Commissioner Napoleon G. Rama
Don Vicente "Nyor Inting" Rama and his wife, Catalina Genson, had a son named, Napoleon.
He studied at the San Carlos Seminary in Cebu. He wrote the article, "North Borneo Belongs to Us" published in the Philippine Free Press and became the basis of the country's re-claiming Borneo. He worked with the Philadelphia Bulletin in the United States and was "Journalist of the Year" in 1959. He was editor of the Spanish newspaper in Cebu, "El Observatorio." He received the Premio Zobel in 1992.
He became a lawyer on January 26, 1952, but focused his mastery of the written language (English and Spanish) on journalism.
He was Delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. The convention opened its session on June 1, 1971 with former President Carlos P. Garcia as Convention President, who died on June 14, 1971. Rama's fellow Cebuano delegates among others on that convention were Marcelo Fernan, Andres Flores, Hilario Davide Jr., and Casimiro Madarang. Rama was elected vice president of that Constitutional Convention.
He was part of the group that authored the famous Ban Marcos resolution that prohibits Marcos or his wife Imelda from being part of the convention. During Martial Law he was detained at Fort Bonifacio together with Ninoy Aquino.
His service to the country by being part of the writing of the 1972 Constitution and fighting President Marcos did not end, as he was appointed in 1986 by the revolutionary President Corazon Aquino as member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission. His experience to constitutional drafting inspired his fellow members to elect him as Floor Leader of the 1986 Constitutional Commission.
He authored the book "A Time in the Life of a Filipino," a book on President Corazon Aquino.
He co-founded LABAN or the Lakas ng Bayan. It was Senator Ninoy Aquino's political group against President Marcos KBL or the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan. It is the origin of the sign "L" sign now used by the Liberals.
He became publisher of the Manila Bulletin and was conferred in 2011 the Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Commander by President Benigno Simeon Aquino.
The brothers of Napoleon were Jesus (admitted to the Bar on January 21, 1955, who died with President Ramon Magsaysay on a plane crash in Mt. Manunggal, Balamban, Cebu) and Dario, who married Rosario Dondoyano. Then there was Osmundo who became a physician, joined politics and was elected Cebu City Councilor and Governor of Cebu. Another brother, Fernando (father of Mayor Michael Lopez Rama) also became Cebu City Councilor. Clemente also served Cebu City as a councilor. Laurente became a ship captain, and another brother, Miguel, married Milagros Lumain.
Aside from Napoleon, there are many Ramas of Cebu who became lawyers. Among them were Michael L. Rama (admitted to the Bar on May 8, 1984), Ernesto Jose P. Rama (admitted to the Bar on May 2, 1983), Emmanuel P. Rama (admitted to the Bar on May 5, 1981), Enrique P. Rama (admitted to the Bar on May 16, 1979), Jesus G. Rama (admitted to the Bar on January 21, 1955), Mario D. Rama (admitted to the Bar on May 25, 1950), Panfilo G. Rama (admitted to the Bar on January 25, 1952), Dario C. Rama Jr. (admitted to the Bar on March 19, 1966) and Mikel F. Rama (son of Mayor Michael L. Rama), admitted in 2011.
Atty. Napoleon "Nap" Rama married Paz Ramos and they have five children.
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