Ribomapil Holganza Sr.
Ribomapil Holganza Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ribomapil Estrelloso Holganza April 26, 1935 |
| Died | January 25, 2015(aged 79) Cebu City,Philippines |
| Alma mater | University of San Carlos(LL.B.) |
| Political party | PDP-Laban |
| Spouse | Rosie Sanchez |
| Children | 6 |
Ribomapil Estrelloso Holganza, Sr.(April 26, 1935[citation needed]– January 25, 2015),[1]widely known asDodong Holganza,was aFilipinoactivist and politician who served as a leader of the opposition against the 10thPresident of the PhilippinesFerdinand Marcoson his native province ofCebu.
As a founding member of the political partyPDP–Laban,[2]Holganza was involved with several opposition groups in theVisayasandMindanaothat helped gather support for the overthrow of President Marcos during theEDSAPeople Power Revolutionin 1986.[3][4][5]
Political career
[edit]Ribomapil E. Holganza was born inDumanjug,Cebu,and studied law at theUniversity of San Carlos.After graduating from law school, Holganza entered politics, where he served as city administrator ofCebu Cityand as secretary toSergio Osmeña Jr.[6]By the early 1970s, Holganza, along with several other activists in Cebu, organized what was then an unpopular opposition coalition against the ruling administration of President Ferdinand Marcos in his hometown.[6]
In 1982, Holganza, together with political activists from the Visayas and Mindanao, includingAquilino Pimentel Jr.andAntonio Cuenco,founded the primary opposition partyPDP–Laban(then known merely asPartido Demokratiko Pilipinobefore its eventual merger withLABAN) and served as its first Secretary-General.[2][7][8]PDP-Laban would go on to elect the next president of the Philippines after the1986 Philippine presidential electionwith its standard bearerCorazon Aquino.[9]
Christmas Day Detainees
[edit]On December 25, 1982, while serving as secretary-general of PDP-Laban, Holganza and his son were arrested by pro-Marcos forces during a raid in Cebu City and were subsequently incarcerated on charges of rebellion until his release in 1985.[10]During the period of their incarceration, Holganza and his son earned the nickname "Christmas Day Detainees" from the press.[6][11]
The arrest of Holganza, as well as theassassination of Ninoy Aquinoin 1983, helped galvanize support for the opposition groups in Cebu which, along with other events simultaneously occurring throughout the country, eventually led to the broaderPeople Power Revolutionin 1986, and the subsequent assumption of Corazon Aquino of the presidency.[12]
Later life and death
[edit]After the People Power Revolution, Holganza left politics and retired inBantayan Island,Cebu, with his family. Holganza died suddenly after a stroke on January 25, 2015, at the age of 79.[13]
His death was mourned by many of Cebu's local politicians.Edgardo Labella,who later served as mayor of Cebu City said, "Dodongwill always be remembered as one of those who vigorously fought against the dictatorship while many others who claimed to be liberators sought refuge and enjoyed comfort in the land of milk and honey, so to speak. I fervently hope students of Philippine History will always remember his name alongside the likes of Inday Nita [Daluz] and Sen.José W. Diokno."[14]Antonio Cuenco, Holganza's former colleague in PDP-Laban said, "May his bravery in the fight to restore democracy in the country serve as an inspiration to the young people."[15]
Holganza was married to Rosie Sanchez-Holganza, who came from aMestizolandowning family in northern Cebu.[16]He has six children with his wife Rosie, including Ribomapil Holganza, Jr. who was a member of theProvincial Boardof theProvince of Cebuand a former president of the Federation of the Association of Barangay Councils,[17]Rico Rey Holganza, a lawyer and former district collector for theBureau of Customsin Cebu,[18][19]Rosemarie Holganza-Borromeo, a journalist and former news chief ofABS-CBN,[20]Dr. Rori Holganza-Mercado, Dr. Rhona Holganza-De Paul, and Ruby Holganza-Ortiz, abarangaycaptain inBantayan, Cebu.[21]
Legacy
[edit]In 2010, Holganza was honored by theWeslaco, Texas,city council, which declared September 30 as Ribomapil Holganza Day in recognition of his role in restoring freedom and democracy in the Philippines.[11]
References
[edit]- ^"(Obit) Cebuano freedom fighter Jose Ribomapil 'Dodong' Holganza Sr., 79 | Philippines Today".Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^ab"Aquilino 'Nene' Pimentel Jr. and PDP-Laban: A Mindanao story | The Ma…".archive.vn.2021-10-02.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^Wenceslao, Bong O. (2016-04-27)."Wenceslao: Joeyboy Holganza's bid".Sunstar.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^PNA."Freedom Fighter Jose Ribomapil 'Dodong' Holganza Sr., Dies at 79".Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^Miasco/FPL, May B."Dodong Holganza passes away".Philstar.com.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^abcHolganza-Borromeo, Rosemarie (2015-09-26)."Daddy led Cebu's anti-Marcos forces".INQUIRER.net.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^Cruz, Elfren S."How PDP-Laban began".Philstar.com.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^Baquero, Elias O. (2015-01-30)."'We will not forget you, freedom fighter'".Sunstar.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^"Speech of President Corazon Aquino at the PDP Laban Convention | GOVPH".Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^"3 in the Philippine Opposition Arrested in Raid on a House".The New York Times.Reuters. 1982-12-26.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^ab"Cebuano martial law opponent passes away at 79".INQUIRER.net.2015-01-25.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^"Holganza: Resilient man of action".INQUIRER.net.2015-02-01.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^"Holganza – prominent leader of Cebu's anti-Marcos forces – passes away".INQUIRER.net.2015-01-26.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^"Holganza – prominent leader of Cebu's anti-Marcos forces – passes away".INQUIRER.net.2015-01-26.Retrieved2021-10-16.
- ^Baquero, Elias O. (2015-01-30)."'We will not forget you, freedom fighter'".Sunstar.Retrieved2021-10-16.
- ^Bersales, Jose Eleazar (January 1, 2013)."Looking for Capitan Tawi: Memory and Myth-Making in Bantayan Island, Cebu".Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society.414:295–315.
- ^"Holganza wins top ABC post in province".Philstar.com.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^Palaubsanon, Mitchelle L."Holganza named customs district collector in Cebu".Philstar.com.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^Palaubsanon, Mitchelle L."Customs Cebu head to be replaced despite exceeding target by P1.2B".Philstar.com.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^"In rural areas of Cebu, ABS-CBN the only information source for some families".Rappler.Retrieved2021-10-15.
- ^"Holganza-Ortiz proclaimed as Baod village chief in Bantayan".INQUIRER.net.2018-05-15.Retrieved2021-10-15.