Sergio Osmena Sr., known as the "Champion of Philippine Nationalism" was born on September 9,1878 in Cebu, Cebu . He was the editor of the newspaper, "El Nuevo Dia".He became the Governor of Cebu ,the Assemblyman of the First Philippine Assembly, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senator.On September 17,1935,he was elected as the Vice President of the First Commonwealth Government of the Philippines.When the Japanese occupied the country, Vice President Osmena escaped with President Quezon to the United States and established an official Philippine Government in exile.
When President Quezon died on August 1, 1944, he became the second President of the Commonwealth. On October 2,1944, President Osmena, together with Gen. Douglas MacArthur,returned to the Philippines to rescue the country from the Japanese.They landed in Tacloban. Three days after the Leyte Landing, the Commonwealth was re-established, with Tacloban as a temporary capital of the Philippines.When Manila was re-taken,the capital was moved back there.
President Osmena and his advisers faced the task of rebuilding the country from ruins.With calm courage and quiet dignity,he tackled the arduous task of rehabilitating and reconstituting the land which had been cruelly ravaged by war.He re-established the pre-war bureau and offices and created new ones .He reorganized the Cabinet and the Council of State. He distributed relief commodities to indigent families , re-established the provincial and municipal governments,reopened the schools and colleges and rehabilitated the industries,trade and transportations and communications. He secured aid from the United States government for the relief and rehabilitation of the war-torn Philippines.
On May 6,1946,the dignified, gray-haired out-going President Osmena, in his farewell message, expressed his gratitude to the Filipino people for having been given the opportunity to serve them for more than 40 years and wished his worthy successor, President Roxas , a sincere goodluck , humbly thanking for the realization of Philippine independence, and announced his retirement to private life.
In 1961,the patriot, statesman, and Champion of Philippine Nationalism died at the age of 83.
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