Ronda, the jewel of the south

Today is our annual fiesta in the idyllic town of Ronda, 82 kilometers south of Cebu City. The mayor of Ronda is a young and dynamic neophyte in politics whose only dream is to contribute his share in pushing for the development of the local economy and uplift the well-being of Rondahanons.

Ronda is home to successful men and women. Our most famous kabayan was the late governor Emilio Famor Remotigue, the first person elected as vice governor of Cebu. Later, he ran for governor and won. He was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos as administrator of the Social Welfare Administration (SWA), the forerunner of the Department of Social Welfare and Development or DSWD. Ingko Milio, or Manong Kikoy as he was fondly called, was a very successful practicing lawyer before he entered politics. He was always known as from Argao but the truth is he was born and grew up in Langin, Ronda, the same village where I was born. Ingko Milio had seven sisters and six brothers, one of whom was another lawyer, Yoyo Jose. His younger sister, Nanay Paping, married a lawyer from Alcantara, Canciano Llenos.

Another famous Rondahanon was the late lawyer Rafael Gimarino, father of Rev. Fr. Mike Gimarino and Atty. Butch Gimarino, a successful Law professor of USC and a retired official of the Land Registration Authority. Still another was the late fiscal Ananias Maribao, whose son Atty. Hirminio was one of the top lawyers of Atlas Mining during the height of the operations of the biggest copper mining corporation in Asia. Fiscal Maribao was one of the best prosecutors in the entire Cebu Province. The first female lawyer of Ronda was Judge Lourdes Villalon-Diama. Her children are now US citizens and residing in California. There are thousands of Rondahanons in LA, San Francisco, and other parts of California, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Texas, Illinois, and Florida.

The Blanco family who governed Ronda for the last 30 years is from Langin, the farthest village bound by Dumanjug in the north and Argao in the west. I am related to this family. There are many successful professionals from Langin belonging to the Blancos, the Alberos, the Birondos, the Lunas, the Sarmientos, the Aballeses, the Omboys, the Llegos, the Sardallas, the Salinases, and the Camalleres, and the biggest clan, the Famors. In the Poblacion, we have the Chinese community composed of the Sias, the Yus, the Chiongs, and the Yees. They are the more economically prominent. The most beautiful mansion in Ronda is owned by Linda Sia-Villanueva.

This fiesta is an opportune time for us to come together, with social distancing, of course, and renew our bond of friendship and fellowship. The center of the celebration is the church. There will be less socializing and less dancing and singing and more prayers and Masses. People from all over the country are here now to visit their old folks and burial places for their loved ones. They also come to visit the mayor, Mayor Terence Blanco and Vice Mayor Rocky Gabatan and the councilors like Ann Marie Blanco, Henny Layaguin, and Atty. Nina Georpe, among others. Of course, not to forget our parish priest, who is also from Ronda, Fr. Amador Bacotot.

Our town is called the Jewel of the South, not because it is a rich municipality. It is a jewel because its people have golden hearts with large treasures in the terms of the education and professional success.