Tomas O recall Serging’s service to Cebu City on his 99th birthday

Former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña recalls his father’s contributions to the growth of Cebu during the 99th birth anniversary of Sergio “Serging” Osmeña Jr. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Flowers were offered at the statue of former mayor Sergio “Serging” Osmeña Jr. in front of City Hall  for his 99th birth anniversary yesterday.

His son,  former mayor and south district representative Tomas Osmeña, pointed to his father’s landmark projects in the  ’60s and ‘70s  like  the North Reclamation Area,   the first  Mactan-Mandaue bridge and the Mactan airport.

“The North Reclamation project is probably the first time in our country’s history that became what is now known as public-private participation. It was  was funded by the private sector, not  the government. He worked very hard to bring in a major American investor,” he said in his speech.

He said Serging had a vision for Cebu and  pioneered several projects, such as the export processing zone in Mactan and convinced the Americans to build an international runway in Mactan.

“That was his style, and that’s where I learned my lessons, eventually becoming the chief executive of the city,” said Tomas, who is seeking the mayorship in 2016.

Serging served as governor of Cebu and became the city’s first elected mayor in 1955.

The memorial program was mounted by the Cebu city government and was attended by Osmeña clan members, including Tomas’ wife Councilor Margot, their son Miguel and wife Bea, and granddaughter; Margarita Larrañaga and Annie Osmena Aboitiz.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, in his speech, said he considered Serging,  a “great Cebuano” and “one of the best if not the best president of the republic of the Philippines that we never had.” Osmeña ran for president in 1969.

Labella said he was a teenager when he saw how  Cebu evolved with the vision of Serging in establishing the North Reclamation Area,  the Mactan airport and the Mactan Brdige.