Last Tuesday, September 9th, the country, and especially Cebu, remembered and honored the most significant, but most laid back Cebuano in modern Philippine history, “Grand Old Man” President Sergio Osmeña on his 136th birthday.
After a morning Mass, members of the Osmeña clan offered flowers at the marker of what used to be the site of Don Sergio’s birthplace at the corner of Lapulapu and Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City. Leading the group was his 90-year-old daughter, wheelchair-bound Rosalina Osmeña-Valencia, joined by Cebu policemen in the commemoration.
Former congressman and Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña was also accompanied by Cebu police officials at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. along Osmeña Boulevard, where a wreath was offered and a short program held to mark the occasion.
When I was still active in radio dyLA, I would be part of the team covering special events by remote control, and Don Sergio’s birthday commemoration was one of the most significant: the early morning Mass and the floral offerings by his family.
Now that I’ve long retired, passing by the historical Lapulapu–Osmeña Boulevard marker and his former gracious residence near Fuente Osmeña brings back memories of Cebu’s Grand Old Man.
Last Wednesday, Cebu Daily News reporter Doris Bongcac reported how grandson Antonio Osmeña paid tribute to Don Sergio’s humility and moral leadership. She also reported that sculptor Christopher Java’s 30-inch bust of Don Sergio was displayed with the floral offerings beside the marker.
Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Juan Mercado recalled that it was Don Sergio “who shepherded a war-ruined country into a new republic” and that “his fine-tuned delicadeza” once prohibited his son, Sergio Jr., from accepting honoraria for lecturing at the University of the Philippines.
Mr. Mercado’s column also reminded us that on October 20, 1944, Don Sergio “waded ashore with Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Red Beach in Palo, Leyte. With him were Generals Carlos Romulo and Basilio Valdes and other key officials. He went on to restore the Commonwealth Government.”
In 1946, he refused to campaign for reelection and retired here in Cebu. I remember once seeing him at Mass at the Redemptorist Church. He died at 83.
Media reports and accounts in history books back continue to round up the portrait of Cebu’s beloved Grand old Man, God rest his soul.
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One of the activities that this Bystander was involved in was the monthly Cebu Council Girl Scouts of the Philippines Executive Committee meeting at our headquarters last August 25th. We greeted our August-born fellow members: Severina Chin on the 7th; Drs. Dolores Abellanosa on the 13th, her daughter Rhea Angtud and Ronald Giotay on the 19th, this Bystander on the 21st, and Atty. Cecilia Go.
The business taken up were reports from the Training Committee Workshops on Junior and Senior Age-Level specialization, Basics in Girl Scouting, and Outdoor Leadership Course. I was assigned to chair the Essay on-the-Spot Writing Contest on the council level. That contest on the regional level will be held tomorrow. I will report on the winners later.
The busy last week of August and the first week of September took a toll on my health and laid me low after I sent out my column. I have been taking it easy and hope to attend anticipated Sunday Mass tomorow. Thank God I felt better to write this week’s column.
Our Cebu United Radio and TV Artists (CURTA), Inc. monthly meeting last Sunday at the Rizada Residence Tisa-Labangon was hosted by Rose Rizada. After the usual business meeting regarding finances, membership and medical aid for needy members, especially the ailing elderly, President Teofie del Mar proposed a new Dinner-for-a-Cause for sick and needy members to be held in December.
He appealed to members for contributions, these in addition to financial contributions from City Hall, and the separate financial gains from the last CURTA cultural presentation “Pasiklap” which she accounted for, including solicited funds from her children in the US and others.
CURTA member Nicolas Ampatin was then presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for being a multi-awarded Educator and Media Practitioner.
The award was presented in the name of Rizada daughter Eleanor Rizada-Tomaneng, secretary-treasurer and chair of the Awards Committee of the Rizada Development Corporation. Congratulations, Nick!
Until then, as always, may God continue to bless us all!
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