Brass statues of Serging O, Don Vicente arrive in Cebu
MONUMENTS honoring two Cebuano greats will soon rise in front of Cebu City’s legislative building.
Brass statues of former senator Sergio “Serging” Osmena Jr. and Don Vicente Rama made by sculptor Eduardo Castrillo are now in the city government’s supply yard at the South Road Properties.
The images , said to be worth P3 million, were donated by Insular Life Co, said Leslie Reyes, City Hall’s protocol officer.
“This is going to be historic because Serging Jr. was the first elected mayor of Cebu City while Don Vicente was the first elected mayor after the creation of the city’s charter,” Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said.
Rama was eyeing the statues for next year, the city’s 77th year as a highly urbanized city but since they arrived earlier he plans to install them in time for his 60th birthday on Oct. 28.
Earlier Cebuano sculptor Christopher Java brought his bust of Don Sergio Osmeña during Tuesday’s death anniversary rites.
Mayor Rama said he would have wanted to tap homegrown c talents but since thes statues were donated by Insular Life, the company commissioned the artist.
Castrillon, an award winning sculptor from Manila, was the creator of the larger-than-life size brass figures in the Cebu Heritage Monument in Parian.
What’s important, said Rama, is that monuments of the two great Cebuano political leaders is completed.
Rama’s great grandfather, Don Vicente is known as the Father of the city’s charter.
Rama said a better location was needed to honor the man than having the current bust at at the Bureau of Fire and Penology (BFP) Central Visayas office in Pahina San Nicolas. He said the location has given rise to jokes about whether Don Vicente was a fireman.
A statue of Serging Osmena is located at the SM Cebu parking lot at the North Reclamation Area.
Rama said former city councilor Koko Holganza was responsible for that location to recognize Serging’s contribution to the creation of the North Reclamation Area.
But the mayor said it was time to give “two great Cebuanos” a place of honor outside City Hall where they belong.
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