“Today is a day for remembering one of our very own; and on behalf of the Senate of the Philippines, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of former Senator John Henry Osmeña, better known as Sonny.
“Leaders, according to psychologists, are said to be made not born. However, I believe that former Senator John Henry Osmeña is an outlier as he was both. He was born to lead, and he had even mastered it along the way. As a matter of fact, public service was his calling as he started to be in the government at such a young age and continued to be one until his passing.
“I had the good fortune of being in the Senate when Senator Sonny Osmeña was also serving as a member thereof, that was in the 9th, 11th and 12th Congresses, the years from 1992 to 1995, and 1998 to 2004. Coming from a well-known political family, being the grandson of the late President Sergio Osmeña Sr. and a nephew of former Senator Sergio Osmeña Jr., it could be surmised that a lot of pressure were put on him to be able to follow the footsteps of his grandfather, or leave a lasting legacy, like his ancestors did. But certainly, that was not the case for Senator Sonny Osmeña. He made a name for himself. He was a great leader in his own right. A City Councilor, Vice-Mayor, Mayor, Congressman, and a Senator – he became all of these and more.
“As a legislator, Senator Sonny Osmeña is famous for development-oriented bills like the Municipal Telephone Act (Republic Act 6849) whereby each municipality will a get a telephone system; the Mini-Hydroelectric Program (RA 7156), which will provide non-conventional electricity in the countryside; the Public Telecommunications Act of 1995 (RA 7925), which revolutionized the country’s information and communications technology, and the creation of the Philippine Postal Corporation (RA 7354).” (To be continued)