CEBU CITY, Philippines – As Cebu City residents and visitors take part in this week's Sinulog revelry, Cebu City Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña is scheduled to undergo his fourth chemotherapy session in a US-based hospital on Tuesday.While he wished to attend the Sinulog festivities, Osmeña said he may have to content himself with sending his greetings to city residents and visitors through a high definition projector installed at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC). “Tomorrow I will be checking in for three nights at the hospital. That starts my fourth chemotherapy session,” he said in a text message to Cebu Daily News (CDN). “I will spend Sinulog at home. I might beam in greetings live on High Definition TV. Not sure yet,” he added. This week’s festivities will climax in the annual Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday. First lady Margot Osmeña would usually dance the finale number. But this year, she decided to skip it to be with her husband who is seeking treatment for urinary bladder cancer in Houston, Texas.
In a text message to CDN, Osmeña said doctors will administer all the chemotherapy drugs in the first two days of admission. On the third day, he added, he would be allowed to rest before being discharged from the hospital. “At the end, they give you an injection that will boost white blood cell production to offset the white blood cells killed by the chemo. It’s mahal (expensive) but I have insurance,” the mayor-on-leave said. “Many are asking about the latest on my health. So far so good. Minor side effects and I expect progress to continue. Pit Señor,” he added. Asked what these side effects were, he replied: “falling hair, drowsiness sometimes and sensitivity to cold weather.” Osmeña has shaved his head after his hair had started to fall off due to the chemo. To show solidarity and love for his father, son Miguel took a razor and sheared his hair. /Reporter Marian Z. Codilla | 
