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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Cebu City mayor junks Rama's 'Singapore-like' slogan

Cebu City mayor junks Rama's 'Singapore-like' slogan

Published Oct 9, 2024 12:10 pm

CEBU CITY – Michael Rama is gone as this city’s mayor along with his favorite but controversial slogan.

Shortly after he took his oath as this city’s full-fledged chief executive on Wednesday, October 9, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced that the city government will drop the "Singapore-like Cebu City" tagline.

MICHAEL RAMA.jpg

RAMA (FB)

While it is good to aspire to become a progressive city like Singapore, Cebu has to create its own identity, Garcia said.

"In fact, we have a longer history as a civilization compared to Singapore. So, that is something I feel that has to be changed," Garcia said.

The Singapore-like vision was conceptualized by Rama. The tagline evolved into "Singapore-like Cebu City with Melbourne features and Taiwan training."

The tagline would be promoted every time Rama was in a public event. A Singapore-like Cebu City jingle was also composed and would be played and performed during the traditional Monday flag-raising ceremonies at the City Hall.

The tagline was met with criticism and one of the vocal critics was Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Mayor Garcia, a nephew of the governor, said he would prefer to have something that would promote this city. “I want Cebu City to have its own identity. Cebu City is not Singapore," he said.

The city has not been using the slogan since Rama was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman last May 8.

The suspension stemmed from the cases filed by four City Hall employees who complained that they were not paid their salaries after they were reassigned.

Rama was eventually dismissed after he was found guilty of nepotism for hiring two brothers-in-law as city government workers.

He filed a Certificate of Candidacy for mayor but the Commission on Election ordered the cancellation of his COC due to the dismissal order against him.

Rama has filed a petition before the Supreme Court to contest the COC cancellation. 

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