Mandaue to mark Justice Sotero Cabahug 121st birth anniversary

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government will honor Justice Sotero Cabahug, the city’s “great man” tomorrow with a series of activities in commemoration of his 121st birth anniversary.

Among the activities are a commemorative mass to be held at the National Shrine of St. Joseph at 2 p.m. and a floral offering.

The 5th Justice Sotero Cabahug Memorial Lecture and a testimonial dinner will also take place on the same day and will be held at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center.

At the same venue, the city will award this year’s 2012 Cabahug Medal of Academic Excellence.

This year’s awardee is Joijiel Pareja, a magna cum laude of bachelor of laws at the University of Cebu, Banilad campus.

The Cabahug Medal of Academic Excellence was first awarded in 1923 to residents of Mandaue who excelled in academics but this was stopped a the outbreak of World War II.

It was revived after the war.

But the giving of the award was again stopped during the 12-year term of former Mayor Thadeo Ouano, and was revived once more when Mayor Jonas Cortes became mayor in 2007.

Cabahug is remembered as a statesman having served the three branches of government.

While serving as governor of Cebu, he was responsible for the construction of the stately Capitol building.

He was one time the Secretary of National Defense during the time of President Ramon Magsaysay and was once the Secretary of Public Works.

He also served as congressman of the second congressional district of Cebu for two terms.

He became a justice of the Court of Appeals where he concluded his public service. – (FREEMAN)