Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama lead the flower offering at the bust monument of Don Vicente Rama located at the Pahina Central Fire Station. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama exhorted city residents to “learn from the lessons of yesterday and do things right today” during the 77th Charter Day celebration early Monday, Jan. 24.
In his message during the flag-raising ceremony, Rama said some of the country’s great leaders tried 77 years ago to block the passage of a law on Cebu’s cityhood. He said the same crab mentality continues to exist but didn’t elaborate.
“We cannot make our country strong if we cannot even make the cities strong,” he said.
The celebration of Cebu City’s 77th charter started with a Eucharistic celebration held at 7 a.m. at the Plaza Sugbu fronting city hall’s legislative building followed by a flag raising ceremony at 8 a.m.
Present during the celebration were Fernandito and Corazon, the surviving children of Don Vicente Rama, and city officials led by Vice Mayor Edgar Labella.
The Plaza Sugbu crowd also included senior citizens, war veterans, leaders of the city’s Muslim community, law enforcers and city hall employees.
From Plaza Sugbu, Rama led city officials, department heads and employees to the Pahina Central Fire station where Don Vicente Rama’s bust monument is located for the annual floral offering.
In his second message before the floral offering, Rama said the city’s progress is an indication that his great grandfather did not die in vain.
He asked fellow Cebuanos to read how Don Vicente fought for Cebu’s cityhood and learn from history.
“Crab mentality is still here today but I pray that it will be reduced or diminished in the future so the cityhood that we enjoy today will be something that is for Don Vicente worth fighting for,” mayor Rama said.
Michelle Mae Rama, the mayor’s niece, said she never got to meet her great grand father but she continues to look up to him because of his integrity and love for public service.