Jesus P. Garcia Sr., 1971 Constitutional Convention delegate

Son of spouses Vicente Oracoy Garcia and Josefa Paras, he was born in Dumanjug, Cebu. Jesus was elected delegate on November 10, 1970 for the Constitutional Delegation convened on June 1, 1971, that drafted the 1973 Constitution.

Garcia was among the four delegates elected in the 2nd District of Cebu. His fellow delegates were: Pedro L. Yap, of San Isidro, Leyte, who studied in Cebu at the Cebu Provincial High School (now Abellana National School) and in the Cebu Junior College (now University of the Philippines and served as chief justice of the Supreme Court from April 18 to July 1, 1988; Marcelo Briones Fernan; who was elected Member of the Regular Batasang Pambansa in 1984 and on July 1, 1988 to December 6, 1991 served as chief justice of the Supreme Court; and Natalio B. Bacalso.

Jesus became a lawyer on November 9, 1946. His siblings followed him to become great lawyers, Pablo (savior of the Cebu provincial lots donated to Cebu City, married Esperanza Tan Fiel, known as the “Joan of Arc of the cooperative movement) was admitted to the Bar on January 25, 1952, elected as board member during the reelection of Governor Rene Espina, he also became Cebu vice governor, was elected congressman in 1987 and Cebu governor in 1995, serving the full three terms. A younger sibling, Loreto, also became a lawyer on May 9, 1959. Another brother, Tomas (married Zolema Po) served their town of Dumanjug, Cebu, as mayor from 1972 to 1987. Incidentally, a nephew, Nelson Gamaliel (son of Pablo) also served the people of Dumanjug as mayor from 2010 to 2016.

Jesus married Severiana Biano, their two children also became lawyers: Jesus (a namesake and a junior who married Armi Lopez, honorary consul of Russia) became a lawyer on March 13, 1969, served the country as secretary of the Department of Communications and Technology from July 1992 to March 1996 during the Presidency of Fidel V. Ramos, and Alvin (who married Trinidad “Ninette” Neri) who was admitted to the Bar on March 10, 1971, elected as Cebu City vice mayor in 1988 and in 1995 to 2001 as Cebu City mayor.

The nephews of Jesus Sr., sons of his brother, Pablo, also became lawyers: Winston, admitted to the Bar on May 2, 1983 served as board member of Cebu and became the co-architect of Gov. Emilio “Lito” Osmeña of the Cebu Boom and became GSIS chairman. Next is Pablo John who, like his father, also topped the Bar and became a lawyer on March 15, 1994 and is presently Congressman of the 3rd District of Cebu.