Dondon urges leaders to emulate Magsaysay

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City acting Vice Mayor Donaldo C. Hontiveros is hoping that he and the rest of his fellow elected public servants will be able to emulate the late President Ramon Magsaysay’s ideals, as the city government joins the rest of the country in commemorating the 66th death anniversary of the latter yesterday.

Hontiveros spoke on behalf of Mayor Mike Rama, who opted to do a trek to the crash site of President Magsaysay at Mount Manunggal in Balamban yesterday.

“I am here on behalf of our beloved mayor, Mike Rama, who is now on a trek to Cebu’s most historic mountain, Mt. Manunggal, his way to honor this year President Magsaysay, who we pay tribute to today,” Hontiveros said.

He also believes Magsaysay who has been described as a “Champion of the Masses” and “Defender of Democracy” is also Rama’s idol.

“I am sure Ramon Magsaysay is among the idols of Mayor Rama in governance. Like our mayor now, President Magsaysay was a man in perpetual motion, working to accomplish what he set out to do,” added Hontiveros.

Hontiveros also went on to share what made the campaign slogan “Magsaysay is my Guy” become real and endeared him among Filipinos.

“As President, he was the leader of the nation for just over three years. But he is considered by many as the most beloved of all our presidents…Magsaysay’s administration and presidency was the Philippines’ Golden Years, being virtually corruption-free. His humility and superb statesmanship earned him the moniker, “The People’s President,” Hontiveros said.

Magsaysay, a son of a blacksmith and a school teacher, later became an automotive mechanic and a guerilla captain during the Japanese occupation, “a stint that made him military governor of Zambales in transition.”

“Magsaysay scored a landslide victory as President. He took almost 70 percent of the total votes cast. He won in 48 of 52 provinces. The four provinces, all in the Ilocos region, stood by President Quirino then.

Hontiveros also quoted Inquirer columnist Ramon Farolan that Magsaysay was a man who was interested not in explanations nor the details, only in results and had a gift for imparting to people a sense of optimism that better times lay ahead.

“He is the kind of leader our people need today, especially now when our efforts are focused towards achieving a Singapore-like Cebu City, Second to None in our country, truly the Queen City of the Philippines,” Hontiveros said.

“It is my wish, and fervent hope, that I, with my fellow elected public servants, will be like President Ramon Magsaysay who is humble, optimistic, and decisive…Salamat President Magsaysay for paving the way,” added Hontiveros.

The city government also had a wreath-laying ceremony at Magsaysay’s monument at the Plaza Independencia yesterday with Francisco Magsaysay, a descendant of the late president, in attendance.

Francisco thanked the city government of Cebu for always remembering the life and death of his “Lolo Monching.” — GAN (FREEMAN)