Garcia (left), Canete
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants retired judge Esperanza Fiel Garcia and world-renowned martial artist Ciriaco “Cacoy” Cañete to be recognized by the city government for their respective contributions.
In his press conference yesterday, Rama expressed his condolence to the families of both Garcia and Cañete for their loss.
“In behalf of my family, my political party, my condolences of course with the passing of Garcia. I will (tell) the council to come up with a resolution because she has been a woman replete with achievements,” he said.
The Garcia matriarch died last week due to kidney failure. She was 82.
The retired Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge was known for founding the Cebu CFI Community Cooperative in 1970.
Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who will again sit as presiding officer of the City Council tomorrow (Wednesday) after Rama’s preventive suspension ended yesterday, welcomed the suggestion.
“I join the mayor in calling the members of the council to pass a resolution extending condolences to the family and also recognizing the contribution of retired judge Garcia especially in the cooperative movement and her active role in the judicial system,” Labella said.
Rama also wanted the city’s Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) to consider Cañete as one of the recipients of the posthumous awards that the city would be handing out to some individuals during its Charter Day Celebration later this month.
Cañete died last week due to prostate cancer at the age of 96. He was the last founding leader of Doce Pares, the oldest Eskrima organization in the country.
Sought for comment, Labella said he would include Cañete in the list of posthumous awardees.
He said other awardees would include Trade Union Congress of the Philippines founder Democrito Mendoza and former newspaper editor and publisher of The Freeman and Banat News, Juanito Jabat.
“I will bring that matter to the city council maybe we’ll include that (Cañete’s posthumous award) as an addendum,” Labella said.
The council approves the list of awardees for the coming Charter Day Celebration.