We remember Sergio Osmeña Sr.

CEBU, Philippines - Born on September 9, 1878 to a well-established family, former President Sergio Osmeña Sr. studied at the Colegio de San Carlos, San Juan de Letran, and the University of Santo Tomas.

During the Filipino-American War, he served under Emilio Aguinaldo as a journalist and courier. In his early 20s, he founded the Cebu-based newspaper El Nuevo Dia. He was appointed governor of Cebu by the Americans in 1904, when then Governor Juan Climaco was selected as a delegate to the St. Louis World Exposition. After two years, he was elected to the position.

In 1907, he was elected first speaker of the Philippine Assembly and senator in 1922. He supported the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act, which provided for the creation of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, and for its eventual independence.

Representing the Nacionalista Party with former President Manuel Quezon, he was elected vice president of the Commonwealth Government. He assumed the presidential seat in exile when Quezon died during World War II. After the Liberation, he sent a delegation to San Francisco that would help create the charter of the United Nations.

He lost to fellow Visayan Manuel Roxas in the first presidential elections after the Philippines regained its independence in 1946.

And though many still clamor to have a “truly elected Cebuano president,” we commemorate his precious legacy – being the most prominent statesman of his time. That’s why President Sergio Osmeña Sr. is an essential part of the ongoing “Mga Bayani sa Sugbo” exhibit at the Casa Gorordo Museum.

We know that politicians are here to stay, but statesmen among them are few and far between.

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