Don Vicente and Michael Rama, the grandfather and grandson Cebu City mayors
Don Vicente Rama and Michael Lopez Rama have the distinction of being the lone grandfather and grandson Cebu City mayors. Don Vicente Rama who was born on June 6, 1887 was elected representative of the Old 3rd Congressional District of Cebu (composed of Talisay, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, and Carcar) in the 6th Philippine Legislature (1922-1925), 7th Philippine Legislature (1925-1928) and in the 10th Philippine Legislature (1934-1935, pre-terminated upon the passage of the 1935 Constitution).
Don Vicente Rama championed the passage of the Cebu City Charter when he answered the call of Gervasio Lira Lavilles, a member of the then Municipal Council of Cebu via Municipal Resolution No. 185 signed by Municipal President Fructuoso Ramos on August 31, 1931.
The Cebu City Charter was given birth by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 58 signed by President Manuel L. Quezon on October 20, 1936. Cebu City was inaugurated on February 24, 1937 by Elpidio Quirino then secretary of the Interior representing the president.
Don Vicente Rama was appointed by Quezon as Cebu City mayor on September 14, 1938 replacing the first Cebu City mayor, Alfredo Jacinto, then Cebu provincial treasurer who was from Gapan, Nueva Ecija. Rama should be given the title as the first Cebuano Cebu City mayor.
Don Vicente Rama was also elected as representative of the old 4th Congressional District of Cebu composed of Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, and Alcoy in 1935-1938, and senator in the first senatorial election after it was abolished by the 1935 Constitution where from 1916-1935, the senators were elected by senatorial districts. The senatorial election was held on November 11, 1941. The other three victorious Cebuano senatorial candidates were Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco (the first Cebuano Senate president), Don Filemon Yap Sotto and Manuel Cabahug Briones (the street fronting Cebu City Hall is named after him, his nephew, Marcelo Briones Fernan who also became a lawyer, member of the Regular Batasang Pambansa, Chief Justice, and Senate president, the second bridge connecting Mactan and Cebu is named after him).
A grandson named Michael Lopez Rama, a son of his son, Fernando, who also served as a Cebu City councilor was elected Cebu City mayor in May 2010. Michael, more known as Mike, was reelected in 2013 and as vice mayor in 2019. Michael was admitted to the Bar on May 8, 1984. The Rama Clan is one of Cebu’s lawyer clans, among the many were: Napoleon (admitted to the Bar on January 26, 1952), Dario (March 19, 1966), Emmanuel (May 5, 1981), Enrique (May 16, 1979), Jesus (admitted to the Bar on January 21, 1956 and died together with President Magsaysay in that plane crash in Mount Manunggal, Gaas, Balamban, on March 17, 1957), Mario (May 25, 1950), Panfilo (January 25, 1952), and Mikel Francisco (son of Michael Rama).
Don Vicente Rama rose to prominence via journalism as publisher of the “Bag-ong Kusog”, he also served as wartime mayor of Carcar, Cebu. He died on December 24, 1956.
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