Tom unfazed by family’s political disinterest

The fact that no other member of his family seems interested in politics does not bother Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who is now on his last term.

“When I became a Mayor, it is to serve the city, not for the city to serve me,” said Osmeña.

The Constitution provides that a local government official can only be elected for three consecutive terms.  He or she can however return to the position after taking a break for one term or three years.

“I was very happy to serve the city of Cebu,” he said.

The Mayor said, “The role of a father is to teach his child everything that he knows so that the child won’t need his father anymore.”

Osmeña said that this is the kind of person he is. He is giving everything that is his so that when he has finished his term, Cebu city can stand on its own.

“I am creating my self destruction. If it (Cebu City) can survive without me, that means I have done my job as a mayor,” he said.

The mayor, however, belies the reports that his wife, Margot, would be asked to run for mayor.

The mayor also advised the people to take care of the city by choosing the right people during the elections.

He said that the popular candidates are not always the best suited for the job. – Jessica Ann Pareja UP Mass Comm Intern/NLQ