The Visayas-Mindanao delegates of the 1971 Constitutional Convention (Part 1)

The election of delegates to the Constitutional Convention tasked to change the 1935 Constitution was held on November 10, 1970. The Convention officially commenced with the swearing in as President of the Convention of former president Carlos P. Garcia on June 11, 1971. The body approved the new constitution on November 29, 1972. These are those who were elected as delegates to the convention:

Cebu, 1st District: Lydia Durano Rodriguez and Casimiro R. Madarang Jr. (the old 1st District was composed then of Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Pilar, Tudela, Poro, and San Francisco) 2nd District: Pedro L. Yap, Marcelo B. Fernan, Natalio B. Bacalso, and Jesus P. Garcia (the old 2nd District was composed then of Cebu City, Mandaue, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Cordova, and Lapu-Lapu City).

3rd District: Napoleon G. Rama and Antonio T. Bacaltos (the old 3rd District was then composed of Talisay, Minglanilla, San Fernando, and Carcar).

4th District: Oliveros E. Kintanar and Hilario G. Davide, Jr. (the old 4th District was composed then of Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, and Alcoy).

5th District: Jorge Kintanar and Pedro B. Calderon (the old 5th District was composed then of Santander, Oslob, Boljoon, Samboan, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Badian, Moalboal, and Alcantara).

6th District: Andres R. Flores and Francis M. Zosa (the old 6th District was composed then of Ronda, Dumanjug, Aloguinsan, Pinamungajan, and Toledo City).

7th District: Antonio Y. de Pio and Gerardo M.S. Pepito the (old 7th District was composed then of Balamban, Asturias, Tuburan, Tabuelan, San Remegio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Santa Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos).

Notably, three of the delegates from Cebu became Chief Justice, namely: Pedro Yap, Marcelo B. Fernan, and Hilario G. Davide, Jr.

When the 1987 Constitution was approved, Cebu City, which used to be part of the 2nd District became the two Congressional Districts of Cebu City. The 1st District is more known as Cebu North District, while 2nd District is more known as the Cebu South District. Elected as congressmen in the first election after EDSA in 1988 were Ateneo de Manila-trained lawyers, Raul del Mar and Antonio V. Cuenco. (to be continued)