The old congressional districts of Bohol (Part 9)

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.

These were the representatives of the old 2nd District:

SIMEON GALVEZ TORIBIO. An Olympic athlete, an athlete extraordinaire, he was the country’s representative to the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Olympics. He finished Civil Engineering at the Silliman University. He served the district from 1941 to 1953 (3rd National Assembly in 1941 up to the 2nd Congress from 1949 to 1953). He was born on August 6, 1905 and died on June 5, 1969. In his honor, the Celestino Gallares Hospital in Carmen, Bohol was renamed after him by virtue of Batas Pambansa Bilang 318 enacted November 14, 1982. A descendant by the name of Conchita Toribio popularly known as Che Toribio, daughter of Ricardo Cabagnot Toribio and Eulalia Riyal Asotigue, became the first woman mayor of Carmen, Bohol in 2010. Che Toribio is the founder of Beauché International, a beauty product company.

BARTOLOME C. CABANGBANG. Served the district from 1953 to 1965, in the 3rd Congress (1957) to the 5th Congress (1961-1965). He married Flora Ceballos. In 1981 he ran against President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos under the Federalist Party. Cabangbang advocated for making Philippines as part of the United States of America. Cabangbang garnered 700,00 votes in that election. His fellow presidential candidate was Alejo Santos who was governor of Bulacan and Defense secretary. Cabangbang was elected to the Interim Batasang Pambansa which was in existence from June 12, 1978 up to June 5, 1984. President Marcos abolished the Interim Batasang Pambansa and turned it into the Regular Batasang Pambansa. The assemblymen of the Interim Pambansa were elected by region. Cabangbang won in the Central Visayas composed of the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. He ran under Pusyon Bisaya with Natalio Bacalso, Eutiquio C. Cimafranca, Alfonso N. Corominas Jr., Hilario Davide Jr., Filemon L. Fernandez, Jorge M. Kintanar, Valentino L. Legaspi, Mariano R. Logarta, Enrique L. Medina, Jr., Dominador M. Pernes, Jesus L. Villegas, and Julian B. Yballe. All of them won, becoming the popular opposition regional party of the assembly. (To be continued)