ATTY. Mikel Francisco Rama (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Yesterday, Mikel Rama talked about his personal life and how it is to be the son of the city mayor. In this issue, Mikel shares a little of his lovelife, the type of woman he wants to marry and his future plans.
You were rumored to be part of Team Rama’s slate for the 2016 elections. Did you really have plans of running?
I just joined the group. I am one of the most junior members. I was made aware that my name was among those being floated as probable candidates prior to the filing of the certificates of candidacy. So I just made myself ready to be a worthy candidate by preparing my platform, etc. just in case my name would be called. Kon sa basketball pa, mura kog rookie nga bench player. Bisan walay sigurado maka playing time, dapat kondisyon gihapon kanunay.
How many girlfriends have you had already?
Confidential man na, Santino . . . But seven (7) jud ang official.
Have you even been broken-hearted? How did you deal with it?
Sure. Wa’y may’ng laki ig abot sa gugma. Maigo gyud ka panagsa. Dealt with it by moving on, I guess.
How would you describe your ideal woman?
Buotan, gwapa, naa’y NBI clearance, SSS and/or Philhealth coverage. He-he-he. Komedya ra bitaw.
Let’s just put it this way, my ideal woman would be someone whose “laughter could be a question I’d want to spend my whole life answering.” That’s a quote from author Nicole Krauss.
Do you have a special someone right now?
Wala koy uyab. Wala pa lagi ko ka lugar og pang-apply. Ready na hinuon akong resume. Akong qualifications kay: buotan, caring, nag-atiman sa kaugmaon, nieskwela og tarong ug nahimong abogado, ug dili sad ka maka-ingon nga lisod tutukan ang dagway kay gwapohon man gamay . . . he-he-he . . . Maayo unta kon naay mo dawat.
Do you have plans of getting married? How soon?
Wa pa gani koy uyab.
What do you think is the biggest problem of Cebu City.
Like any other community, Cebu City has its share of challenges (I want to think of it as challenges instead of problems). In my humble opinion, no one single challenge could be ranked higher than the other. Generally, I’m just interested in the improvement in the quality of life of the people of Cebu. Concomitantly, any improvement in quality of life necessitates that the various challenges be addressed.
Personally, how do you think can it be solved?
The challenges can be solved through a committed and combined effort between the government, private sector as well as the interested community. To put it simply, there should be empathy and effort on the part of all parties involved. We should find a common ground where everyone can contribute and do their share. Tinabangay jud dapat.
How many years have you been practicing law?
Four and a half years.
What’s your expertise or interest as a lawyer?
I spent four years in a law firm where I mostly had exposure in labor, corporate practice and litigation. I’ve also had experience in cases involving public officers as well as in policy making.
What has been your most challenging case so far?
All have been challenging in their own way.
Do you feel any pressure being the lead counsel of Mayor Rama’s preventive suspension case?
Sure, but I think it’s the good kind of pressure. The challenge really is not to be too personally invested in the case that it clouds my judgment as a lawyer. The good thing is that the other lawyers are there, and we help each other out.
How do you think could you help the case?
All the lawyers involved help each other out. It’s always good to have more than one perspective in the case. I provide one more additional perspective.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In 10 years?
Hopefully, naa na koy uyab.