Margot heads the committees on tourism, arts and culture

CEBU, Philippines - She is the wife of Cebu City’s longest-serving mayor, but Councilor Margot Osmeña admits that she is still in the learning process in holding a public office.

As of yesterday, the renovation in her office, which used to be occupied by former councilor Arsenio Pacaña, has yet to be completed but she started giving instructions to her staff on what should be done in the days to come.

She tapped the help of a known fashion designer for the work in her office. She wants it simple, organized and comfortable.

But she said her office is not a show room because her foremost consideration is her future visitors, most especially her constituents in the south, whom she wants to feel always welcome.

She added that the works in her office were all from the kindness and thoughtfulness of her friends.

Margot will still be heading the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children and Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko because she sees no conflict with it and her being a councilor.

She is now heading the committee on tourism, local and internal relations and the arts and culture.

There are no new programs yet as far as the task force for children is concerned, but she said she will focus first on institutionalizing the personnel and programs of the City Government for the children.

“Most of it has been done. A lot of things like the Summer Camp for street children. Before, we have to request first but now, the activity is already part of the budget,” she said.

Tourism-wise, Margot said, she needs to listen first on what could be done to further improve tourism in the city.

“I want the city to be aware that there’s so much history in Cebu City,” she said.

“I will be as best as I can because I stick to the fact that I asked to be here. But I also have lots of adjustments, more in my head than anything else,” she added.

She admitted that she is working hard on getting herself used to a life away from her family almost half of the week.

Her husband, who is now congressman of the south district, will be staying often in Manila. He will be with their son, Miguel.

“Before, my husband was always there. Our son will be with him, it’s different. So my mind is there also with them, they still have to adjust there, where to live, his office. And I’ll be there with him as much as I would but I’m still adjusting here. My responsibility as a wife, as a mother, now as a public official I got to balance it at my late age,” Margot said.

“But I will not complain,” she added. — THE FREEMAN