The Old Congressional Districts of Bohol

(Part 10)

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:

JOSE S. ZAFRA. Represented the 6th Congress, this was from 1965 to 1969. He resided in Clarin, Bohol, and was admitted to the Bar on March 29, 1947.

PABLO MALASARTE. Represented the district in the 7th Congress from 1969 until its abolition in 1972 by President Marcos when he declared martial law on September 21, 29172. On November 10, 2009, a high school in the Municipality of Balilihan was converted into a national high school, thereafter named as “Congressman Pablo Malasarte National High School”. Pablo Malasarte, who was from Bilar, married Petra Cubillo of Calape, Bohol. He had a daughter by the name of Sonia (born on July 20, 1944) who married a lawyer, Raul Roco, who rose to national prominence becoming congressman, then senator, then secretary of Education. Raul Roco founded the Aksyon Demokratiko and was the presidential standard bearer in the 1998 and 2004 elections. Sonia was a student leader and an educator.

Old 3rd Congressional District of Bohol

From 1907 to 1972, the district was composed of the municipalities of Anda, Candijay, Duero, Garcia-Hernandez, Guindulman, Jagna, Mabini, Sierra Bullones, Talibon, Ubay, Valencia, Trinidad (Ipil), Alicia (Batuanan), Dagohoy, Buenavista, Pilar, San Miguel, Danao, and Pitogo (now Carlos P. Garcia).

The municipality of Trinidad was established on September 1, 1947 by virtue of Executive Order No. 80 signed by President Manuel Acuna Roxas. It is named as such after the patron of Talibon, the Blessed Trinity.

The town of Alicia was created by Executive Order No. 265 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on September 16, 1949. Alicia is named in honor of Alicia Syquia, the wife of President Quirino was murdered together with her three children by the Japanese in 1945 during World War II. (To be continued)