The old congressional districts of Bohol Bclarence

(Part 4)

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

Old 1st District of Bohol

BERNARDO JOSOL. (1934-1935, 10th Philippine Legislature).

JUAN TORRALBA (1935-1938, 1st National Assembly). He married Isabel Porpor and had two children; Nicasio and Edilberto.

GENARO VISARRA (1938-1949, 2nd National Assembly-1st Congress). Served as mayor of Tagbilaran City succeeding Andres Torralba and succeeded by his vice mayor, the legendary songwriter Honorio Penaflor Grupo, when Visarra vacated the office to serve as congressman. Visarra co-founded the Tagbilaran Association in Manila in 1951, a religious organization venerating St. Joseph.

LUIS T. CLARIN (1949-1953, 2nd Congress). While being a former congressman hosting a Liberal Party rally in Mohon, Panglao, Bohol, at 3:45 p.m. on November 1, 1957, a gunfight ensued, killing LP and Nacionalista Party supporters, among them, ex-mayor Regino Saranghina. The entire Panglao Police Force was then disarmed by the Philippine Constabulary.

NATALIO P. CASTILLO (1953-1972, 3rd Congress-7th Congress). He became a lawyer on January 31, 1938. He also served as executive secretary of President Carlos Polistico Garcia from January 24, 1960-September 5, 1961. In his honor, Republic Act 6781 was enacted on November 29, 1989, renaming the Loon District Hospital after him.

The Municipality of San Isidro was created by virtue of Republic Act 5662 signed into law by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 21, 1969. The barrios that composed the newly-created town came from the barrios of the towns of Catigbian (Caimbang, Cansague, Causwagan Sur, and San Isidro), Antequera (Abihilan, Banuros, Cambansag and Cansague), Calape, Masonoy, and Candungao), and Tubigon (Cabanugan). The seat of government is the Barrio of San Isidro. (To be continued)