Rama: City to award more families of distinction on Independence Day

About 200 more families will be given  awards of distinction by the Cebu City Government during  an Independence Day Ball in June.

Mayor Michael Rama said these are the clans which  were  nominated but did not make it to the 75 families recognized during the city’s 75th Charter Day celebration.

“We do not want them to feel  left out so we are organizing an evening to honor more  families,” said Rama.

The 75 families were given plaques of recognition during the testimonial dinner at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel last Friday.

The awarding ceremony was one of the highlights in the celebration of the city’s 75th Charter Day celebration.

But the mayor’s critics described the move as his way to reach out to  different Cebuano clans for his political ambition.

“My opponents will always have something to hit me with,” Rama responded.

He said he would not allow himself to be  affected by such criticism.

Rama pointed out that  the selection of the 75 families was done with respected members of the  private sector.

Rama said he was touched by the attendance of those who came in wheelchairs to join their clan members in accepting the city’s plaque of recognition.

Four of  the 75 families did not show up for the dinner.

Mayor Rama said he will display the unclaimed plaques in his office and wait for  representatives to  get them.

Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa whom Rama invited to receive the plaque on behalf of the Abellanosa clan earlier begged off.

Rama said he would be writing another Abellanosa clan member to receive the plaque.

Rama said he chose to invite Abellanosa because he was the more popular clan member being an elected councilor.

“He should have asked somebody to receive the award because he is not the only Abellanosa,” said Rama.

Other clans not represented were Ludo-Luym, Gothong and Kabajar.

The Gothong family already communicated with Rama that they would  claim the award.

“They said that there was miscommunication so they failed to come.  I wish the other families will also come to my office and get their plaques,” said Rama.

The city government may  select another 25 families to be recognized on the100th Charter Day celebration of the city giving other clans hope of getting recognized. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac