Anything under the sun
Vignettes on Iloilo lawmakers (2)
- There was a time when three Tomases served simultaneously in the Legislature – Tomas Confesor of the third district, Tomas Buenaflor of the fourth district and Tomas Vargas of the fifth district. Confesor later became senator and Vargas governor. A grandson of Buenaflor, Roberto Armada is now the vice governor.
- Congresswoman Gloria Montinola-Tabiana of the third district is the first Ilongga lawmaker. She succeeded her husband, Ramon C. Tabiana, a second termer. She was a daughter of Senator Ruperto Montinola.
- Congressman Ricardo Y. Ladrido of the fourth district was the only dentist lawmaker in Iloilo.
- Congressman Pedro G. Trono of the first district was the only pharmacist-doctor legislator in Iloilo. His wife Lourdes Trono was delegate to the 1973 Constitutional Convention.
- Congressman Licurgo Tirador of the third district was delegate to the 1973 Constitutional Convention, governor, mayor and provincial broad member. His father, Federico Tirador, Sr. was assemblyman of the fourth district.
- Congressman Jose C. Zulueta of the first district was the President of the Senate. He was also governor.
- Fernando Lopez was senator and the only three-termer Vice President of the Philippines, city mayor and secretary of natural resources. His son, Alberto Lopez was congressman of the third district and daughter-in-law, Emily Lopez was governor and first congressman of Guimaras.
- Congressman Oscar Ledesma of the second district was senator, governor and ambassador to the United States. He was one of those who refused to receive his backpay as assemblyman after the war.
- Congressman Fermin Caram, Jr. of the second district was the son of Fermin Caram, Sr. - governor and delegate to the 1973 Constitutional Convention. His daughter-in-law Tita Caram was city mayor.
- Congressman Pascual Espinosa of the second district was the only labor leader lawmaker of Iloilo.
- Assemblyman Venancio Cudilla of the fifth district opened northern Iloilo by building the San Nicholas mountain road from Barotac Viejo to Ajuy. Before this, people from the northern towns go to Iloilo City by a circuitous route via Roxas City or by sailboat from various ports of Ajuy.
- Assemblyman Atanacio Ampig of the third district died during the sinking of SS Corregidor in Manila Bay at the outbreak of the war.
- Assemblyman Esperidion Guanco of the fourth district became senator.
- Assemblyman Francisco Villanueva of the second district was a high ranking official of the Estado Federal de Bisayas during the Philippine Revolution and later, senator.