Non-working holiday in Cebu City, province on Friday

CEBU, Philippines —  The Office of the President has issued a new order officially declaring December 4, 2020, Friday, as a special non-working day in Cebu Province as well as in the highly-urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu to commemorate the 104th birthday anniversary of former governor Sergio Osmeña, Jr.

"It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province Cebu and the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies, subject to community quarantine, social distancing, and other public health measures," reads Proclamation 1056 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella yesterday confirmed that the city will also be on a special non-working holiday on Friday, December 4, 2020, alongside Cebu Province, in honor of the birth anniversary of former governor Sergio Osmeña, Jr.

To recall, Labella said the city will adopt the holiday proclamation issued by Malacañang because the city also recognizes Osmeña’s contributions as its former mayor, from 1959 to 1963.

He said Osmeña’s performance as mayor, which contributed to the development of the city’s economy and infrastructure is “interminable.”

Osmeña was governor of Cebu Province from 1951 to 1959.

After serving Cebu, Osmeña ran for national office and was elected senator, serving from 1965 to 1971.

Osmeña is the father of former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña and former senator Sergio Osmeña III.

He finished Associate of Arts, cum laude, at Ateneo de Manila in 1935 and Bachelor of Science in Commerce, summa cum laude, at New York University in 1938. — JMD (FREEMAN)