City barrios tribute to Don Vicente Rama’s appointment as Cebu City mayor

Don Vicente Rama received a letter from President Manuel Quezon dated September 14, 1938 appointing him as Cebu City mayor. On November 26, 1938 he took his oath at Malacañang Palace before the president.

Don Vicente Rama, in his article “Memories of Life”, notes of a memorable event that happened in the city, this was how he narrated it:

“Another incident I can never forget was the tribute I was given by two of the city barrios-Ermita and Pahina-held at Plaza Washington on 29 May 1939. Over six thousand people attended this affair; and present to deliver some well-thought-out speeches were the former Sen. Filemon Sotto, Gov. Tura Rodriguez, Deputy Abellana, and this writer (referring to himself), Atty. Cecilio dela Victoria was master of ceremonies.”

(CEBUpedia note: Cecilia dela Victoria was from Carlock Street, San Nicolas. He became a lawyer on February 23, 1926 and married Rufina “Bulang” Dolloso. He served as councilor and vice mayor of Cebu City. Two of his sons also became lawyers, Loreto on February 28, 1958, who later became fiscal of Mandaue City and presiding judge of RTC Branch 6, Cebu City. His younger brother, Rafael, was admitted to the bar on May 19, 1965. A nephew, Isaac Bacalso dela Victoria, from Albuera, Leyte, became a lawyer on January 20, 1955 and became the first regional director of the Citizens Legal Assistance Office (CLAO) Regional Office 7, known today as the Public Attorney’s Office).

“Why did so many residents of Ermita and Pahina bother to attend and even take part in that celebration at Plaza Washington, to the neglect of their household duties? The reason was explained by one of the speakers that evening. The mayor had been born in the barrio of Ermita, a true-blue-Ermitano; and his wife came from Pahina, belonging to a family of one of the original settlers there. Ermita and Pahina were adjoining barrios; they were, in a manner of speaking, sisters from back in time. The program was therefore intended as a tribute to the appointed mayor; but honored his wife as well-Doña Catalina-Genson, who was indeed the pride and joy of everyone who knew her in that little barrio where she had been born.”