A dinner tribute for the "Idol of the Masses"

Our younger generation Cebuanos ought to be reminded of one significant event in our history that quite a number of us have probably taken for granted. In March 17, 1957, the well-loved 7TH President of the Republic of the Philippines, President Ramon Magsaysay, along with 24 other passengers perished in a plane crash in Mount Manunggal, Balamban, Cebu. An uncle of Mayor Mike Rama, the late Jesus Genson Rama was also one of them. President Magsaysay was credited with restoring peace, law, and order during the Philippine crisis of the 50s and the Hukbalahap rebellion. He was the first Philippine president from the petit bourgeois stratum of society.

Last Wednesday, I was privileged to be invited by his grandson, also a close friend of the family, Paco Magsaysay, to an intimate dinner commemorating the death of his grandfather. Held at El Comedor in Casino Español de Cebu, our small group feasted on Spanish dishes and stayed on for a few drinks and coffee. More meaningfully, we were able to reconnect with Paco, who flew in from Manila with his only daughter Carmen and Ito Ebuen, the grandson of the late General Benito Ebuen, who was then the Commanding General of the Air Force during the administration of the late President.   

Also invited were Leon Quimpo, Ramon and Karla Fernandez. Here are pictures of that special dinner event: