Written by Loy M. PalaposThe country has all categories and types of politicians in every nook and cranny, many of them shouting to high heavens their dedication for the welfare of the people, and some performing their tasks in silence. In the Philippines, the term “trapo†(a contraction of traditional politician), a by-word with negative connotation, is a part of the vocabulary. But there are always exceptions. One is former Governor Constancio Chatto Torralba, who was the Provincial Governor of Bohol from April 1975 to June 1992. He is the Father of Sandugo, now on its 19th year.
Constancio Torralba was born in Patrocinio, Cortes, Bohol on November 29, 1928 to Jovino Torralba and Consorcia Chatto. A typical barrio lad, the entire natural world, far from the glitter of city life, was his sanctuary. This upbringing explains why Nonoy (a term of endearment by his relatives, friends and associates) until today has retained his simple and humble ways, devoid of put-on sophistication in a material world of “no guts, no glory†syndrome.
He studied at the Patrocinio Primary School until Grade II, then continued his primary and elementary education at the Tagbilaran City Central School. He was in first year high school at the Bohol High School when World War II against Japan broke out in 1942. The war years accorded the young boy nuggets of experiences that became useful in latter years. He resumed his studies at the same school when the war ended in 1945, until his 3rd year in high school. He transferred to the Holy Name College in 1947 as a night school fourth year student, as he was then employed as a clerk in the Philippine Relief and Trade Rehabilitation Administration (PRATRA). That was his first opportunity to pursue further studies as a working student.
He took first year studies in commerce at the University of the East in Manila in 1948 while working as a sales clerk in a drugstore. He transferred to Cebu City in 1949 where he worked as a bookkeeper of Cebu United Enterprises, and at the same time continued his studies in commerce at the Southwestern University, where he obtained his BSC degree in 1953. At that time he was already Assistant Chief Accountant of the Cebu United Enterprises and Federal Marketing Corporation. Then he was assigned in Manila as Chief Accountant of these companies’ Manila offices in 1957 until 1961. He became a CPA in 1957. It was during these years that he conducted specialized studies in flour milling, and when General Milling Corporation was established in 1961 he moved back to Cebu City to become the comptroller of the firm. Subsequently he became its Senior Vice-President and Treasurer. He occupied this position until February 1986 when he was invited to join the administration of President Corazon Aquino after the EDSA revolution.
He was given the position of Assistant Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) under then Secretary Hernando Perez, and was later designated Undersecretary of the department. While in this department, he concurrently served as President of Metro Manila Transit Corporation. It was during his stint at the DOTC when he conceived the expansion and modernization of telecommunications in Bohol. So when he was elected Governor of Bohol in 1988, he caused the implementation of the telecom plan for Tagbilaran City and the public call stations in all towns of Bohol.
As Bohol governor, he revived the implementation of he Bohol Irrigation Project in Pilar, initiated irrigation projects in Talibon, worked for the completion of the detailed engineering studies of the Bohol Circumferential Road, its approval by the national government and inclusion for funding by the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) of Japan. He also initiated the establishment of the Panglao Island Tourism Estate which was the first of its kind approved by the Cory administration.
As member of the National Governing Board of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) from March 1994 to March 1998, he espoused the establishment of the Ubay Coconut Seed Garden which was calculated to supply the need for hybrid coconut seedlings throughout the Visayas, an accomplishment even the skeptics consider superlative. Today the Ubay CSG is serving the three Visayan regions.
While in the private sector, he undertook specialized studies in Industrial Development at the University of the Philippines, and Grains Products Marketing at the Northern Crops Institute in Fargo, North Dakota, USA. He was a member of the Philippine Flour Millers mission to Japan and the USA from July to August 1979.
While in government, he was the lone Philippine delegate to the International Conference on Telecommunications Development held at the United Nations, New York City in October 1986.
He is married to the former Genoveva Evangelista-Lopena who had also a professional career of her own in the field of education. She had been a public school principal in Lapu-lapu City when she availed of an early retirement plan. The couple is blessed with eight children, namely: Luz T. Crystal, a medical doctor practicing in Alabama, USA; Fleur de Liz T. Tubio, a CPA and real estate broker in Cebu City; Cristito L. Torralba, an import and export executive in Cebu City; Constancio L. Torralba, Jr., a businessman in Tagbilaran City; Carl L. Torralba, a computer software consultant in California, USA; Genevieve T. Pfaff, Marissa T. Pagdanganan, and Cliven L. Torralba are computer software engineers in New Jersey, USA.
I had the opportunity to work with Governor Torralba at the Provincial Capitol. It was a rare experience to observe a non-politician doing his tasks. For one, there was no fanfare in his moves. If there was media mileage, it was not of his own initiative. He labored silently sans the trimmings politicians covet. Seldom did he have kibitzers with him when he performed official functions outside of his Capitol office. He usually carried his own attaché case, and there was not a minute wasted in his moves.
It was during his incumbency as Governor when the Sandugo Street Dancing was born. Earlier there were celebrations to commemorate the Treaty of Friendship between local Chieftain Sikatuna and the Spaniard Miguel Lopez de Legaspi.
That was many years ago, but I can still remember when he asked me what cultural event in Bohol could be appropriate to celebrate. I only had one answer, The Blood Compact. There were celebrations of the event in previous years, but they were not very consistent. There were times when it was totally forgotten.
Convinced of the importance of the Sikatuna-Legaspi meeting, and its impact in the international community, Governor Torralba anointed the project appointing me as Chairman. Despite the limited time, the first Sandugo was a success, with twenty-two contingents participating in the Street Dancing.
Governor Nonoy Torralba and his wife now spend most of their time with their children and grandchildren here and the United States. The simple, humble, and hardworking barrio lad, who became a highly accomplished administrative man in the metropolis, can now look back with a sense of fulfillment, capping his career by serving the Boholanos, which he considers the best part of his life.
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