Mike Rama

Last updated
The Honourable
Mike Rama
Mayor of Cebu City Mike Rama.webp
Mayor of Cebu City
Assumed office
November 20, 2021
Education Velez College (BS)
San Beda College (LL.B)
Occupation
  • HRD manager
  • lawyer
  • politician
Signature Michael Rama Signature.png
Rama at Marikina Sports Center Official handover turnover of Palarong Pambansa Flag (Rizal, Metro Manila; 2023-08-05) E911a 13.jpg
Rama at Marikina Sports Center

Michael Lopez Rama (born October 28, 1954) is a Filipino politician serving as Mayor of Cebu City since 2021, a position he previously held from 2010 to 2016. He served as the Vice Mayor of Cebu City from 2001 to 2010 and from 2019 to 2021, and was a member of the Cebu City Council from 1992 to 2001. He was elected the National President of the League of Cities of the Philippines in 2022.

Contents

Education

Mike Rama graduated as class valedictorian in Basak Elementary School in Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City. He attended the University of Southern Philippines and earned a pre-med degree from Velez College. He went on for further graduate studies in law at San Beda College in Manila. Rama passed the bar exam in 1983. [1]

Political career

Rama started his political career as councilor of Cebu City for three successive terms from 1992 to 2001, filling in the slot of his uncle, Clemente "Cle" Rama, a veteran councilor, and leading the Committee on Education. In his third term, as the councilor who was the recipient of the most votes in the election, Rama became the first councilor that made him often assume the role as acting vice mayor and even as acting mayor. Also during his third term, he served as national president of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL).

Thereafter, Rama served three consecutive terms as vice mayor of Cebu City from 2001 to 2010 with Tomas Osmeña as mayor, and was elected the national president of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP). [2]

Rama ran and won for the city mayorship in 2010, and was proclaimed as the twenty-seventh mayor of Cebu City, defeating former mayor Alvin Garcia. [3] Rama was re-elected as mayor for a second term in 2013, defeating his former ally and mayor Tomas Osmeña. A December 2014 essay by SunStar Cebu focused on the rivalry between Michael Rama and Tomas Osmeña in Cebu politics. Osmeña criticized Rama for assuming roles beyond a mayor's duties, like a fire-fighter and police officer. However, the essay also highlighted Osmeña's similar strategic image-building, projecting himself as a powerful political figure. The article emphasized that despite Osmeña's critique of Rama's multiple personas, both politicians crafted specific images to appeal to voters. [4]

In a July 2015 Facebook post, former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña criticized his erstwhile ally and political rival, Mayor Michael Rama, accusing Rama of mismanaging government funds and selling off valuable South Road Properties (SRP) lots, a project Osmeña initially conceptualized. Osmeña highlighted concerns about the depletion of City Hall funds under Rama's tenure, contrasting it with the substantial amount he purportedly left behind upon stepping down. [5]

In December 2015, Malacañang ordered a 60-day preventive suspension on Rama for his alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and oppression. [6] The suspension was in response to an administrative complaint filed by Barangay Labangon Chairperson Victor M. Buendia, alleging that Mayor Rama had unlawfully ordered the destruction of a center island and street lighting project funded and undertaken by the said Barangay without due process. The Office of the President determined that such actions were not justified as street lights and center islands are not nuisances, and their removal should have followed appropriate legal procedures. [7] Rama reported back to his office on February 8, 2016, as the 60-day suspension imposed on him by the Office of the President of the Philippines had ended. [8] Rama ran for a third and final consecutive term in 2016, but was defeated by Osmeña by a margin of 33,894 votes.

In August 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte has mentioned former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama as one of the country's alleged drug protectors, along with other individuals, during an event. In response, Rama expressed his sadness over the accusation and stated his willingness to cooperate with authorities to clear his name. He emphasized his support for Duterte's anti-drug campaign and his family's commitment to being law-abiding citizens. Rama hoped for justice and truth to prevail. [9]

In 2019, Rama returned to his former post as vice mayor of Cebu City, together with ally Edgardo Labella as mayor, defeating the incumbent Osmeña. [10] [11] Rama once again took oath as mayor on November 20, 2021, following the death of Labella the day before. [12] Rama retained his post as city mayor in 2022, defeating city councilors Margot Osmeña and Dave Tumulak.

In August 2022, Mayor Michael Rama had repeatedly expressed his vision of making Cebu City "Singapore-like" since taking office, inspired by a recent visit to Singapore. He emphasized the need for transformation and resilience, calling on various sectors, including the information technology and business process outsourcing sector, to work together for the city's development. However, there is a lack of specific goals and a clear roadmap for achieving this vision, leading to questions about what it means to be "Singapore-like" and the need for Cebu City to define its objectives more precisely. Critics argue that the city should set clear, measurable targets to determine if it achieves its goal of becoming "Singapore-like." [13]

Personal life

Rama is a member of the Rama family, a prominent political family from Cebu City. He is the son of Fernando Rama, a former Cebu City councilor, and brother of Eduardo L. Rama, the former congressman and governor of Agusan del Norte. His nephew is Cebu City Congressman Edu Rama Jr., son of his late brother governor Eduardo Rama Sr. He has a daughter named Micheline F. Rama and son named Mikel F. Rama.

Other relatives include: His grandfather is Don Vicente Rama, senator, Cebu City 1st inaugural mayor, 1st national assemblyman, congressman, councilor and "The Father of Cebu City".

He is the nephew of Osmundo G. Rama, Governor of Cebu Province and of Commissioner Napoleon G. Rama, 1986 Constitutional Commission floor leader, Philippine Legion of Honor (Grand Commander) 26 February 2011 awardee.

Capt. George Rama is his first cousin, the Barangay Captain of Basak San Nicolas of Cebu City and in addition his first cousin is talent manager, celebrity businesswoman Annabelle Rama, the mother of Ruffa, Richard, and Raymond Gutierrez. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sergio Osmeña</span> President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946

Sergio Osmeña Sr. was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the fourth President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon. Upon Quezon's sudden death in 1944, Osmeña succeeded him at age 65, becoming the oldest person to assume the Philippine presidency until Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016 at age 71. A founder of the Nacionalista Party, Osmeña was also the first Visayan to become president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PROMDI</span> Political party in the Philippines

The Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives or Probinsya Muna Development Initiative, abbreviated as PROMDI or Abag-Promdi, is a political party in the Philippines based in Cebu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomas Osmeña</span> Filipino politician

Tomas dela Rama Osmeña, known as Tommy Osmeña, is a Filipino politician who served as the Mayor of Cebu City thrice: first from 1987 to 1995, again from 2001 to 2010, and lastly from 2016 to 2019. He also served as Congressman representing the second district of Cebu City from 2010 to 2013. He is a grandson of former Philippine President Sergio Osmeña.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gwendolyn Garcia</span> Filipina politician

Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia is a Filipina politician serving as the governor of Cebu since 2019, a position she previously held from 2004 and 2013—being the first woman to hold that office. She was the representative of Cebu's 3rd congressional district from 2013 to 2019 and concurrently served as a House Deputy Speaker from 2016 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bando Osmeña – Pundok Kauswagan</span> Political party in the Philippines

Bando Osmeña – Pundok Kauswagan, commonly known as BO–PK or BOPK, is a local political party based in Cebu City, Philippines. It is a political party run by the Osmeña family of Cebu since 1987 when Tomas Osmeña first ran for mayor of Cebu City. Although not a registered political party with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), it has been used by Osmeña and his allies since 1998 when he ran with Alvin Garcia as vice mayor.

Local elections were held in Cebu on May 13, 2013, within the Philippine general election. Voters will select candidates for all local positions: a town mayor, vice mayor and town councilors, as well as members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the vice-governor, governor and representatives for the six districts of Cebu. Incumbent governor Gwendolyn Garcia is barred for seeking another term because she is limited to three terms only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayor of Cebu City</span> Local chief executive of Cebu City, Philippines

The mayor of Cebu City is the chief executive of the government of Cebu City in the Philippines. The mayor leads the city's departments in executing ordinances and delivering public services. The mayorship is a three-year term and each mayor is restricted to three consecutive terms, totaling nine years, although a mayor can be elected again after an interruption of one term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cebu City Council</span> Legislative body of Cebu City, Philippines

The Cebu City Council is the legislature of Cebu City, Philippines. The legislative body is composed of 18 councilors, with 16 councilors elected from Cebu City's two councilor districts and two elected from the ranks of barangay (neighborhood) chairmen and the Sangguniang Kabataan. The council's presiding officer is the vice-mayor. The council is responsible for creating laws and ordinances under the jurisdiction of Cebu City. Although the mayor can veto proposed bills, the council can override the veto with a two-thirds supermajority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Cebu City local elections</span> Election in Cebu City, Philippines on 2019

Local elections were held in Cebu City on May 13, 2019 within the Philippine general election. Registered voters of the city elected candidates for the following elective local posts: mayor, vice mayor, district representative, and eight councilors at-large for each district. There are two legislative districts in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Cebu City local elections</span> Election in Cebu City, Philippines on 2016

Local elections were held in Cebu City on May 9, 2016, within the Philippine general election. Registered voters of the city elected candidates for the following elective local posts: mayor, vice mayor, district representative, and eight councilors at-large for each district. There are two legislative districts in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Cebu City local elections</span> Election in Cebu City, Philippines on 2013

Local elections were held in Cebu City on May 13, 2013 within the Philippine general election. Registered voters of the city elected candidates for the following elective local posts: mayor, vice mayor, district representative, and eight councilors at-large for each district. There are two legislative districts in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Cebu City local elections</span> Election in Cebu City, Philippines on 2010

Local elections were held in Cebu City on May 10, 2010 within the Philippine general election. Registered voters of the city elected candidates for the following elective local posts: mayor, vice mayor, district representative, and eight councilors at-large for each district. There are two legislative districts in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edgardo Labella</span> Filipino politician and lawyer (1951–2021)

Edgardo Colina Labella was a Filipino politician and lawyer who served as the mayor of Cebu City from 2019 until his death in 2021. Prior to becoming mayor, he was the city's vice mayor from 2013 to 2019 and was a member of the Cebu City Council from 1998 to 2001 and again from 2004 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Partido Barug</span> Political party in the Philippines

Partido Barug, commonly known as BARUG, is a regional political party based in Cebu City, Philippines. Cebu City mayor Michael Rama is its founding president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joy Augustus Young</span> Filipino politician

Joy Augustus Go Young is a Filipino politician currently serving as a member of the City Council representing Cebu City's North District. He served as Vice Mayor of Cebu City from 2010 to 2013 and was a member of the Philippine House of Representatives for PROMDI from 1998 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Cebu City local elections</span> Election in Cebu City, Philippines on 2022

Local elections were held in Cebu City on May 9, 2022 within the Philippine general election. Registered voters of the city will be electing candidates for the following elective local posts: mayor, vice mayor, district representative, and eight councilors at-large for each district. There are two legislative districts in the city.

Alvin Biaño Garcia is a Filipino politician and lawyer who served twice as the Mayor of Cebu City from 1995 to 1998 and from 1998 to 2001. He served as the vice mayor of the said city from 1988 to 1995 alongside the mayor at the time: Tomas Osmeña. He is also the founder of Kugi Uswag Sugbo (KUSUG), a local political party based in Cebu City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Partido Panaghiusa</span> Political party in the Philippines

Partido Panaghiusa, commonly known as Panaghiusa, is a local political party based in Cebu City, Philippines and was founded by then radio personality and politician Nenita Cortes-Daluz and was revived in March 2021 by her son, former Cebu City Councilor Jose Daluz III, who is currently serving as its party leader. It is allied with Partido Barug of incumbent mayor Michael Rama and Kugi Uswag Sugbo since 2021.

Local elections were held in the province of Cebu on May 9, 2022, as part of the 2022 Philippine general election. Voters selected from among candidates for all local positions: a town mayor, vice mayor and town councilors, as well as members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the vice governor, governor and representatives for the seven districts of Cebu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margot Osmeña</span> Filipino politician

Margarita "Margot" Lim Vargas Osmeña is a Filipino politician who served as a member of the Cebu City Council from 2010 to 2019. She is married to former mayor of Cebu City Tomas Osmeña.

References

  1. ↑ "Mayor Michael L. Rama - Membership, Education & Other Details". Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Mike Rama's 3 Big B's for Cebu City". Cebu Daily News . April 24, 2010. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  3. ↑ Fe Marie D. Dumaboc (May 13, 2010). "BOPK shuts out Kusug in all city electoral races". Cebu Daily News . Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  4. ↑ Mike Rama costumes, Mar Roxas masks; SunstarCebu.
  5. ↑ accuses Mayor Rama of bankrupting Cebu City; MyCebu.ph.
  6. ↑ Malacañang suspends Cebu Mayor Mike Rama –Rappler.
  7. ↑ DILG to implement suspension order vs. Cebu City Mayor Rama; DILG website.
  8. ↑ Rama now back as mayor; 60-day suspension ends –Sun.Star.
  9. ↑ Duterte names former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama a drug protector ; MyCebu.ph.
  10. ↑ "Midnight proclamation for Cebu City's south district election winners". cebudailynews.inquirer.net. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
  11. ↑ "Labella proclaimed Cebu City mayor". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Michael Rama takes oath as Cebu City mayor, Dondon Hontiveros as vice". CNN Philippines . November 20, 2021. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  13. ↑ Mayor Mike Rama wants Cebu City to become 'Singapore-like.' No specifics yet on goal and method. And there's a 'huge roadblock': the City is cash-strapped. BOPK may ask again, more vigorously this time, 'Do we have money for this?'; SunstarCebu.
  14. ↑ "Mayor's Page". Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
Political offices
Preceded by
Renato Osmeña
 Vice Mayor of Cebu City
2001-2010		Succeeded by
Preceded by Mayor of Cebu City
2010-2016		Succeeded by
Tomas Osmeña
Preceded by Vice Mayor of Cebu City
2019-2021		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.