Cebu City Turns 79

Bearing the theme, “Surpassing Challenges with Excellence in Public Service,” this Queen City of the Philippines officially turned 79 today February 24, 2016 Wednesday.

Looking back, on August 5, 1936, Assemblyman Vicente Rama filed Bill No. 3360 to create a special city charter for Cebu which did not go through a smooth ride due to many oppositions and objections.

History reveals that on October 9, 1936, with 65 assemblymen for and 3 against, the bill was passed. Eleven days later, on October 20 the same year, a beaming Rama stood beside fellow Cebuano assemblymen Mariano Jesus Cuenco, Agustin Kintanar and Celestino Rodriguez together with other officials as President Manuel L. Quezon signed Commonwealth Act No. 58 creating Cebu City.

Unbeknownst to Rama, however, Assemblyman Gregorio Perfecto of the North District of Manila has filed an amendment of the whole in a last ditch attempt to derail Cebu’s cityhood, even after Quezon had signed it into law already. Members of the National Assembly had been given the impression that Perfecto had the nod of both Rama and President Quezon. When Rama learned about it, it was too late as the National Assembly had passed an amended charter.

Fortunately, on November 20, President Quezon promptly vetoed the amendments to the charter. The stage was now set to formally inaugurate Cebu City initially scheduled on January 18, 1937 but pressing matters in Manila forced a postponement. The inauguration was finally carried out on February 24, 1937 and the rest is history.

The then municipality of Cebu who was under the Cebu Provincial Government became an independent Chartered City known as “Cebu City” by virtue of Commonwealth Act No.58 through the vision, untiring desire and passion of Don Vicente Rama who served as the second Mayor of Cebu City, Congressman and Senator of the Republic of the Philippines and known as the “Father of the Cebu City Charter”.

This year, the City of Cebu which is now headed by Mayor Michael Lopez Rama who is the grandson of Don Vicente Rama continues to soar high and benefits the Cebuanos for what it is today.

Mayor Rama underscored that today’s celebration reminds us of our integrity, pride and prestige for being a self-reliant, independent and chartered city. He reminded everyone to be one and to be with in making the city a beautiful place to live in for together we can make the best things happen.

Cebu City which is also known as the “Cradle of Christianity in Asia”, under Mayor Rama’s leadership achieved numerous recognition such as the “ASEAN City of Culture” by ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and the Arts (AMCA), “Most Liveable City in the Philippines” by “Ang Pinaka” television program of GMA News TV, “Liveable Place in Asia” by Real Estate giant Lamudi, among others.

Meanwhile, various activities were lined-up for this year’s celebration leading to the February 24. A Thanksgiving Mass at the Plaza Sugbo was offered to start the big day today which was officiated by Monsignor Achilles Dakay. In his homily he calls for unity and to look back and treasure Cebu’s history.

The traditional Flag-raising Ceremony also held at the Plaza Sugbo fronting Cebu City Hall followed right after the mass. The activity was highlighted by the ceremonial Charter Day Floral Offering to the life-size brass statue of Don Vicente Rama located in the Plaza Sugbo which was led by Mayor Rama and other members of the Rama Clan along with other City Officials, Department Heads and other Cebu City Government employees, heads of the different Organizations and Government Agencies and Offices, and other invited guests, among several others.

This year is the second time that the ceremonial Charter Day Floral Offering to the Don Vicente Rama monument located in the Plaza Sugbo was conducted. In the previous years it was traditionally held in the Don Vicente Rama Bust in Cebu City Fire Station Compound, along N. Bacalso Avenue.

Lawyer Mikel Francisco Rama who is the son of Mayor Rama, gave the response in behalf of the Rama Clan. He pointed out that aside from the city’s charter that we now enjoy and celebrate, Don Vicente Rama’s legacies also included good governance and public service above self, adding that we must give importance to our family, love and faith.

Today’s big celebration also included that Soft-Opening of the Children’s Park in what used to be Pasil Fish Market just across the San Nicolas Church and also the Ceremonial Concrete Pouring of Suspended Slabs of the soon-to-rise new Cebu City Medical Center Building dubbed as the People’s Hospital.

Later in the evening, the annual Testimonial Dinner and Awarding Ceremony will take place at the Santa Maria Grand Ballroom Hall of Radisson Blu Hotel where the Outstanding Individuals and Institutions, Mayor’s Special Awardees, Centenarian, Posthumous and Lifetime Service Awardees will be honored and recognized. The event will wrap-up today’s big day activities.

Furthermore, the Awarding Ceremony for The Outstanding Cebu City Youth Leaders or TOCCYL which is re-scheduled from February 23 to March 11 and will be held in the Sinulog Hall of Rizal Museum and Public Library Building will be the last activity for the 79th Cebu City Charter Day Anniversary celebration. (By: Greggy Jiggs P. Senados, PIO Staff)