Cebuanos mark 128th birth anniversary of Don Sergio

Close to 500 Cebuanos, most of them government employees, took time yesterday to gather at the marker of Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. in celebration of Cebu's Grand Old Man's 128th birth anniversary.

The yearly floral offering at the corner Lapu-Lapu Street and Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City, was headed by Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Don Sergio's grandson, and attended by members of the City Council and the different city government department heads. Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia was also there to pay tribute.

In his speech the mayor said we should take the time to reflect on what is happening in the country right now particularly in the choice of leaders, emphasizing that his grandfather was young when he became speaker of the First Philippine Assembly in 1907, essentially the highest-ranking Filipino official.

"Let us reflect what is happening in our country today particularly on our choice of leaders and what these people stand for," he said, criticizing how the government works in their choice of leaders specifically in promoting young officers in the Philippine National Police.

The mayor was referring to his choices for permanent city police director. Melvin Gayotin is still in an acting capacity because he lacks rank eligibility and Pablo Labra III of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau chief cannot be appointed to the post because there are officers more senior than him.

"We have too much cobwebs in our head. You see, you will not be promoted into higher position if you are still young," the mayor said.

Don Sergio Osmeña's great grandson, Rogelio Jr., the son of LTFRB regional director Rogelio Osmeña, said the celebration must also serve as a reminder to the Filipinos the standard of public service that Don Sergio has set.

In honor and respect to the great contribution of Don Sergio, Osmeña Day is declared special non-working holiday in the entire Cebu City and the Province of Cebu by virtue of Republic Act 6953 signed into law by former president Corazon Aquino.

This year's celebration started with the traditional Don Sergio Osmeña Sr., Memorial Marathon and a Mass at the Basilica Del Sto. Niño.

The Osmeñas are the oldest and strongest political clan in Cebu, the family's political dominance started in 1904 when the patriarch, Don Sergio, won the Cebu governorship, the first of many elective positions that he would hold.

Sergio Osmeña spent his 42 years in public service. In his early career of public life he worked as the editor of El Nuevo Dia. At the age of 25, Osmeña became governor of Cebu and served from 1904 to 1906. He was the speaker of the First Philippine Assembly in 1907 at the age of 29. He also became a senator and was then elected vice president in 1935 and finally in 1944 upon the death of President Manuel Quezon, he succeeded the presidency.

For the presidential election of 1946, Osmeña refused to campaign, saying that the Filipino people knew of his record of 40 years of honest and faithful service. Nevertheless, he was defeated by Manuel Roxas who became the first president of the independent Republic of the Philippines.

After his defeat Osmeña retired to his home in Cebu. He died at the age of 83 on October 19, 1961 at the Veteran's Memorial Hospital in Quezon City. He is buried in the North Cemetery in Manila. - Garry B. Lao