Cebu City to adopt proclamation: Special non-working holiday in Cebu Province on December 4

CEBU, Philippines —  President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a Proclamation No. 1053, declaring December 4, 2020 as a special non-working day in Cebu Province to commemorate the 104th birth anniversary of former governor Sergio Osmeña, Jr.

"It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province Cebu be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies, subject to community quarantine, social distancing, and other public health measures," reads Proclamation 1053 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Osmeña was governor of Cebu Province froma 1951 to 1959.

In Cebu City, Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will adopt the proclamation because the city also recognizes Osmeña’s contributions as its former mayor, from 1959 to 1963. He said Osmeña’s performance as mayor, which contributed to the development of the city’s economy and infrastructure is “interminable.”

After serving Cebu, Osmeña ran for national office and was elected senator, serving from 1965 to 1971.

Osmeña is the father of former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña and former senator Sergio Osmeña III.

He finished Associate of Arts, cum laude, at Ateneo de Manila in 1935 and Bachelor of Science in Commerce, summa cum laude, at New York University in 1938. — JMO (FREEMAN)