A Letter to THE FREEMAN Editor On The Proposed Cemetery Construction in Osmena Shrine

Mr. Jerry S. Tundag
Editor-in-chief
THE FREEMAN
Gullas cor. D. Jakosalem Sts.
Cebu City

June 22, 2011

Dear Sir:

When we establish our home for our family to live in for generations, primary considerations are safety – free from health and physical dangers – peace and possibly a beautiful view. We financially save up for years, forego immediate wants and make do with most things, in order to afford the best possible home we can find. When this prized home is threatened by the summary action of a political figure, we have to take action to protect the future of our children and our children’s children.

Some decades ago, the Cebu Province donated to the then Municipality of Cebu several parcels of land, including a five-hectare property covering a hill in front of and parallel to what are now to residential subdivisions – the Beverly Glen and Beverly Hills Subdivision. The Municipality of Cebu then dedicated this area as part of a park called the “Osmena Shrine” – in honor of the revered Cebuano President Sergio Osmena Sr.

Last year, a grandson of Don Sergio, then Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena, persuaded the Cebu City Council to approve a resolution donating this portion of the Osmena Shrine to a so-called Evangelical Christian Coalition of Cebu, Inc., for the purpose of turning the shrine into a Multi-Faith Memorial Park. This occurred barely a month before last year’s local and national elections. This coalition has reportedly over 80,000 voting members.

As the Shrine belongs to the City of Cebu, should not the Cebuanos have a role in determining its use? Is it left to the powers-that-be in Cebu Hall? Are the rest of the Osmena clan amenable to the conversion of their illustrious forebear’s Shrine into a cemetery?

Why were the Cebuanos not consulted on this important matter? Were public hearings and legally required procedures followed? How come the DENR already issued a clearance for such a project? Why place the property under Barangay Kalunasan – a BOPK supporter – when in the Declaration of Real Property it is under Lahug – an opposition camp? It there an illegality somewhere?

The hill is densely forested, home to birds, plants and animals. It was reforested by DENR in the 1960s…how come the same DENR now allows this area to be denuded for burial purposes? There are communities surrounding this upland area, dependent for their water needs on the aquifer, which will be endangered of pollution by future burials. Will we sacrifice the living for the sake of the dead? Is this common sense? Is this justifiable at all?

The Osmena Shrine should be converted into a nature park where Cebuanos and tourists alike can enjoy the chirping of endemic birds, the exquisite beauty of plants and flowers, the coolness of forest cover in a vantage point overlooking the city. That must be the original intention of the Osmena clan donation. That should be respected, as we respect the memory of Cebu’s Grand Old Man, by making a shrine in his honor that befits his benevolent and dignified person.

We hope this merits space in your popular publication.

Very truly yours,

(SGD) Sancho Dy
President
Beverly Hills Association, Inc.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 7th, 2011 at 11:41 am and is filed under Environment Committee, Press Releases. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.