Scoutmaster Sergio P. Damazo Bridge
(The unveiling)
The journey started in July 2011 and its inception started with the death of the honoree on May 2, 2009. The bridge naming ordinance, sponsored by Councilor James Anthony Roa Cuenco, was approved on June 25, 2019. The presiding officer was then Vice Mayor Edgardo Colina Labella who coincidentally was the one who authored the ordinance in 2011 which was shelved as it lacked the number of years required by the law from the time of the death of the honoree.
City Ordinance No. 2535 which comes from Resolution No. 14-2089-2019 was approved by Mayor Tomas dela Rama Osmeña on June 30, 2019, his last day of office.
The unveiling was then scheduled for August 28, 2019 to coincide with the feast of St. Augustine of which Scoutmaster Damazo was given the title as Brother General of the Order of Augustinian Recollects. It was however reset for September 30, 2019. It was a Monday, after the flag-raising at Cebu City Hall, Mayor Labella and Vice Mayor Mike Rama came to the bridge to lead the unveiling. The vice mayor chairs the City’s CHAC (Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission).
Also in attendance were the officers of the Boy Scout Council headed by Director Frederick Ong III and Ms. Ilustrisimo, joined by USJR Scoutmaster and Barangay Captain Yolandito Cagang. The USJR High School Department was led by its Principal, Mrs. Angeles Nacua Rubi.
Scoutmaster Sergio Damazo Jr. was born on February 20, 1932 to the couple Sergio Mayo Damazo of Victoria, Tarlac and Juanita Patria of Siquijor. The mother of Scoutmaster Damazo died after the liberation, thus his father remarried. Scoutmaster Damazo is the eldest, followed by Samuel, Rebecca, Manuel, Luz married a Canlobo and Lydia. His stepmother, who was very supportive of the bridge naming ordinance, came to the session and met with the city lawmakers. Her name is Francisca Tanduyan of Ronda, Cebu. She and Sergio Sr. had four children: Ma. Estrella, Jose (of CSJR High School Batch 1969 and a lawyer who was a product of the CSJR College of Law and who was formally admitted to the Bar on April 21, 1978), Vicente (who are teachers) and Samuel, who was into business.
The Scoutmaster Damazo Bridge is the first bridge/road unveiled by Labella after his election as Cebu City Mayor in 2019. It is also the first and only bridge in Cebu named after not from a politician or businessman. Yes, Scoutmaster Damazo may have not held a public position or owned a business empire but he molded young boys and girls to become leaders in government and business. Among of the many is Engr. Segismundo Exaltacion Jr., the first Filipino President of Tsuneishi Technical Services (Philippines) Inc., who was gracious to be present during the passage of the ordinance and in the unveiling to pay homage to his legendary scoutmaster.
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