Few city officials attend Charter Day celebration

CEBU, Philippines - In his address during yesterday’s celebration of Cebu City’s 75th Charter Day Mayor Michael Rama called for unity among the city officials for the good of the public.

But Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young did not attend the Mass at City Hall yesterday while only a few city councilors were also present during yesterday’s Mass.

“Sige lang,” Rama said when the reporters asked him for his reaction to Young’s absence during the Charter Day events and the awarding of outstanding officials and employees at the Casino Español the other night.

Looking back to the political history of his grand father-Don Vicente Rama who authored the Cebu City Charter in 1937, Rama yesterday said politicians should not take advantage of their government positions for their own personal interest, although he did not say that there are politicians in Cebu City who are taking advantage of their positions.

Speaking before hundreds of City Hall officials and employees who attended the Mass, Rama also thanked the City Council for approving his P76.1-million Supplemental Budget No. 1 which included the granting of Charter Day bonus to all city employees.

He also assured the public that he wants to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather.

He said “Public service is a valuable undertaking. Ang panerbisyo sa kagamhanan dili negosyo, but public service should be taken as a vocation.”

According to Rama the people will always remember a person if they do good like what Don Vicente did when he defended his bill in Congress making the then Municipality of Cebu into a city 75 years ago.

In his homily during the Mass, Msgr. Roberto “Boy” Alesna challenged all government officials to serve the public whether they are their political supporters or not.

From City Hall, the city employees were transported to Natalio Bacalso Ave. to witness the floral offering to the monument of Don Vicente in front of the Cebu City Fire Station.

One of Don Vicente’s great-grandsons, actor Richard Gutierrez, son of Anabelle Rama and actor Eddie Gutierrez, spoke on behalf of the Rama clan thanking the public for reminiscing the good performance of his grandfather. — (FREEMAN)