The fight between Vice Mayor Mike Rama and Margot Osmeña gives Cebuano a very exciting electoral contest. Between a 72-year-old lady and a 66-year-old lawyer, health and age can be an issue especially in the light of the medical problem facing our good friend, Mayor Edgar Labella. Of course, the incumbent acting mayor has the advantage but Margot is not a pushover, the acting mayor should not become overconfident.
In choosing the next city mayor of Cebu, it may be useful to take another look at the past chief executives who led this local government unit. They used to be called town presidents from 1901 at the turn of the century, and after the Treaty of Paris, whereby the Philippines was ceded to the USA by Spain.
The first president of Cebu municipality was Florentino Rallos from 1901 to 1905. He was followed by Celestino Rodriguez from 1905 to 1907, Luciano Bacayo from 1907 to 1908, then by Martin Llorente from 1908 to 1909 and Melchor Gonzales from 1909 to 1910. The sixth president was Vicente Teves who served from 1910 to 1913, followed by Arsenio Climaco from 1913 to 1916, and Fructuoso Ramos from 1916 to 1920, followed by Hilario Abellana from 1922 to 1934, and Fructouso Ramos again from 1934 to 1937. The office of the mayor used to be appointive and those chosen were the members of the prominent families and successful law practitioners, doctors, and other professionals.
The appointed mayors from 1936 to 1955 were Mariano Jesus Cuenco for one month in 1936, followed by Alfredo V. Jacinto from 1937 to 1938 and Vicente Rama from 1938 to 1940. He was the inaugural mayor when Cebu was granted a city charter. Juan Delgado was mayor from 1940 to 1942, followed by Juan C. Zamora from 1942 to 1944, and Dr. Leandro Tojong in 1945. The seventh mayor was Nicolas G. Escario from 1945 to 1946, and Vicente del Rosario from 1946 to 1947. Luis Espina became mayor for four months in 1947, followed by Miguel G. Raffinan from 1947 to 1951, and Pedro B. Elizalde from 1951 to 1952, and Vidente del Rosario again for eight months in 1953. Jose Veloso Rodriguez became mayor from 1953 to 1955, and Pedro Clavano for one month in 1955.
The elected mayors were Sergio V. Osmeña, Jr. from 1955 to 1957, Ramon G. Duterte from 1957 to 1959, Sergio V. Osmeña, Jr. again from 1959 to 1960. Carlos J. Cuizon was mayor from 1960 to 1963, Mario D. Ortiz for three months in 1963, and Sergio V. Osmeña, Jr. again from 1963 to 1965. Cuizon became mayor again from 1965 to 1967. He was followed by Sergio V. Osmeña, Jr. again from 1967 to 1968. Eulogio E. Borres became mayor from 1968 to 1971, followed by my Roman Law professor, the famous Florencio "Pensoy" Urot, only for four months in 1971. Sergio V. Osmeña, Jr. again was elected in 1971 but his term was cut short by martial law.
We take note that Osmeña kept on running and winning but would usually ask the vice mayor to take over, then ran again and won again. But he lost the vice presidency in 1965 and the presidency in 1969. Borres became mayor from 1972 to 1978 when Osmeña fled to the US. From 1978 to 1983, my other ninong, Dr. Florentino "Dodong" Solon, became city mayor, followed by Ronald R. Duterte from 1983 to 1986. Sonny Osmeña took over after EDSA from 1986 to 1988. He was followed by Jose V. Cuenco from March to November 1987, and by Antonio V. Cuenco from 1987 to 1988, and Antonio R. Veloso from 1987 to 1988. Tomas Osmeña followed from 1988 to 1995, followed by Alvin B. Garcia from 1995 to 2001.
Tomas came back in 2001 to 2010 followed by Michael L. Rama from 2010 to 2015. Edgar Labella became mayor from December 2015 to February 2016, then Mike Rama from February to May 2016. Margot Osmeña became mayor from May to June 2016 then Tomas Osmeña again from 2016 to 2019. From 2019 until today, Edgar C. Labella is mayor. Because of his health condition, however, it is really Mike Rama who has been doing the job. Health is very important. We need to remember that in 2022.