Mayor Rey Ladaga, the Educator’s Son

The Municipal Government of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro held an oath-taking ceremony for all newly-elected officials in the municipality. The ceremonious event was held June 29, 2022, at San Jose Covered Plaza, and of course, the man of the hour was Mayor Rey Cajayon-Ladaga. His oath, along with the other elected officials, was administered by the Honorable Governor Eduardo B. Gadiano.

As I have said in my recent blog entry that you can access if you click THIS, Ladaga banked on his anti-corruption narrative and this time it hits the target. The battle cry of his forthcoming administration: Bayang Angat sa Pamahalaang Tapat. Expect that it would center on the mantra of Progress and Honesty.

Well, he is already a seasoned politician for he was once vice-mayor and board member. The Abogado ng Masa finished his Law Degree at San Beda College in 1974. He was once branch attorney and branch manager of DBP-San Jose. This is his third time contending for the mayoralty position. He didn’t make it in 2016, and 2019. In the 2022 polls, he garnered a total of 33,533 votes against his closest rival Michelle de Mesa Festin, who got 18,024 votes. Out-Going Mayor Romulo “Muloy” Festin also came for the turn-over ceremonies proving how such a sport he is (in other municipalities elsewhere, the outgoing LCEs didn’t show up for one reason or another).

As a local political history enthusiast, please allow me to grab this monumental occasion to impart how the Ladagas came here in Mindoro, mainly in Paluan and San Jose, particularly his father.

Mayor Rey’s father, Orencio Madelo Ladaga, was originally from a town in Bohol called Garcia Hernandez which is around 53 kilometers from its capital Tagbilaran. Before WW-II, the young Orencio left Bohol to follow his dream leaving his parents, Pedro and Maria Ladaga, behind. He worked as a waiter at the pre-war Manila Polo Club and later pursued his studies. He took up Elementary Teachers Certificate (ETC) at National Teacher’s College but when the Japanese forces invaded Manila, his dream of becoming a teacher was momentarily disrupted.

To avoid the cruelty of the war, Orencio sailed to Paluan from Manila. While the country was wrenched by war, he met there his future girlfriend and later, wife, Mercedes Cajayon, daughter of Pedro Cajayon and Maria Abeleda who are prominent residents of Paluan but have roots in Lubang.

After the war, many residents of different municipalities on the west coast of Mindoro transferred to San Jose because the liberating American forces made Pandurucan (San Jose) city-like. As the ravages of war settled, the love between Orencio and Mercedes sweetly existed like a rainbow after the tempest.

On September 17, 1945, Orencio and Mercedes sailed back to Paluan to exchange marriage vow officiated by then Judge Cipriano Liboro, later congressman and governor of the province. The couple first settled in Barrio Central in San Jose and in January 1946, they moved to Barrio Caminawit where the pantalan or port is located. He taught elementary grades there in makeshift classrooms. Together with Mercedes, they gave their children a good education. Fe is a nurse, Orencio Jr., is an engineer, and of course Rey, the lawyer-mayor.

Orencio pursued his studies until he finally earned his BS in Elementary Education and Master of Arts degree at Arellano University until he was promoted as head teacher in 1957, principal of the South District in 1963, and district supervisor in 1970 until his retirement in 1976. He finally rested on June 1, 1997, at the age of 84.

In his inaugural address, Mayor Rey Ladaga said, “Ang taong may puso para sa bayan ay dapat nyo ring mahalin sapagkat minahal ko ang bayan na ito, dito ako pinanganak, dito po ako lumaki at dito rin siguro papanaw. Pero sisiguruhin ko po sa inyo na kapag ako pumanaw, ipagmamalaki nyo ang bayan ng San Jose.” In short, he assures everyone of us of lasting legacy for the next generation.

As I have said in the past, a very tall order awaits the educator’s son who is now his place of birth’s chief executive.

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Photo: Oliver Roldan

Reference: Story of 100 Families, pp. 211-215; Rodolfo M. Acebes.

Transcription of Excerpt from Mayor Ladaga’s Speech: Mary Ann Gener of PR Team LGU San Jose