Acting Mayor Rama - I'm the city's 'mom'

CEBU, Philippines — Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has claimed he is the city’s “mom.”

Rama, who led in yesterday’s traditional Monday flag raising ceremony, discussed several issues concerning the City Hall now that he is an acting mayor in a full-pledged capacity.

While asking employees to continue to include in their prayers the recovery of Mayor Edgardo Colina Labella, he looked back to the time when the latter was elected as mayor.

“Being the mayor, he is the “father” and the vice-mayor, I will be the mother,” recalled Rama, insinuating that he was the first ones to have thought of that “MOM.”

M.O.M. has been used as a campaign catchword by Rama’s political rival, the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan for Margot Osmeña Mayor, its mayoralty candidate, saying the city needs a “mom” to care for the ailing city accordingly.

“Kakuha mo? Kanang mother, actually, is in an arrangement we have with Edgardo. And when we had that arrangement when I was the mayor, unsa may arrangement namo kaniadto? I am the father, he is the mother,” reiterated Rama and now vice versa.

Rama did not mention about Osmeña but former mayor Tomas Osmeña in his Facebook posted a picture of Rama with his own meaning of M.O.M.--Mike Our Mayor.

“When you didn’t do your homework so you have to copy others. Nice try hahaha,” the caption in Osmeña’s post reads.

Rama, yesterday, however, said there is so much on his shoulder with Labella’s absence.

“Karon, in his (Labella) absence, duha kabuok akong gi-perform, ina ug tatay,” said Rama.

Rama went to ask employees who he is then, to which the employees responded in jest “ina-tay”.

“Kamo nagsulti dili ako,” said Rama.

More than anything though, Rama has asked all workers in the City Hall to perform what is expected of them. He promised not to rock the boat as long as everyone works accordingly.

“Just make services alive…That will be our offering to our elected mayor, Edgardo Colina Labella. While he is not around, we perform our duties and responsibilities,” said Rama. — GMR (FREEMAN)