The Grandfather and Grandson Cebu City Mayors (Part II)
The only Grandson and Grandfather Cebu City Mayors belongs to the Rama clan. Don Vicente Rama, who marks this year 2016 as the 100 years of Public Service, as he was elected Councilor of the then Municipality of Cebu on June16, 1916. Don Vicente was appointed Cebu City Mayor by President Manuel Quezon in 1938, succeeding Alfredo V. Jacinto who was from Nueva Ecija, thus making Don Vicente the first Cebuano Cebu City Mayor.
His grandson, by the name of Michael Lopez Rama born on October 28, 1954 was elected Cebu City Mayor in 2010. Michael is a lawyer he was admitted to the Bar on May 8, 1984. The father of Mayor Mike by the name of Fernando also served as Cebu City Councilor. The mother of Mike is Natividad Lopez.
Mayor Mike was elected Cebu City Councilor in 1998, just like his grandfather and father. He then served as Vice Mayor of Tomas Osmeña from 2001 to 2010. He graduated Valedictorian at the Basak Elementary School renamed as Vicente Rama Elementary School, his high school at the University of Southern Philippines and Bachelor of Laws at the San Beda College.
The uncle of Mayor Mike, Dr. Osmundo Rama also served as Governor of Cebu, the latter helped in the returning of the Cebu Provincial Lot unlawfully donated to Cebu City. It was Governor Rene Espina with the help of the young lawyer turned Board Member, Pablo Paras Garcia who questioned the ordinance sponsored by Acting Governor Almendras donating hundreds of Cebu Provincial Lots to Cebu City. It was made during the time of Mayor Serging Osmeña.
Another uncle of Mayor Mike who gave honor to Cebu is the late Napoleon Rama, more known as Nap Rama, who also like Mike is a lawyer. He was admitted to the Bar on January 26, 1952. Nap was a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. He was the co-founder of the famous political party, Laban or Lakas ng Bayan.
Don Vicente Rama, the only Cebu City Mayor whose grandson also became a mayor like him married Catalina Genson. Don Vicente sons became lawyers and other members of the clan, Napoleon, Ernesto Jose P. Rama (admitted to the Bar 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), who became part of the Provincial Board under the famous architect of the Cebu Boom, Emilio "Lito" Renner Osmena, grandson of Don Sergio Suico Osmeña, Jesus G. Rama (son of Don Vicente was admitted to the Bar on May 25, 1950, who died at a young age together with President Ramon Magsaysay in a plane crash in Mount Manunggal, Balamban, Cebu), Mario D. Rama (admitted to the Bar onMay 25, 1950), Dario Rama (admitted to the Bar on March 19, 1966) and the son of Mayor Mike by the name of Mikel also became a lawyer in 2011.
Another uncle of Mayor Mike also served Cebu City as Councilor for decades, his name was Clemente. For the record, Cebu has only one Grandfather and Grandson Governors, and that is Don Sergio Suico Osmeña and Emilio "Lito" Osmeña. The father of Lito was the Patriot, Lt. Col. Emilio Chiong Veloso Osmeña who was a Doctor of Medicine. He was executed by the Japanese Imperial Army when he refused to collaborate with them.
A street within the Veloso Compound, Barangay Guadalupe is named after Emilio Osmeña in memory of his bravery and sacrifice for his country.
Great Cebuanos like Don Sergio Osmeña and Don Vicente Rama produced grandsons who like them has brought honor to Cebu.
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