Mike’s night

Last Monday, members of the Rama clan, friends, guests from the media, diplomatic circle and national government agencies joined Cebu city government officials to honor outstanding individuals and organizations in a testimonial dinner marking the city’s 77th Charter Day held at the Marco Polo Plaza.

I came in the company of Charter Day media awardee, Virginia “Ginny” Vamenta and we arrived as Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella was called to give the welcome remarks.
Mayor Michael “Mike” Rama was seated in a round table in the middle of the ballroom.  He was flanked to his left by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and to his right, Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

Mayor Rama listened to the program and at the same time paid attention to guests seated in other round tables.  He hopped from one table to another and shook hands here and there.

The mayor was visibly relaxed and ebullient and reminded me of the song, “I’m so happy I could sing.” Had the occasion been less formal, I think Mike would have grabbed a microphone and sung to his heart’s content.
And why not?

For the first time in his 22-year political career, Mike Rama has finally moved out of the shadow of former mayor and congressman Tomas “Tommy” Osmeña.  Although Mike faces an intractable City Council, I think he believes that in time, he will get what he wants from Tommy’s allies in the council.

With a Rama as mayor, the Charter Day bells, whistles, drums and all are praising the Cebuano who made it all possible, Don Vicente Rama, father of the Cebu City Charter and grandfather of Mike Rama.

During the Charter Day party, I had the occasion to speak with Cardinal Vidal who was honored that night with the lifetime achievement award, the highest award given by the city government.

Vidal told me 2014 is his 34th time attending the Charter Day event.  That’s how long he has been around the city.

To recall, Cardinal Vidal was appointed Cebu Archbishop in 1981 by the late Pope John Paul II. Thirty years later or a few months before Vidal retired from active Church service, Cebu City honored him with the lifetime achievement award. This was during the 74th Charter Day in 2011.  I guess this year’s lifetime achievement award makes Vidal a Charter Day hall of famer.

In his testimonial dinner speech, Mayor Rama alluded to his filial bond with Cardinal Vidal, who wrote a book dedication many years ago that he looked forward to see Mike become mayor.

The retired prelate told me Mike sought his blessings a day before the 2013 elections and that he told Mike, who was then locked in a grand battle for Cebu City mayor against Tommy Osmeña, “not to worry about anything.”

The legacy of Don Vicente Rama should be taught in schools, so that future generations will know the history of Cebu City and be rooted in the values of the people who made the city what it is today, according to Cardinal Vidal.

Coming from Mogpog, Marinduque, I will say his statements bespeak of a true-blue, albeit transplanted Cebuano.  Vidal has so imbibed the Cebuano culture that except perhaps for the unique Marinduque-Tagalog that he speaks, he is as Cebuano as Nyor Inting Rama. Cebu owes him for the many wonderful things he has done to enhance our culture through his works for the Church.

Come to think of it, Charter Day awardee Virginia “Ginny” Vamenta is another transplanted Cebuano who has made her mark here.   Cebu has been good to Ginny and vice versa.

Ginny gave the response in behalf of the honorees and it was nice to see many people come up to her after the party to offer well-wishes. On our way out, we met Hans Hauri who shared pleasantries with both Ginny and myself.

Seeing that Ginny had to muster some effort in getting herself seated in the SUV’s front seat, a hotel porter thoughtfully placed a small flat board for Ginny to stand on and maintain her balance.

Ginny’s night out ended with the top honcho of the Marco Polo Plaza giving her the step board as a token of the celebration.