Mike Rama has shown leadership and statesmanship
Many Cebuanos have come to admire even more their former mayor, Atty. Mike Rama when he and Vice Mayor Edgar Labella announced that Barug Team Rama is united, intact, and ready to challenge Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan or BOPK in the next year’s mayoralty contest here, in the most important city outside of Metro Manila. Not even his own allies expected it, and the majority in the city council was taken aback. Mayor Osmeña’s party is expected to gear up for a very difficult electoral struggle in 2019. With Malacañan fully committed to back up the Barug team, the BOPK must now work much, much harder and spend thrice than they originally projected. Money is expected to flow and inundate the voting populace next year.
The crucial decision made by Mike Rama to slide down to vice mayor, instead of insisting to divide the opposition, is a sure sign of personal maturity and political wisdom. It is great news not just to Labella, but also to the entire opposition party. I perceive it likewise as a positive development to the enemies, detractors, and critics of Mayor Tomas Osmeña and good news to all who want Tomas out of the City Hall. Rama’s decision is one step backward but ten steps forward. I am sure that, being a smart and experienced politician, Mike has weighed all the options, considered all the factors, consulted all advisers, discerned all the signs and said all the prayers. Mike remains faithful to his firm declaration that he will be the last person to cause a fatal split in the political party that bears his name.
Mike Rama is a choice chip off the old eminent block, a worthy scion of his illustrious grandfather, Don Vicente Rama, a venerable statesman himself, like Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. By sacrificing his own political aspirations, just to maintain the unity of Barug, Mike has proven that he is a good leader, one who has the heart in the right place. His supreme sacrifice must have disappointed some of his closest relatives, friends, and ward leaders. It must have upset those who already organized his political machines down to the precinct level. It must have taken aback those who have already set aside their budget to fund his campaign. But, to the majority of his supporters, Mike’s decision is the best evidence that he is truly a leader. It is the strongest argument to support the view that Mike is, like his late lolo, capable of statesmanship.
Now that the die is cast and the issues are joined, Cebuanos can expect a very exciting fight next year. Tomas, of course, is the man to beat. He has the advantage of being the incumbent, with all the resources at his command. He now has a slim majority in the City Council. He has big spenders behind him who are all ready to fund his campaign. Nonetheless, I predict that the Edgar-Mike tandem will have a definite advantage. They have Malacañan in an all-out support for Barug Team Rama. When President Duterte said some things very destructive of Osmeña’s character, a few days ago in Mandaue, the more I feel that Tomas’ re-election bid next year is put in grave and imminent danger.
God has a certain way of making all good things to fall in the right place at the right time. I have a strong feeling that 2019 is the time for Edgar and Mike. I can feel it right now. Mark my words.
- Latest
