Mayor wants December 4 holiday for Serging

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella wants December 4 every year to be declared a special holiday in honor of Sergio “Serging” Osmeña, Jr.

The mayor has asked the City Council to pass a resolution urging Congress to make the declaration. Labella also urged the two city congressmen—Rodrigo Abellanosa and Raul del Mar—to sponsor the needed legislation to make the declaration.

He explained that it takes an act of Congress before the birthdate of the illustrious son of Cebu can be declared a special holiday.

The city government, in an event organized by the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC), yesterday commemorated the 103rd birth anniversary of Serging. The activity at the Plaza Sugbo was attended by Labella, Vice Mayor Michael Rama, Councilors Donaldo Hontiveros and Renato Osmeña, Jr.

Serging’s daughter, Georgia Osmeña and cousins Annie Osmeña and Margarita Larañaga were also present.

“Serging Osmeña has changed a lot of lives of many people and we are now reaping the fruits of his economic accruement, his wisdom and his brand of public service,” said Labella.

Labella shared that Serging made a drastic change in the economic landscape of the city such as the construction of the north reclamation project, the bridge connecting the Mandaue and Mactan island. Serging was also responsible in conceptualizing the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Labella has proposed renaming the Mactan-Mandaue bridge after the late Serging for being responsible for it.

“So that the generations to come would not forget and be reminded that it was this man, his visionary who made a difference in the lives of Cebuanos because of his economic accruement and his love for Cebu,” said Labella.

Labella asked his fellow public servants to be truthful in their work and to serve the city with utmost integrity.

 “Ang akong ihangyo ninyo, atong silbihan atong mga katawhan sa siyudad sa labing pagkamatinud-anon, sa labing pagtinarong because I'm sure that the only way that we could make the spirit of Sergio Osmeña Jr. be happy up there in heaven is for him seeing us here nga nagtininuod, nagtarong pag serbisyo sa iyang gipangga nga dakbayan sa Sugbo,” said Labella.  FPL (FREEMAN)