Between Mike and Tom

This is the same title of a column I wrote around June 2011, a year into Mayor Mike Rama’s first term as Mayor of Cebu City. The comparison between the two mayors started with a rather unkind commentary of the incumbent: “I was never really a fan of Mayor Mike Rama. Frankly, I always found his kilometric speeches to be quite an excruciating experience to endure, consistently littered with off-tangent remarks and corny jokes (not to mention his eagerness to ‘burst’ into song, with a minus-one always ready!). I didn’t even vote for him when he ran for mayor.”

But of course, in the same column, I went on to say how he’s more proactive and focused on the job at hand, not easily sidetracked by vindictiveness and petty squabbles with the Capitol, so unlike his predecessor Tommy.

Some of those who read it opined that, realistically, if it was an actual tossup between the two, Mike Rama wouldn’t stand a chance. I begged to differ. Hubris would get the better of Tommy, I was sure. And I held on to that belief because it became clearer as the months progressed that they were, in fact, headed for a head-on collision. So each time I had the chance (and close friends would testify to this)—whether on Facebook or in dinners or coffee sessions with friends and family or in assemblies with youth and student leaders—I would already compare both and campaign for the guy I didn’t vote for mayor in 2010.

At the Governor’s Ball of that same year, Mayor Mike even went out of his was to greet me and thank me for what I wrote. I was surprised and I said, ‘but Mayor, I criticized you at the beginning, it was an entire paragraph…that you’d always burst into song?!”  His reaction: “Okay ra to, tinuod bitaw!” and we both laughed. As a convert, I became stauncher. Here’s a leader who’s humble enough, who doesn’t dwell on criticism but chooses to focus on what’s constructive, on what matters. I thought to myself, sus, if it was Tomas he might’ve already taken it personally. I’ve heard of so many horror stories about Tommy and how he treats people, as if he were almighty, omnipotent, and immortal. I hope he knows by now he isn’t.

To be fair, Tommy did a lot of good for Cebu during his early years, and no one can take that away from him, no critic like me can erase that. But you know what they say about power—it’s intoxicating, addictive, and it changes a lot of people. Alas, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. 

And speaking of horror stories, I also have a personal ‘Tommy Terror Tale.’ After I left the national government in 2008, I continued with some of my advocacies in tourism and international understanding and hosted a number of international delegations in my personal capacity. I just felt that I didn’t want to put to waste all my international network and experience in the area. I set up itineraries and raised funds for visiting dignitaries, youth groups, and international organizations.

One of the groups was from Yantai, a progressive port city in northeastern China facing Korea (Yantai’s population is very wealthy; most of the people live in million-dollar homes). Being a port city, this progressive city has similarities with Cebu, albeit more advanced and wealthier in terms of local economy and per capita income, and its officials (with the help of my friends in China’s Central Committee based in Beijing) and I were exploring the possibility of establishing sister city ties between our two cities.

So I raised money to host their delegation coming to Cebu and organized some institutional visits for them; the delegation was composed of the equivalent of our vice mayor and city councilors, so they were essentially VIPs. Part of the local program I prepared for them were courtesy visits with Tommy Osmeña who was mayor at the time, and then Vice Mayor Mike Rama (the city council was still temporarily holding office at the City Savings building on the other side of the Basilica).  

During the courtesy visit with Mayor Tom, they were all wearing suits (East Asians normally wear a coat and tie during important meetings, whether for business or bilateral talks). But we were not prepared and were all gob-smacked with Tommy’s uncalled for remark as we entered his office at the top floor of the Cebu City Hall. Looking irritated, he quipped: “You’re wearing suits? And I’m just wearing a shirt... are you insulting me?” He was in a polo shirt that, to me, looked like it needed ironing. I was furious but didn’t want to embarrass Cebu by calling Tommy’s attention (believe me, if the Chinese weren’t there, I wouldn’t make any qualms doing so).

The Chinese looked at me, “is he mad, is your mayor mad at us?” In my mind, I was think that, yes, he was mad alright, a different definition of mad (mad, as in out of his mind). I had no choice but to come up with an excuse: “Oh no, that’s why we love our mayor, he has a wicked sense of humor. He was just joking. Isn’t he funny?”  God, he was so not joking, and I was so lying. I hate that he made a liar out of me.

After that, the officials paid Vice Mayor Rama a visit. He was presiding over a city council session and momentarily suspended it to recognize and welcome the visiting VIPs, and took the time out to chitchat with them and discuss the possibility of sister city ties. Ever congenial, they loved him. They didn’t say the same thing for Tommy, but they were polite to keep whatever comments to themselves.

So yeah, even then, between Mike and Tom, I’m sure you can tell who’s more decent.

Congrats, Mayor Rama. And good luck, former mayor Tom. I earnestly hope you learn all that you can from this bitter, bitter loss.