Saturday, May 24, 2025

Muloy is Gone


 Mayor Muloy Festin was street-smart in the ’60s and ’70s before venturing into politics. I believe that his early years on the streets helped shape him into the public servant he eventually became. As a “man of the street,” he had the practical know-how to navigate everyday life, especially in challenging and unpredictable situations.

Mayor Romulo “Muloy” Festin succumbed to a long, lingering illness and passed away on May 23, 2025, at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. He had filed to run for mayor again in the last election but was unable to campaign due to his declining health.

He was a walking resident registry—he practically knew everyone in the community, every nook and cranny, and every inch of the landscape of the province, especially in his hometown, Pandurucan. Sharp and quick-witted, Muloy entered politics in the late ’80s. He once joked that, after so many years in public service, he had developed a sixth sense—he could tell what his constituents needed even before they said a word.

Romulo “Muloy” Festin was elected board member from 1988 to 1998, serving a full decade. He was then elected vice mayor of San Jose from 1998 to 2001 and re-elected from 2001 to 2004. He served as mayor from 2004 to 2010. Though he lost to Jose Villarosa in 2010, he made a strong comeback in 2013 and completed another three-year term, which ended in 2022. These are the so-called “Muloy Moments” that mark his long-standing imprint on the province’s political history.

Mayor Muloy was firm and resolute. He stood by the fishermen during the infamous Gem-Ver sinking incident in 2019 in the West Philippine Sea, openly opposing Malacañang’s pro-China stance. In an interview with ABS-CBN, Festin suggested the ramming of the Filipino vessel may have been intentional and called on the government to take strong action to prevent similar incidents.

As a public servant, Muloy had a deep understanding of people and a sharp intuition for reading situations. His wisdom came not from formal education but from lived experience. He got things done—not always by the book, but always by the will of the people. He is greatly remembered as the one who brought back the power to the people.

Mayor Muloy Festin served his beloved San Jose with heart, grit, and vision. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy endures—in the town he helped shape and in the countless lives he touched. He will be profoundly missed.

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(Photo: PhilStar)

Thursday, May 22, 2025

The Mike Sounded Off


 Michael “Mike” Rogas was more than just a name on the airwaves — he was a force. A proud son of Occidental Mindoro, Mike lived his life with a sense of purpose, grounded in his love for our province and his passion for broadcasting.

Just this morning, I received heartbreaking news from his brother Milton. After two weeks in a coma following a stroke, Mike passed away. It’s hard to put into words how deeply this loss cuts, not just for his family, but for all of us who knew him, worked with him, or simply heard his voice on the radio.

Mike was in the prime of his life — still dreaming, still fighting to be heard. He was hosting Ronda Pilipinas alongside Lorenz Tanjoco on Radyo Pilipinas 738 AM when his journey was unexpectedly cut short.

He lived in San Jose, and a student leader at our alma mater, Occidental Mindoro National College. Even back then, it was clear: Mike was meant to be heard — not just by classmates, but by communities and, eventually, by the country.

People knew him as the “Mikropono ng Mindoro,” a title he earned with grit and perseverance. He made waves in Manila as a reporter and announcer for RMN-DZXL, and later, through other stations. But he eventually returned to Mindoro to launch Yantok Mindoro, his very own local station — a testament to his deep commitment to his roots and to local journalism.

What struck me most about Mike was his courage. He wasn't content to simply report from the sidelines. He got involved. He ran for office not out of ambition, but out of a genuine desire to serve. Though he never won an election, he never gave up. In his final campaign for a seat in the Sangguniang Bayan, he collapsed during the last Meeting de Avance. As ballots were cast, he was already in the ICU, fighting for his life. It was a moment that said everything about him: always in the arena, always giving his all.

I first met Mike when he was young reporter at DZVT and DZYM. He broke through provincial limits to reach the national stage — not by chance, but through hard work, curiosity, and resilience.

He studied law. He sharpened his journalism. He covered coups, presidential campaigns, and frontline stories that many would shy away from. Mike was never afraid to step into chaos if it meant getting the truth.

But more than the big stories or national exposure, it was Mike’s heart that people admired most. He stood for truth. He stood for the people. And he never hesitated to stand alone when needed specially during the Manila Grandstand incident in 2010.

Mike Rogas may have signed off, but what he stood for — honesty, bravery, service — continues to resonate. He is not a just a son of Occidental Mindoro. He was Occidental Mindoro, amplified.

Ramdam namin ang iyong pagyao.

 

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(Photo: YouTube)

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

The Boxing Taduran Brothers

Now that the election dust has settled and the controversy surrounding Navarrete-Suarez hangs in the balance, let us turn our attention to the forthcoming title defense of Pedro Taduran Jr.

Pedro Taduran Jr. initially dreamed of becoming a soldier. However, his elder brother Joel persuaded him to pursue a different path—to become a professional boxer, just like him. Joel Taduran made his professional boxing debut in 2013 and concluded his career in March 2023. After retiring from the ring, he moved to Macau where he trained top-tier Asian fighters and worked at the Macau Boxing House, a gym known for preparing elite boxers for prestigious competitions across Asia. Despite his success abroad, Joel returned to the Philippines to support his younger brother, Pedro Jr., who is currently the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) mini-flyweight world champion.

On Saturday, May 24, in Osaka, Pedro Jr. will defend his title in a highly anticipated rematch against Japan’s Ginjiro Shigeoka. At 28 years old, Pedro aims to repeat his previous triumph over Shigeoka, whom he defeated via ninth-round technical knockout last year.

Meanwhile, their brother Jorge is also making waves as a boxing coach. He is currently preparing athletes for the 65th Palarong Pambansa, which will commence on May 24 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. Among the young amateur boxers representing their region are 16-year-olds Jhan Jay Papa and Prince Gian Abogado.

Boxing runs deep in the Taduran bloodline. Their brother Joseph, a former amateur boxer, played a pivotal role in inspiring all three—Pedro, Joel, and Jorge—to pursue the sport. All four brothers have laced up gloves and stepped into the ring at some point in their lives. When asked via Messenger about the importance of Pedro's upcoming title defense, Joel replied, “This fight is extremely important to protect the title and to open doors for a unification bout. If fortune smiles on us again, an undisputed championship may be within reach.” Joel added that this fight is dedicated to the Filipino people, as well as to Pedro's manager, Madam Cucuy Elorde—the youngest daughter of the legendary Gabriel “Flash” Elorde—and head coach Carl Peñalosa.

Both Joel and Pedro Jr. were discovered and developed by the legendary promoter Art Monis. They began their careers as four-round fighters. However, it was Cucuy Elorde who gave the upcoming champion the opportunity to work in the United States. That path eventually led Pedro Jr. to a world title eliminator against Jake Amparo, ultimately making him a permanent fixture in the Elorde Boxing Stable.

Joel holds no resentment about his younger brother's rise to fame. Having officially retired from active competition, he now devotes all his time and energy to guiding Pedro Jr.’s boxing career. After all, it was Joel who introduced him to the sport in the first place.

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(Photo courtesy of Joel Taduran)