‘Serging sowed seeds of Cebu’s economic growth’

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña (third from left) and former senator Serge Osmeña III (second from right) cut the ceremonial ribbon opening the #Serging100 exhibit. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO).

Sergio “Serging” Osmeña Jr.’s legacy as a visionary leader is seen in the many projects he pursued which were instrumental in shaping Cebu into an economic powerhouse in the country.

During yesterday’s commemoration of Serging’s 100th birth anniversary, his sons, former senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III and Mayor Tomas Osmeña, recounted their father’s contributions to Cebu.

In a speech he gave following a Thanksgiving Mass at the Doña Pepang Cemetery, former senator Osmeña said his father lobbied hard to build the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

He recalled accompanying his father, then governor of Cebu, to meet then president Ramon Magsaysay in order to pitch for the construction of an airport at Mactan Island in Cebu which was then accessible only by boat in 1955.

Serging convinced Magsaysay to do an aerial survey of the island to convince the president and the Americans to construct the airport.

A couple of months later, the plan was approved and construction of the airport began.

“Mactan before was just a fishing village. That jumpstarted the development of Mactan and the greater development of Cebu. That, to me, was my father’s greatest contribution to the economic growth of Cebu,” Serge said in his speech in from of the Osmeña mausoleum.

He said this also paved the way for the construction of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

Serge said he feels proud of his father every time he sees how so many people are using the MCIA now and all the hotels built on the island.

The former senator recalled that at that time, building an airport in Mactan was considered almost absurd since it’s too far from Manila.

But he said his father foresaw the future need of the facility in the south.

This is how current leaders in government should be, he said.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and former senator Serge Osmeña III look at one of the photos along with Councilor Margot Osmeña. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO).

“The management of government should anticipate progress. They must be ready when the time for expansion comes,” he said.

Members of the Osmeña clan, Cebu City officials and employees, barangay officials and supporters attended yesterday’s celebration.

Mayor Osmeña said aside from the airport and bridge, his father also pushed for the North Reclamation Area even if there were already existing piers at that time.

“We pay tribute to people like Serging Osmeña. That’s his style. He looks ahead so that when the problem comes, the solution is already there,” the mayor said in his speech. A floral offering was also held after the program.

Among the officials present were Reps. Raul Del Mar and Rodrigo Abellanosa of Cebu City’s north and south districts respectively, Cebu City councilors, City Hall employees, police officials and residents.

An exhibit dubbed as #Serging100 opened at the lobby of City Hall’s legislative building.

The exhibit shows photos of Serging during his stints as a politician as well as photos of the Osmeña family.

Some memorabilia of the late senator was also displayed including his old pacemaker, campaign materials in the past elections when he ran for vice president and president but lost.

Bryner Diaz, officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Historical Affairs Office (CHAO), said the exhibit is open to the public until December 9.

He said some of the photos were courtesy of the Presidential Museum and Library at the Malacañang while the others came from the Osmeña clan, including some of the late senator’s belongings.