Memorial service for Ortiz at Cebu City Hall today
Mario Ortiz
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today at City Hall for Mario Ortiz, lawyer and former mayor of Cebu City.
Ortiz passed away on Friday at 5:25 a.m. at his home in Beverly Hills after suffering heart failure. He was 93.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, said Ortiz was a source of inspiration for him.
“I always cherish being with elders. Every time I had a chance, he would remind me of the political yesteryears and would encourage me about the way I project as a public servant,” Rama told Cebu Daily News.
Ortiz was appointed commissioner of the Commission on Elections in July 30, 1985 and served in the poll body before returning to private life.
Despite his advanced age, Ortiz remained active in his law practice and attended meetings of the Rotary Club of Cebu up until a testimonial dinner held in his honor in June.
Ortiz briefly served as city mayor by succession from September 13 to Dec. 31 1963 during a gap period of the mayorship of Sergio “Serging” Osmeña Jr.
Ortiz was vice mayor from August 1960 until Sept. 12, 1963. He was elected Cebu city councilor with the most number of votes in November 1959.
He graduated Law in 1947 in the University of Santo Tomas and passed the Bar Exam on the same year.
Ortiz, a native of Sibonga, south Cebu was born in April 9, 1922. He married Julita Villacorta, who served as assistant regional director of the Department of Education before she retired.
His wife died in January this year due to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of cancer.
“We’d like to believe that my parents are inseparable. It’s like my mommy took daddy with him already,” said Julie Marie Ortiz-Valencia, only daughter of the couple’s five children.
Ortiz will be laid to rest on Friday, 10:30 am at the Cempark Cemetery.
Son Edwin, vice president for membership of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the family was caught by surprise by Mario’s death. While he suffered a mild stroke three years ago and had to use a wheelchair, Mario stayed alert, reading, writing and reviewing law office matters.
The vigil wake is being held at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Lahug.
Eulogies are set to be delivered today by Mayor Rama, Vice Mayor Edgar Labella and Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy.
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