THE GRAND OLD MEN OF CEBU

(Tribute)

September 9 marks the 106th birthday anniversary of a great man whose un

measurable deeds can never fade but should always live in the memory of every
Filipino. The man was Don Sergio Osmena sr., the Grand old Man of Cebu.

In his lifetime, President Osmena was the light that illuminated our darkened trail during
the first days of the liberation, leading to our national enlightenment and freedom-the
building of our Republic. It was he who continued the fight when his predecessor,
President Quezon, failed to return to his beloved people.

President Osmena, in spite of wealth and power, was one of the humblest government
officials and President that our country has ever had. As a man, he was real; as a
friend, he was indispensable and true; as a leader, he was an example; as a citizen, he
was most patriotic; and as a personality, he was dynamic and virtuous.

All that he was is now a shadow, but that same shadow stands as a standard with which
we can realize our present state of being. Indeed, few are the men who live the life of
Don Sergio Osmena. That our school was named after such a great yet humble hero is
something every Osmenan should be proud of.
Entertainment Editorial: The Massive Ego of Mainstream Music

At any given moment in the past few months, on popular radio stations like Z90.3, Channel 93.3, Star 94.1,
KyXy 96.5, and Sophie 103.7, listeners are almost guaranteed to hear one of three songs: “Someone Like You,”
“Party Rock Anthem,” or, perhaps the worst of them all, “Moves Like Jagger.”
Although not one of life’s biggest dilemmas (except maybe for a hipster), the constant irritation of these
overplayed, mediocre songs is worth addressing. Not only are these songs extremely overplayed, but their self-
centered and obnoxious messages push the buttons of those of us who enjoy songs with less egotistical lyrics.
It seems as though almost every song heard on the radio has something to do with “me,” “myself” or “I.”
According toThe Inquisitr website, a study on the song lyric content between 1980 and 2007 from hits on the
Billboard Hot 100 revealed “a statistically significant trend toward narcissism in music, with […a] recent example in
popular songs [including] Justin Timberlake’s 2006 proclamation, ‘I’m bringing sexy back.’” These analyses seem to
fall into the apparent trend of today’s youth becoming more self-centered and less altruistic (inquisitr.com).
Timberlake’s “Sexy Back” isn’t one of a kind; music radio seems to focus on commending oneself. In “My
Humps,” Fergie boasts about what she calls “her lovely lady lumps.” Maroon 5’s “Moves like Jagger” also includes
the very egotistical lines “You say I’m a kid/ My ego is big/ I don’t give a sh*t” (azlyrics.com). These songs, while
degrading and overly self-absorbed, have each been well-known hits in the past five years, an example of how
society seems to embrace negative messages and egoism.
Radio stations often seem to be at fault for overplaying songs. However, who do the stations play music
for? When a radio station comes across a song people really seem to enjoy, they may play the newer, more
popular song six or seven times a day (spinningindie.blogspot.com). According to a University of Southern
California Music Editor, “large [radio] companies are more concerned about bringing in profits and thus will not
play provocative music,” with provocative being substituted for the word “different” (usc.edu). When stations mix
up their stations with alternative types of music, those who love their favorite, overplayed hits (which most seem
to) stop listening, causing ratings to go down, meaning the station loses money. That means we’re stuck with the
egoism and negativity.
With mottos like “Sophie@103.7 plays the music YOU want to hear,” it’s no wonder that those who don’t
love the songs played countless times are turned off from listening to the same songs over and over again
(radiosophie.radio.com). Perhaps human nature causes people to enjoy the same songs over and over; after all,
few people like change. However, I would argue no one needs to hear Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” the most
downloaded song of 2011, or Kelly Clarkson’s “Mr. Know-It-All” over 25 times a week.
While quite redundant and self-involved, mainstream music isn’t all bad. Although quite overplayed, select
songs on the radio actually can have actual meaning and even be inspiring. The solution to finding enjoyable, non-
obnoxious music isn’t completely eliminating the mainstream. Including songs on the Top 40 with other genres of
music such as country, jazz, classic rock and roll, and perhaps a few indie artists makes for a diversified playlist and
gives many options for listening, rather than the same, repetitive songs which make up “popular” music.