SunStar Cebu how Mayor Rama could reconcile the fact that his uncle was a staunch anti-Marcos activist, with his support for the late dictator’s scion, Rama gave a vague reply: “Yesterday should be a lesson, and what we have today is to move forward to.”
Where are we moving, Mayor? To more lies?