Sergio Osmeña Jr.

Sergio "Serging" Veloso Osmeña Jr. (December 4, 1916 – March 26, 1984) was a Senator of the Philippines, and ran against Ferdinand Marcos in the 1969 Philippine Presidential election. He was the son of Sergio Osmeña, the fourth President of the Philippines. His son in turn was Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III, who also became a Senator of the Philippines.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Veloso and the surname or paternal family name is Osmeña.

The Honourable Sergio Osmeña Jr.
Senator of the Philippines
In office December 30, 1965 – December 30, 1971
Mayor of Cebu City
In office December 30, 1967 – January 3, 1968
Preceded by	Carlos Jurado Cuizon
Succeeded by	Eulogio Enriquez Borres
In office December 30, 1963 – September 16, 1965
Preceded by	Mario Diez Ortiz
Succeeded by	Carlos Jurado Cuizon
In office December 30, 1959 – January 1, 1960
Preceded by	Ramon Gonzales Duterte
Succeeded by	Carlos Jurado Cuizon
In office December 30, 1955 – September 12, 1957
Preceded by	Pedro Clavano
Succeeded by	Ramon Gonzales Duterte
Governor of Cebu
In office December 30, 1951 – December 30, 1955
Preceded by	Manuel Cuenco
Succeeded by	Jose Briones
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives of Cebu's 2nd District
In office March 18, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Preceded by	Pedro T. Lopez
Succeeded by	Jose Briones
Personal details
Born	Sergio Veloso Osmeña Jr. (1916-12-04)December 4, 1916 Cebu City, Philippine Islands
Died	March 26, 1984(1984-03-26) (aged 67) Los Angeles, California, United States
Nationality	Filipino
Spouse(s)	Lourdes de la Rama
Children	Sergio Osmeña III María Victoria Osmeña Esteban Osmeña Tomas Osmeña Georgia Osmeña
Occupation	Politician
Nickname(s)	Serging, S.O.J.

Early life

Osmeña was born in Cebu City on December 4, 1916, to former Philippine President Sergio Osmeña Sr. and Estefania Chiong Veloso. He has a brother named Emilio Osmeña, father of Emilio Mario Osmeña Jr. and John Henry Osmeña. He graduated Associate of Arts, cum laude, from Ateneo de Manila University on 1935, and Bachelor of Science in Commerce, summa cum laude, from New York University in 1936.[1] After graduating which Osmeña opened an import-export business in New York.

Actions in World War II

Osmeña was accused of collaborating with the Japanese in World War II. He overcame the charges and returned to the Philippines and became President of the De La Rama Steamship Co.[1]

Political career

In 1951, he was elected provincial governor of Cebu and Mayor of Cebu City for three terms in 1955, 1959 and 1963. Elected as representative for the second district of Cebu in 1958, his notable work as fiscalizer brought him recognition from the Congressional Press Club which voted him as one of the Ten Most Outstanding Congressmen of 1959.

In 1961, Osmeña ran for Vice President of the Philippines as an independent, but lost to Senator Emmanuel Pelaez. In the November 1965 elections, he won a seat in the Philippine Senate.

1969 Philippine Presidential election

Main article: 1969 Philippine presidential election

Osmeña publicly opposed the Marcos administration.

On April 5th 1969, at the St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Marcos accused Osmeña of collaborating with the Japanese in World War II.

Later on June 15, Osmeña won the Liberal Party nomination for President of the Philippines, and would run against incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos for the 1969 Philippine presidential election. It was an election regarded as the "dirtiest, most violent and most corrupt" in Philippine history. Marcos spent $50 million USD in infrastructure projects in an effort to curry favor with the electorate.[2] This rapid campaign spending was so massive that it would be responsible for the Balance of Payments Crisis of 1970, whose inflationary effect would cause social unrest leading all the way up to the proclamation of Martial Law in 1972. Marcos was reported to have spent PhP 100 for every PhP 1 that Osmena spent, using up PhP 24 Million in Cebu alone.

The Marcos administration conducted vote-buying, terrorism and ballot snatching. Marcos also used the Armed Forces of the Philippines to disseminate his campaign propaganda.

Subsequent activities

Following his presidential loss, Osmeña continued as a leader in the Liberal Party.

On August 21, 1971 Osmeña along with prominent members of the Liberal Party held a proclamation rally at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo. While on stage with the other Liberal leaders, two hand grenades were thrown onto the stage injuring Osmeña. The Plaza Miranda bombing, injured 95, including Osmeña, and killed 9.[3] Afterwards, Osmeña left for the United States and lived in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.

Marcos proclaimed martial law in September 1972 and submitted documents to the U.S. Congress. The documents were regarded as bizarre, in addition to a "communist threat" of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the "rebellion" of the Muslim Independence Movement, the documents charged that declaration of martial law was also due to a plot to kill Marcos. Osmeña was accused of being a key figure in the plot, though no formal charges were filed against him.[1]

Personal life

He was married to Lourdes de la Rama of Negros Occidental with whom he had five children: Sergio Osmeña III; María Victoria Osmeña; Esteban Osmeña; Tomas Osmeña; and Georgia Osmeña.

Death

Osmeña died of respiratory failure at the age of 67 on March 26, 1984 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

References

1. Saxon, Wolfgang (March 26, 1984). "SERGIO OSMENA JR. IS DEAD AT 67; RAN AGAINST MARCOS IN '69 VOTE". The New York Times.
2. Burton, Sandra. (1989). Impossible Dream: The Marcoses, the Aquinos, and the Unfinished Revolution. New York, NY: Warner Books. ISBN 0-446-51398-9. OCLC 17650307.
3. "THE PHILIPPINES: Death in the Plaza Miranda". Time. August 30, 1971.