156. ISABELA LEGISLATORS IN CONGRESS
In order to facilitate the work of the missionaries in the evangelization of
the Cagayan Valley and upon the recommendation of Governor-General (1850-1853)
Antonio de Urbiztondo y Eguía, a royal decree was issued by Queen Isabella II
of Spain on May 1, 1856 during the administration of Governor-General
(1854-1856) Manuel Crespo y Cebrián which created the province of Isabela
carved from the provinces of old Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya. The new alcaldia
consisted of the towns of Cabagan, Tumauini, Ilagan, Gamu, Calanusian, Cauayan,
Angadanan, Camarag, Carig including Catalangan and Palanan. The new province
was named “Isabela de Luzon” in honor of Her Royal Highness Queen Isabella II
of Spain with the old town of Ilagan as the capital. The name was later
shortened to “Isabela”.
On August 1896, the Philippine Revolution erupted and on June 12, 1898,
President Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence at Cavite el Viejo
(Kawit), Cavite. The Malolos Congress, formally known as the "National
Assembly" of representatives, was the constituent assembly of the First
Philippine Republic. The assembly consisted of elected delegates chosen by
balloting in provincial assemblies held from June 23 to September 10, 1898 and appointed
delegates chosen by the president to represent regions under unstable military
and civilian conditions. On September 15, 1898, the Congress convened at the
Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan and drafted the Malolos Constitution. Two
delegates were elected and one was appointed by President Emilio Aguinaldo for
Isabela. Don Raymundo Alindada y Gaduang (1855-1928; from Bagabag in Nueva
Vizcaya; a music teacher and school master and was honored with a street name
in Manila), Don Eustacio del Rosario and Don Abelardo Guzman were the official
representatives for Isabela de Luzon.
On February 4, 1899, the Philippine-American War erupted and on March 23, 1901,
after over two years, President Aguinaldo was captured by the American forces
led by Gen. Frederick Funston at the remote coastal town of Palanan, Isabela.
Eventually, the Americans established a civil government run by both Americans
and Filipinos.
The First Philippine Legislature (1907 to 1916) was bicameral which consisted
of an appointed upper house - the Philippine Commission, and an elected lower
house - the Philippine Assembly. These bodies were the predecessors of the
Senate and the House of Representatives. On July 30, 1907, the first nationwide
elections ever held in the Philippines which elected the members of the 1st
Philippine Assembly. The Lone District of Isabela was represented by the
election of Don Nicasio P. Claravall y Mamuri (1907-1908, Ilagan, Progresista).
However, the Assembly which was inaugurated on October 16 of the same year,
unseated Claravall on January 20, 1908 in favor of Don Dimas Guzman y Masigan
(1908-1909, Ilagan, Nacionalista). Unfortunately, Guzman died in office on
March 18, 1909. On November 2, 1909, unseated Dr. Nicasio Claravall’s brother,
Governor Basilio Eliseo Claravall y Mamuri (1909-1912, Ilagan, Progresista) ran
and won in the 2nd Philippine Legislature. In the June 4, 1912 elections,
Assemblyman Claravall (1912-1916, Progresista) won a second term and served in
the 3rd Philippine Legislature.
On August 29, 1916, the Jones Act replaced the Philippine Organic Act of 1902
and the Assembly became the House of Representatives of the Philippines. On
June 6, 1916, the elections for the Members of the 4th Philippine Assembly were
held with Don Mauro F. Verzosa (Ilagan, 1916-1919, Nacionalista) as
Representative of the Lone District of Isabela. On June 3, 1919, Don Miguel B.
Binag (Cabagan, 1919-1922, Nacionalista) was elected in the 5th Philippine
Assembly. On June 5, 1922, Don Tolentino F. Verzosa (Ilagan, 1922-1925, Nacionalista
Colectivista) was elected in the 6th Philippine Assembly. On June 2, 1925, Don
Manuel M. Nieto (Ilagan, 1925-1928, Nacionalista) was elected in the 7th
Philippine Assembly. On June 5, 1928, Don Pascual G. Paguirigan (Ilagan,
1928-1931, Nacionalista) was elected in the 8th Philippine Assembly. On June
2,1931, Don Silvestre B. Macutay (Naguilian, 1931-1934, Nacionalista) was
elected in the 9th Philippine Assembly. On June 5, 1934, Don Silvino M. Gumpal
(Jones, 1934-1935, Nacionalista Democrata Pro-Independencia) was elected in the
10th Philippine Assembly.
On March 24, 1934, the Tydings–McDuffie Act replaced the Insular Government. On
July 10, 1934, former Congressman Miguel B. Binag and Atty. Elias Ocampo were
elected as official delegates of Isabela in the 1934 Constitutional Convention
(Con-Con) which drafted the 1935 Constitution. Subsequently, the Commonwealth
of the Philippines was established, designed as a transitional administration
in preparation for the country's full achievement of independence after ten
years. The Commonwealth legislature was at first unicameral, but in 1940 the
Constitution was amended and eventually became bicameral.
On September 16, 1935, the 1st National Assembly was held with Hon. Mauro F.
Verzosa (Ilagan, 1935-1938, Nacionalista Democratico). On November 8, 1938, the
second elections for the National Assembly were held with Congressman Verzosa
(Nacionalista, 1939-1941) reelected.
The elections of November 11, 1941 catapulted Governor Lino J. Castillejos
(Tumauini) in the assembly. Castillejos was not able to take office on December
30, 1941 as the Japanese Imperial Army (JIA) invaded the Philippines on
December 8, 1941 at the onset of World War II. A national assembly was called
consisting of the incumbent appointed governor of the province and another
appointed delegate. Governor Lino J. Castillejos and Atty. Gregorio P. Formoso
were the representatives of Isabela in the assembly which drafted the
Constitution and ratified on September 7, 1943. On October 14,1943, the
Japanese-sponsored 2nd Philippine Republic was established. On September 2,
1945, the Axis Powers (Germany and Italy) in Europe disintegrated and JIA
General Tomoyuki Yamashita surrendered in Kiangan, Ifugao ending the Japanese
Occupation including the government of the 2nd Republic.
On June 9, 1945, the 1st Congress of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, also
known as the Postwar Congress and the Liberation Congress, was reestablished
and convened with Congressman Lino J. Castillejos, who was elected in 1941,
representing the province of Isabela.
On April 23, 1946, the first democratic presidential and congressional
elections after World War II was held with Hon. Domingo B. Paguirigan (Ilagan,
1946-1949, Liberal) representing the Lone District of Isabela in the 1st
Congress of the 3rd Philippine Republic. On July 4, 1946, the Commonwealth
ended and the Philippines claimed full sovereignty.
The November 8, 1949 presidential and congressional elections elected Atty.
Samuel F. Reyes (Cauayan, 1950-1953, Liberal) in the 2nd Congress. The November
10, 1953 presidential and congressional elections reelected Congressman Reyes
(1954-1957, Liberal) in the 3rd Congress. On January 23, 1957, Reyes’ election
was annulled by a House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal decision and
former Provincial Board Member and Provincial Secretary Delfin B. Albano
(Cabagan, 1957, Nacionalista) assumed office.
The November 12, 1957 presidential and congressional elections elected
Congressman Delfin B. Albano (1958-1961, Nacionalista) in the 4th Congress. The
November 14, 1961 presidential and congressional elections reelected
Congressman Albano (1962-1965, Nacionalista) in the 5th Congress.
The November 9, 1965 presidential and congressional elections elected former
secretary of justice and governor, Melanio T. Singson (Ilagan, 1966-1969,
Liberal) in the 6th Congress.
The November 11, 1969 presidential and congressional elections elected former
Vice Governor Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (Cabagan, 1970-1972, Nacionalista) in the
7th Congress.
On November 10, 1970, the delegates to the 1971 Constitutional Convention (Con
Con) were elected. Atty. Benjamin C. Reyes (Cauayan), Heherson T. Alvarez
(Santiago), Atty. Francisco B. Albano, Jr. (Cabagan), Atty. Celso D. Gañgan
(Ilagan) and former Governor Leocadio E. Ignacio (Mallig) were the five
delegates of Isabela who drafted the 1973 Constitution which abolished the
Philippine Congress and replaced with an interim National Assembly.
The April 7, 1978 parliamentary elections elected former Congressman Rodolfo B.
Albano, Jr. and Mayor Prospero G. Bello (Jones) as assemblymen of Region II
(1978-1984) in the unicameral Interim Batasang Pambansa (IBP) who both belong
to the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party.
The May 14, 1984 parliamentary elections elected the following in the regular
Batasang Pambansa (1984-1986) for the Lone District of Isabela: Assemblyman
Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr., Assemblyman Prospero G. Bello and Atty. Simplicio B.
Domingo, Jr. (Burgos), all of the KBL party.
The People Power Revolution of 1986 (February 22-25) changed the national
political landscape in the country. On February 2, 1987, the 1987 Constitution
was ratified and the legislative was reverted back to bicameral similar to the
pre-Martial Law legislative branch of government. The Lone District of Isabela
was expanded to four districts under the new Constitution. The May 11, 1987
first legislative elections of post Marcos-era elected the following in the 8th
Congress (1987-1992): former assemblyman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (1stD KBL),
former assemblyman Atty. Simplicio B. Domingo, Jr. (2ndD KBL), former Mayor
Atty. Santiago P. Respicio (Reina Mercedes, 3rdD, KBL) and former Mayor Atty.
Antonio M. Abaya (Santiago, 4thD, KBL). Isabela’s first ever senator, former
1971 Con-Con delegate, Heherson T. Alvarez, was also elected.
The May 11, 1992 national and local elections elected the following in the 9th
Congress (1992-1995): reelectionist Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (1stD, NPC),
Faustino S. Dy, Jr. (San Manuel, 2ndD, NPC), reelectionist Santiago P. Respicio
(3rdD, NPC) and reelectionist Antonio M. Abaya (4thD, NPC). Senator Heherson T.
Alvarez was also elected on his second term and served up to the 10th Congress.
The May 8, 1995 midterm elections elected the following in the 10th Congress
(1995-1998): reelectionist Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (1stD, NPC), reelectionist
Faustino S. Dy, Jr. (2ndD, NPC), reelectionist Santiago P. Respicio (3rdD, NPC)
and reelectionist Antonio M. Abaya (4thD, Lakas-NUCD).
The May 11, 1998 national and local elections elected the following in the 11th
Congress (1998-2001): former Kabataang Barangay provincial president and Mayor
Rodolfo T. Albano III (Cabagan, 1stD, NPC/LAMMP), reelectionist Faustino S. Dy,
Jr. (2ndD, NPC/LAMMP), Mayor Ramon M. Reyes (Alicia, 3rdD, LAMMP) and Senator
Heherson T. Alvarez (4thD, Lakas NUCD). On March 29, 2001, Congressman Alvarez
resigned and was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR).
The May 14, 2001 midterm elections elected the following in the 12th Congress
(2001-2004): coming back Congressman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (1stD, Lakas-CMD),
Vice Governor Edwin C. Uy (Roxas, 2ndD, Lakas-CMD), former ABC provincial
president and Mayor Faustino G. Dy III (Cauayan City, 3rdD, Lakas-CMD) and
coming back congressman Antonio M. Abaya (4thD, Lakas-CMD). On February 26,
2003, Congressman Abaya died in office. On May 19, 2003, former Sangguniang
Panlalawigan Member, Atty. Giorgidi B. Aggabao (Santiago City, NPC) was elected
as congressman of the 4th district serving the unexpired term of Congressman
Abaya.
The May 10, 2004 national and local elections elected the following in the 13th
Congress (2004-2007): comebacking Congressman Rodolfo T. Albano III (1stD,
KAMPI), reelectionist Edwin C. Uy (2ndD, Lakas-CMD), reelectionist Faustino G.
Dy III (3rdD, NPC) and Anthony P. Miranda (Santiago City, 4thD, KAMPI).
The May 14, 2007 midterm elections elected the following in the 14th Congress
(2007-2010): reelectionist Rodolfo T. Albano III (1stD, Lakas-KAMPI),
reelectionist Edwin C. Uy (2ndD, Liberal), reelectionist Faustino G. Dy III
(3rdD, NPC) and coming back Giorgidi B. Aggabao (4thD, NPC).
The May 10, 2010 national and local elections elected the following in the 15th
Congress (2010-2013): coming back Congressman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (1stD),
three termer Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Ana Cristina G. Siquian-Go (San
Mariano, 2ndD, Nacionalista), Mayor Napoleon S. Dy (Alicia, 3rdD, NPC) and
reelectionist Giorgidi B. Aggabao (4thD, NPC).
The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines created the party-list system in the
House of Representatives elected by a type of party-list proportional
representation. The first home-grown party-list from Isabela is the Liquified
Petroleum Gas Marketers Association (LPGMA) with Arnel U. Ty (Cauayan City) as
the first representative in 2010.
The May 13, 2013 midterm elections elected the following in the 16th Congress
(2013-2016): coming back Congressman Rodolfo T. Albano, III (1stD, NPC),
reelectionist Ana Cristina G. Siquian-Go (2ndD, Nacionalista), reelectionist
Napoleon S. Dy (3rdD, NPC) and reelectionist Giorgidi B. Aggabao (4thD, NPC).
The Partylist Representatives from Isabela were: Hon. Arnel U. Ty (LPGMA), Hon.
Jose T. Panganiban, Jr. (Angadanan, Ang National Coalition of Indigenous
Peoples Action Na! Inc. - ANAC-IP) and Hon. Silvestre H. Bello III (City of
Ilagan, Una ang Barangay Ating Paunlarin - 1BAP).
The May 9, 2016 national and local elections elected the following in the 17th
Congress (2016-2019): reelectionist Rodolfo T. Albano, III (1stD, PDP-Laban),
reelectionist Ana Cristina G. Siquian-Go (2ndD, Nacionalista), reelectionist
Napoleon S. Dy (3rdD, NPC) and Ma. Lourdes C. Rivilla-Aggabao (Santiago City,
4thD, NPC). The Partylist Representatives from Isabela were: Hon. Arnel U. Ty
(LPGMA) and Hon. Jose T. Panganiban, Jr. (ANAC-IP).
On September 27, 2018, Republic Act No. 11080 was signed by President Rodrigo
R. Duterte re-organizing the legislative districts and establishing the fifth
and sixth districts of Isabela. The May 13, 2019 midterm elections elected the
following in the 18th Congress (2019-2022): Vice Governor Antonio T. Albano
(Cabagan, 1stD, Lakas), Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Ed Christopher S. Go
(San Mariano, 2ndD, Nacionalista), Mayor Ian Paul L. Dy (Alicia, 3rdD, NPC),
Atty. Alyssa Sheena P. Tan-Dy (Santiago City, 4thD, PDP-Laban), Mayor Faustino
Michael Carlos T. Dy III (San Manuel, 5thD, NPC) and LMB National President
Faustino A. Dy V (Echague, 6thD, PDP-Laban). The Partylist Representatives from
Isabela were: Mayor Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. (Cabagan, LPGMA) and Presley C. De
Jesus (Santiago City, Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association -
PHILRECA). On November 5, 2019, Congressman Albano died in office and his slot
in the partylist was assumed by the second nominee, Atty. Allan U. Ty (Cauayan
City).
The May 9, 2022 national and local elections elected the following in the 19th
Congress (2022-2025): reelectionist Antonio T. Albano (1stD, Lakas),
reelectionist Ed Christopher S. Go (2ndD, Nacionalista), reelectionist Ian Paul
L. Dy (3rdD, Lakas), Mayor Joseph S. Tan (Santiago City, 4thD, Lakas),
reelectionist Faustino Michael Carlos T. Dy III (5thD, Lakas) and reelectionist
Faustino A. Dy V (6thD, Lakas). The Partylist Representatives from Isabela are:
Hon. Allan U. Ty (LPGMA) and Hon. Presley C. De Jesus (PHILRECA).
At present, there are 44 Isabeleños who represented the Province of Isabela in
the august halls of the national Philippine Legislature. They were all instrumental
in crafting pieces of legislations which uplifted the lives of not only the
common Isabeleños but of the Filipino populace as well. Furthermore, six
distinguished Isabeleños represented the Province in the Constitutional
Conventions of 1935 and 1971 which drafted two Philippine Constitutions which
served as the bible of governance of our country for a half a century. The
population of Isabela has reached over one and half million which is now
represented by six congressmen plus two more homegrown partylist
representatives. The eight legislators from Isabela gave the province a very
strong representation and influence not only in the Philippine Congress but in
the national political arena as well which results in abundant programs and
projects for the welfare of the common Isabeleños.
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