Cebu marks 148th birth anniv of ‘Grand Old Man of Cebu’

Local

CEBU marked September 9 as a special non-working holiday as local governments units (LGUs) across the province commemorated the 148th birth anniversary of former President Sergio Osmeña Sr.

The Cebu City Government led the main commemoration at the Don Sergio Osmeña marker along Osmeña Boulevard and Lapulapu Street, while other LGUs, including the cities of Naga and Lapu-Lapu, held separate ceremonies honoring the late Cebuano statesman.

Republic Act No. 6953 declares September 9 a special

non-working public holiday in Cebu City and the Province of Cebu, including its component cities, in honor of Osmeña, the first Cebuano to serve as Philippine president.

In Cebu City, the Cultural and Historical Affairs Office (CHAO) and the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) led the commemorative program, with Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the former president's grandson and CHAC chairman, joining city officials at the ceremony.

Tomas is the son of former senator Sergio "Serging" Osmeña Jr.

Tomas used the occasion to emphasize that his grandfather's greatest accomplishments came during his younger years in public service.

"I'd like to remind everybody that you refer to Don Sergio as the grand old man of Cebu. I think it is only because he became old but I think his greatest distinction was his success as a young man," Tomas Osmeña said.

He also called on Cebuanos to uphold the principles his grandfather stood for and carry them into the future.

"What Don Sergio stood for, what we should stand for, he made his sacrifices, that's the hope that we be able to carry the torch for the near future for a better Cebu," he said.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, meanwhile, paid tribute to Osmeña's legacy of public service and leadership.

"Today, we honor the 148th birth anniversary of Don Sergio Osmeña Sr., a great Cebuano whose life of public service, leadership, and love for our country continues to inspire generations," Archival said.

Archival also pointed to Osmeña's emphasis on putting the public first.

"Ang iyang kinabuhi usa ka pahinumdom nga ang tinuod nga serbisyo publiko is about putting people first, standing firm in times of challenge, and working for the betterment of our community and our nation," Archival said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government Cebu City, led by City Director Jonah V. Pino, also joined the ceremony.

In the City of Naga, Mayor Val Chiong led a wreath-laying and floral offering ceremony at the President Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Monument in front of Metro Market Naga in East Poblacion.

City officials, employees, department heads and representatives of national government agencies and uniformed personnel attended the annual ceremony. City Administrator Arthur S. Villamor led the city department heads, while Schools Division Superintendent Ronald Gutay led the Department of Education City of Naga delegation.

City Councilor Junjie Cruz also shared a biography of Osmeña and trivia about the former president's life and public service.

Lapu-Lapu City also commemorated Osmeña's birth anniversary, with Mayor Cindi King-Chan noting his contributions to Philippine institutions and public service.

In her message, King-Chan recalled Osmeña's service in the early Philippine Assembly, where he became its first Speaker, before serving as vice president and eventually as the fourth president of the Philippines.

She also noted that Proclamation No. 2118, issued in 1981, declared September 9 as Don Sergio Osmeña Sr.'s Day in Cebu and its cities. RA 6953 later affirmed the observance in 1990 by declaring September 9 a special non-working holiday in Cebu.

Osmeña was born in Cebu City on September 9, 1878. He began his career in journalism, law and public service before rising to national leadership.

In 1900, he founded the Cebu newspaper El Nuevo Día. He later graduated from the University of Santo Tomas law school and placed second in the 1903 Philippine Bar Examinations.

At 28, Osmeña became Cebu's youngest governor in 1906. He later co-founded the Nacionalista Party with Manuel L. Quezon and served as vice president under the Commonwealth government.

Osmeña assumed the presidency in 1944 after Quezon died and led the Commonwealth government during the final years of World War II and the country's liberation from Japanese occupation.

Cebuanos later called him the "Grand Old Man of Cebu" in recognition of his long public service and reputation for integrity and political stability.

RA 6953, which Congress enacted in 1990, makes September 9 a special non-working public holiday in Cebu City and the Province of Cebu, including its component cities. The law also designates the date as a special working public holiday in the rest of the country.

For private sector employees in Cebu, the special non-working holiday generally follows the no work, no pay rule unless employers provide a more favorable policy, established practice or collective bargaining agreement.

Employees who work on the holiday receive 130% of their basic wage for the first eight hours. Employers must add another 30% of the employee's hourly rate for overtime work.

If September 9 falls on an employee's scheduled rest day and the employee works, the rate rises to 150% of the basic wage for the first eight hours. Overtime work on that day carries an additional 30% of the hourly rate.(MyTVCebu)