Lawyer Mikel Francisco Rama (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
At 30, Mikel Rama has been a practicing lawyer for more than four years already.
His towering build, brushed up hairdo and signature pair of eyeglasses would often lead people to think that he’s a snob.
But Mikel reveals another side to his suave and debonair demeanor as he gamely answers questions about his personal life, his interests and his views in life and the way he looks at Cebu City.
As if being the son of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is not enough pressure, Mikel has also been very active in being part of his father’s team of lawyers — defending the mayor in several cases, including the one which led to his preventive suspension late last year.
Mikel shares the challenges of being the legal defender of his own father who has played the biggest role in how he’s become who he is today and who he will be in the future.
Despite his charisma and charm, which leaves a lot of ladies swooning when he walks around City Hall or in events with his father, Mikel says he’s still very much single, available and ready to “apply” with his resume of brains, good looks and personality.
Hear his thoughts on life, law and love.
Who’s your icon?
By icon, I’m taking it as kanang particular nga tawo nga akong gi look up to. Kon ingon ana, wala gyud koy singular person nga maka ingon gyud ko nga akong icon. Pero interesado kaayo ko sa mga kinabuhi sa ubang mga iconic people sa history and I try to learn as much as I can from their lives and sa kanang mga teachings and ideologies nga ilang gibilin.
Example, interesado kaayo ko sa life and teachings ni Jesus Christ, like I don’t just take it spiritually, I also take it academically. Also Mahatma Gandhi, I haven’t really read into the particulars of his life and teachings yet, but I intend to, I’ve just been reading quotes.
Even locally, I’m interested sa mga tawo nga nag-shape sa Cebu City. Kanang mga karaang mga influential nga tawo dinhi like my great grandfather Vicente Rama and other Cebuanos who’ve shaped our history.
I like history and I let it influence me.
Of course, my mother and my father are also my icons.
What’s your mantra in life? In work?
Do the right thing.
Why did you want to be a lawyer?
I come from a family of lawyers. My mother and father are both lawyers. There are a lot of lawyers from my father’s side. Both my grandparents from my mother’s side were lawyers. Naturally, I was influenced to be a lawyer ever since I was young.
Was it really your dream, as a child, to be a lawyer?
It was always one of my dreams.
How do you spend your free time?
Watching movies, playing sports.
What are your hobbies?
Movies, skateboarding, basketball, boxing.
What’s your favorite book? Movie?
Blind Willow Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami (fiction).
The Personal MBA by Josh Kauffman (non-fiction).
A Second Chance.
How close are you to your father?
We are close. He always gives me advice and always keeps my values in check.
How was it growing up as the son of Michael Rama?
I grew up not only as the son of my father but also of my mother and I grew up very blessed. I am very lucky to have both my parents nga nisuporta nako sa pag-eskwela hangtod nga nakatiwas ko.
Mapasalamaton kaayo ko sa akong duha ka ginikanan kay wala gyuy pag kuwang ang akong kinabuhi nga gadako ko. Dunay uban nako nga mga classmates nga kinahanglan mag-working student para makabayad og tuition. Ang uban kailangan mosakripisyo ug napugos og undang kay kinahanglan sila manrabaho para makapatiwas sa mga igsuon.
Kami, swerte kaayo mi sa akong igsuon nga gipaeskwela mi sa among mga ginikanan ug wala sad sila nag kuwang ug pagtudlo namo sa pagpaduol sa Ginoo ug sa uban pang mga maayong values. Bisan sa ka busy nila, wala gyud mi nila na pasagdan. Para ana, mapasalamaton kaayo ko nila.
Karon ra nga duna na ta’y gamay’ng edad nga maka appreciate ta sa mga efforts ug sakripisyo sa atong ginikanan. You realize how hard it must have been juggling a career and making sure your kids are raised well.
How is Mayor Rama as a father?
He is a strict father and a disciplinarian. He is also a very engaged mentor who goes out of his way to impart wisdom and virtues.
Ang kalahi-an lang gyud nga na-experience nako as a son kay ang pag-acceptar nga akong amahan dili ra amahan nako ug sa akong igsuon apan amahan sab siya sa tibuok siyudad sa Sugbo. Not only is he a father to my sister and I, he is also a father of the whole City of Cebu.
Sometimes it’s tough seeing him nga halos wala nay pahuway ug hurot ang panahon sa iyang commitment sa panerbisyo. Pero mao man na iyang kinabuhi.
He really loves and cares deeply about the people of Cebu. He cares about the different sectors in our community and he has always taken it upon himself to be a steward of the best interest sa lain-laing sector, whether it be the aspiring sector, senior citizens, youth sector, business sector, communities sa low land urban barangays, ug sa communities sa mountain barangay ug uban pa.
Each sector and community has both common and varying needs and interests. My father has always been putting effort in making sure these needs and interests are adequately represented in the Cebu City government.
Politically speaking, do you have plans of following the footsteps of your father, being his only son?
I just want to be able to continue the values and ideals my father has been working for. As I said earlier, he always goes out of his way to impart wisdom and virtues on me.
Duna na siyay na tanom nga mga idealisms sa lain-laing community and sector sa Siyudad sa Sugbo. Gusto lang ko nga maka contribute sa pagpadayon anang mga idealisms ug makit-an nga kana mamunga, whether it be politically or otherwise. (To be continued.)
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