Emilio Mario Osmeña
Encyclopedia
| 1993–1997 |
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| 1988–1992 |
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| Political Party: | Probinsya Muna Development Initiative Probinsya Muna Development Initiative The Probinsya Muna Development Initiative is a provincial political party in the Philippines based in Cebu.... (PROMDI) (1997–present) Lakas-CMD (1992–1997) |
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| Born: | September 11, 1938 (age 73) Cebu City Cebu City The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was... , Cebu Cebu Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands... |
| Spouse: | Annette Versoza |
Emilio Mario R. Osmeña also known as Lito Osmeña, was the Governor of Cebu, Philippines from 1988 to 1992. He is the founder and chairman of PROMDI Party (Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives) where he ran for the position of President in the 1998 elections but lost to Joseph Estrada. He also ran for the position of Vice President and running-mate of Fidel Ramos in the 1992 Elections but lost to Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
. He is the grandchild of Philippine President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña y Suico was a Filipino politician who served as the 4th President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon, and rose to the presidency upon Quezon's death in 1944, being the oldest Philippine president to hold office at age 65...
and younger brother of former Senator John Henry Osmeña
John Henry Osmeña
John Henry Renner Osmeña , also known as Sonny Osmeña or simply John Osmeña, is a former Senator of the Philippines...
.
Early life and career
Osmeña was born on September 11, 1938 in Cebu CityCebu City
The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
, Cebu to Dr. Emilio V. Osmeña and Ma. Luisa Renner. He graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of San Carlos
University of San Carlos
The University of San Carlos is a Roman Catholic university governed by the Society of the Divine Word since 1935 in Cebu City. It offers pre-elementary and basic education as well as undergraduate and graduate courses, and a broad spectrum of academic programs through its eight colleges.It...
, Cebu. Early in Life Lito managed Hacienda Lugo. He developed Maria Luisa Estate Park, a family owned residential subdivision.
In the 70s, he was a political prisoner during Martial Law in 1973 at Fort Bonifacio
Fort Bonifacio
Fort Bonifacio is a highly urbanized district in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The district is named after the main Philippine Army camp in Metro Manila, Fort Andres Bonifacio, which in turn was named after the famous Philippine revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio...
for nine months and placed under house arrest for four years. During the late 70' he focused on developing real estate projects. It was not until the assassination of Ninoy Aquino that he got involved in Politics and ran for governor in 1988.
Economic Reforms
After the reorganization of local governments and the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, he ran for the position of Governor for the province of Cebu in 1988 and won. During his term as Governor of Cebu, Osmeña was able to increase the provincial budget to 1 billion pesos per annum. He made possible the construction of flyovers and causeways, and purchased heavy equipment that caused the opening and maintenance of several barangay roads and bridges as well as the farm-to-market roads and began construction of the Trans Central Highway, connecting Cebu City to the West. Osmeña launched a Water Distribution Program in the entire island, making water available to 90% of the population, as opposed to the 56% before his incumbency. He set up the municipal telephone system throughout the province. Osmeña initiated the modernization of Cebu's International Airport. He also initiated direct flights from Cebu to the different parts of the world. He was elected as Chairman of the League of Governors of the Philippines from 1990 to 1992. It was during his watch as Governor of Cebu that Cebu experience an economic boom.1992 Vice-Presidential Election
After Fidel Ramos bolted the LDP in 1992, he invited Osmeña to his new party Lakas Tao and offered to be his running mate in the May 11 elections. Osmeña accepted Ramos' invitation and accepted his offer citing his vision to follow his grandfather's footsteps. He however lost to Joseph Estrada in a 7-way race for Vice President.Chief Economic Adviser
Osmeña served as Executive Vice President of Lakas-NUCD and Chief Economic Adviser of President Fidel V. Ramos from 1993 to 1997. He also Chaired the Presidential Committee on Flagship Programs and Projects and finished or substantially undertook the following projects: The General Santos Airport, the Mactan Cebu International Airport, the upgrading of the Batangas port, the upgrading of the General Santos Seaport, the Rehabilitaiton of the Pan-Philippine Highway, the Quirino Highway, the Southern Tagalog Arterial Highway (Sto. Tomas-Lipa Section), C-5 Road (from South Luzon Expressway to Katipunan Avenue), the Metro Manila Skyway (Buendia to Bicutan), the Edsa/Boni underpass, the Kalayaan/EDSA flyover, the Ayala-Pasay Road interchange, the EDSA-Shaw flyover, the Bohol Circumferential Road, the Bataan Combined Cycle Power Plant (600MW), the Palimpinon Geothermal Plant (80MW), the Pagbilao Plant (700MW), the Upper Mahiao & Malitbog Geotherman Plant in Leyte (231MW), the Rehabilitaion of PNR South Line, MRT3, LRT2 and the Deregulation of the Telecom Sector.1998 Presidential Election
In 1997 he bolted from Lakas-NUCD and formed his own party he called PROMDI Party (Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives). With Ismael Sueño as his running mate, he ran for the position of President in the 11-way presidential election but lost to Joseph Estrada.Recent Activities
Osmeña returned to private life after the elections handling the party he founded as a party-list party. In the House of Representatives, the party was represented by Joy Augustus Young. Osmeña did not run in the 2004 elections and supported his former political rival Raul Roco for president. His party was disqualified in the party list elections, citing that the party was a national political party.Emilio M. R. Osmena has filled his candidacy for the Senate in the 2010 May elections.
Personal life
Lito, as he is often called, is married to Annette Versoza and has three children namely Mariano, Maria Luisa, and Emilio III. He has 8 grand children- Annette, Santino, Marie, Katrien, Alexander, Emilio IV, Illeana, and Julia. Lito is part of the Osmeña clan, a very influential political family in the Philippines. Other prominent family members include Former Senators Sergio Osmeña III, John Henry Osmeña and Sergio Osmeña, Jr.; Cebu City Mayor Tomas OsmeñaTomas Osmeña
Tomas "Tommy" de la Rama Osmeña is a Filipino politician currently serving as Congressman for the second district of Cebu City. Prior to his congressional term, he has also served as mayor of Cebu City from 1988 to 1995 and from 2001 to 2010.-Early life:Tomas is the son of the late Senator Sergio...
, former President Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña y Suico was a Filipino politician who served as the 4th President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon, and rose to the presidency upon Quezon's death in 1944, being the oldest Philippine president to hold office at age 65...
, former Cebu Vice Governor John Gregory Osmeña, as well as his sister, real estate developer Annabelle "Annie" Osmeña-Aboitiz.