Tomas: City spent less on Charter Day

Businessman Michel Lhuillier was given the outstanding individual award during the testimonial dinner held on Saturday night, in celebration of Cebu City’s 81st Charter Day anniversary. With him are Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Amparito Lhuillier and Councilor Margot Osmeña.

It was a less costly celebration.

But city officials, department heads and their guests looked glamorous in their formal wears as they converged at the Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel and Casino for the testimonial dinner, the highlight of the city’s 81st Charter Day celebration.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he made sure that City Hall will not be spending P14 million, the usually amount that his predecessor Michael Rama would normally spend.

“This administration is characterized by spending less and showing the tax payers that we are making the best with what we have. The previous administration spent up to P14 million for a Charter Day celebration. This is not happening tonight,” Osmeña said during his speech.
Bryner Diaz, Cultural and Historical Commission (Chac) officer-in-charge, said City Hall allocated at least P1.5 million to cover the cost of this year’s celebration.

The bulk of the allocation was spend on plaques and meals served during the testimonial dinner and a Saturday morning program where the city government also recognized outstanding government personnel and students among others.

City officials, department heads and guests shared dinner at the Waterfront Hotel’s Grand Ballroom while they were serenaded by the Cebu City Choral and some local singers including Jewel Fores, Therese Villarante, Kurt Fick and Von Saw with Visayan Pop (Vispop) songs.

Osmeña and Reps. Raul del Mar (north district) and Rodrigo Abellanosa (south district) later on led the distribution of awards to outstanding individuals: 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games marathon Gold Medalist Mary Joy Tabal, Film Director Remton Zuasola, Radiologist Dr. Warfe Engracia and theater and Film Actress Chai Fonacier.

The Mabolo Elementary School and Julie’s Bakeshop were named as outstanding institutions while posthumous awards were given to Cebuano Composer Vicente Rubi and Grand Master Choa Kok Sui, the Founder of Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga.

Mayors special awards were given to Michel Lhuillier, NBI Special Investigator Arnel Pura, SPO1 Alan Caumeran and Maestro David Anne.

Caumeron was the policemen from the Mabolo Police Station who reported to his commander a P50,000 bribe offer for the release of a drug suspect.

Other recipients of the Mayor’s Special Award included Amor Villanueva of the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (Champ); Rosaline Verano, City Burial Assistant head; Fidel Magno of the Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP); the Accelerated Social Amelioration Program (Asap) profilers and Joel Mari Yu, the economic adviser to Mayor Osmeña.

The mayor’s special award for outstanding institution went to Robinson Land Corporation while.

Mayor Osmeña also handed posthumous awards to the families of the late Roberto Eduardo “Bobby” Aboitiz, former President of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi), and Nap E. Sentillas, former Director of the Cebu City Cooperative Development Council (CCCDC).

Before the night ended, Councilor Margot Osmeña joined city hall employees in a dance number to the tune of “I love Cebu.”