The Old Congressional Districts of Leyte (Part 5)

In the 1700s Leyte and Samar were part of the Diocese of Cebu. The proximity of the island of Cebu to Leyte resulted in migration and inter-marriages between the two places. Majority of Cebuanos and Leyteños are interrelated by affinity or blood, the result of this is that their politics and religious practices share common roots.

Old 2nd District of Leyte

From 1931 to 1961 the District was composed of the following local government units: Albuera, Bato, Baybay, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Matalom, Ormoc (which became a city in 1947), and Kananga (which became a municipality in 1950).

The Parish of Albuera was created by Diocesan decree (Cebu), it is under the patronage of St. James the Elder on June 19, 1868. It used to be under the Ormoc Parish. Under the 1987 Constitution, Albuera became part of the new 4th District of Leyte composed of the following: Ormoc City, Albuera, Isabel, Kananga, Matag-ob, Merida, and Palompon.

The Municipality of Kananga was created by an act of Congress, Republic Act 542, on June 17, 1950, under the presidency of Elpidio Quirino. The barrios of Lonoy, Kananga, Rizal, Tugbong, Montebello, Aguiting, Agayayan, Montealegre, Libungao, Naghalin, and Masarayag separated from Ormoc City and composed the new town.

The following served as the district’s representatives from 1931 to 1961: Pacifico Ybañez (1931-1935), Dominador Tan (1935 to 1946), Domingo Veloso (1946-1953), and Alberto Aguja (1953 to 1961).

Representative Pacifico Y. Ybañez was admitted to the Bar on November 3, 1930, he is the founding president of the St. Michael College in Hindang, Leyte, in 1948. Ybañez became a judge of the Court of First Instance. Another member of the Ybañez Clan in Leyte by the name of Filomeno Ybañez was appointed by President Ramon Magsaysay on June 21, 1954 as presiding judge of the circuit court of the Court of First Instance in Leyte.

Domingo Veloso was granted a congressional franchise by virtue of Republic Act 1550 enacted on June 16, 1956 for the Electric Light, Heat and Power System in Tabango, Leyte. A street in Baybay City is named in honor of Congressman Domingo Veloso. (To be continued)