Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama hands over a new cane to Lilibeth Ponsika donated by the Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) headed by Dr. Ester Concha (right) after the Simbang Gabi in Carbon market. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
As he completes the nine-day Misa de Gallo (dawn Mass) in Carbon Market today, suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he wishes that all his development programs for the area will be realized.
Rama, who calls himself an SM (suspended mayor), said it has been his longstanding promise to vendors in Carbon Market to improve the area.
For the past eight days, Rama has woken up at 3 a.m. and heads to Carbon Market to attend the daily Misa de Gallo there accompanied by his son Mikel and some City Hall department heads.
Rama said he wants Freedom Park and Warwick Barracks to be restored to their original layout but still operate as a market.
He also wants Carbon Units 1, 2 and 3 to be connected and more functional to meet present day needs.
Plans include a night market where pedestrians have free access and cars are not allowed inside.
“While I’m in government and even as a private individual, I will continue to attend the Misa de Gallo in Carbon. I have always shared that with the people,” he said.
The Pasko sa Carbon, launched in 2001, was Rama’s brainchild. It includes the holding of dawn masses leading to Christmas day attended by vendors.
One of the regular attendees is 19-year-old Leonard Arias+.
He was 13 years old when he was approached by Rama while he lay sleeping on the sidewalk in Carbon.
“Iya kung gipalitan ug sanina. Nya iya kong gipakuyog ug simba. Iya kung giingnan nga kada adlaw na ko dapat mosimba (He bought me clothes. He made me attend the dawn mass with him. He told me that I should attend it everyday),” Arias told “Cebu Daily News.
Since then, he said he’s been attending the dawn Masses in Carbon every Christmas.
Leonard lives with his younger sister and mother at the back of the Carbon Market near the SRP viaduct.
During last Tuesday’s dawn Mass, Leonard was sitting in the front row with Rama.
Last Tuesday, Rama and Ester Concha, Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) chief, gave a new cane to 45-year-old Lilibeth Ponsika.
Rama had noticed Ponsika attending the dawn Mass in previous days using her old and broken cane.
Concha was instructed to get a her a new cane.
“Mapasalamaton kaayo ko. Di na kaayo ko maglisod ug lakaw (I’m very thankful. I won’t have as much difficulty walking now),” she told CDN.
She damaged her hip when she slid and fell in the market last year.
After undergoing an operation, she needed a cane to help her walk.
Rama said he’s also been busy attending Christmas parties and gatherings in different barangays almost daily.
“I’m not expected to stay long. I go from one party to another. I can talk freely and better than when I’m in City Hall where I have to give an official statement. Now I can spend more time in my nipa hut,” he said.
The Mayor can be found in the morning relaxing in his nipa hut at the Rama compound, having breakfast and reading the newspaper. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
In the Rama compound, he has a small thatched roof nipa hut where he takes his siestas, eats breakfast and read and listens to the morning news.
Last night, he had a gathering with some barangay officials at the Rama compound in barangay Basak San Nicolas.
Today, he will be with relatives in Cempark to commemorate the death anniversary of his grandfather Don Vicente Rama, an annual tradition.
Later in the afternoon, Rama said he will attend a Christmas Party with children in barangay Lorega San Miguel.
On Christmas Day, Rama will have a walk-through with some department heads in the Doña Pepang Cemetery at around 10 a.m. to check the improvements in the area.
For the rest of the day, he said he will be distributing Christmas gifts to his godchildren.
On Dec. 26, he will attend a reunion with Rama clan members in the family compound. On the following day, the mayor will have another reunion with the Lopezes and Ramas in barangay Guadalupe.
“In the days to come, I can decide to have a quick visit to Manila or somewhere and then go back and wait for the New Year,” Rama said.