The family of former Cebu City mayor Mario Diez-Ortiz, with Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy, at the social hall of City Hall’s Legislative Building where a memorial service was held. (CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)
A Mass and memorial service were held yesterday in City Hall for the late Cebu City mayor Mario Diez Ortiz who served as chief executive in 1963.
Four of his children—Danilo, Jerome, Edwin and Julie Marie—and 11 grandchildren children were joined by Cebu City officials led by Vice Mayor Edgar Labella.
In a eulogy, the vice mayor described Ortiz as a “model of public service.”
READ: Memorial service for Ortiz at Cebu City Hall today
“I was in high school when Sir Mario Ortiz was mayor, vice mayor and councilor of Cebu City. At that time, I considered him the epitome of a true and dedicated public servant,” Labella said.
Ortiz was 93 when he passed away at home in Beverly Hills, Cebu City on July 31.
Two policemen stood as honor guards on both ends of his flag-draped casket set in the social hall of the Legislative Building yesterday. His interment is scheduled on Friday at Cempark.
Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy, who was Ortiz’s law school student, shared stories about the late mayor’s life.
He recounted how Ortiz as a young man was jailed by the Japanese in 1941 for aiding Filipino guerillas. Ortiz spent five months under starvation conditions in the former Cebu provincial jail before he escaped.
It was in jail that Ortiz met his future wife Julita Villacorta, who was also detained by the Japanese. The 14-year-old girl was working in the post office at the time. They got married after the war.
Sitoy wrote a book on the couple’s love story “Mar Lita: A Story of Faith, Love and Dignity.”
Sitoy said Ortiz was not only a good father of Cebu City but also a loving father of five children. One son, Reynaldo, has already passed away.
Speaking on behalf of the family, one of the late mayor’s sons, business leader Edwin Ortiz said their father was a hardworking man who valued his family.
“He was a simple man who would come home for lunch then go back to the office,” he said.
“He loved writing and watching basketball.”
Ortiz was born in Sibonga, south Cebu. He graduated law in the University of Sto. Tomas
After Ortiz entered politics, Mayor Sergio Osmeña appointed him as his executive secretary.
“Ortiz is the only person to become the mayor, vice mayor and councilor in a year,” said Sitoy.
Ortiz was elected councilor in 1960 with the highest number of votes. In 1963, he advanced to acting vice mayor and then briefly served as mayor of Cebu city from September to December r during a gap period of Mayor Serging Osmena.
In 1971, the two had a falling out and Ortiz ran against Osmeña for the mayorship. Osmeña won.
Ortiz was appointed to the Commission on Elections in July 30, 1985. After he retired, he remained active in his private law practice up to the time of his death. /UP Cebu Intern Julienne Hazel Penserga