Youngest Bohol Board Member Elected: Alfonso Rafols Damalerio II

[pioneer]

THE PILOT MORPHS INTO A LEADER
By Loy Palapos

      At 35 he is the youngest Board Member-elect, in a field usually dominated by veterans who have outgrown their salad days. The road most traveled to become a part of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is for the aspirant to be a Municipal Mayor first and, after the maximum limit of three consecutive terms, run for the Provincial Board. But in a few cases, there are those who take the short-cut to the legislative body of the province.

      The latter is the road taken by Alfonso Rafols Damalerio II. He is known as Ae to his friends and peers, and in rare cases he answers to the moniker Al. He was born in Tagbilaran City on January 17, 1972. His parents were former SP Senior Board Member and Majority Floor Leader Alfonso Damalerio of Calape and Anesia Rafols of Sierra Bullones. He was a prominent lawyer, and she was a public school Teacher.

      The blood-line of Ae exudes political leadership. His great-grandfather, Alfonso Damalerio was a Mayor of Calape. His grandfather, Porferio, was a gifted Municipal Councilor. Arsenio, his grand-uncle also served as Mayor of Calape. This lineage speaks well of his inclination to public service.

      They are eight siblings in the family. Alan finished BS in Computer Science and Bachelor of Laws. He used to work with SSS, but is now based in Houston, Texas. Abeleon studied at UP-Cebu and HNU, and is now a practicing lawyer. Anthony took up BS Biology at the Cebu College of Medicine, intending to be a Doctor, but a family tragedy struck, cutting short his dream. He now works in the office of Congressman Edgar Chatto. Adonis has a BSC, major in Management, and BSE degrees from HNU; and is now assigned as DILG Municipal Local Government Operations Officer in Bien Unido. Aldner studied at Christ The King Academy in Quezon City, planning for a career in priesthood, and finished AB-Philosophy. He is presently one of the executives of Globelines.

      With Ae as the second in a row of 6 boys, came Angelie and Alannie, both graduates of HNU. The former is a Registered Nurse, soon to take the NFLEX; and the latter graduated BS in Mass Communication last March.

      Board Member-elect Ae Damalerio’s dream was to soar the skies as a pilot. He enrolled at the Philippine Aeronautical Technical School in Pasay City, then at the Philippine Airforce College of Aeronautics in Mactan Airbase, Cebu. He finished Bachelor of Science in Aircraft Technology at the Aeronautical Technical School in Lahug, Cebu City. He graduated from the Basic Flying Ground Course and Primary Flying Courses at the Philippine Winds Flying School. He was able to fly solo, and would have earned more credits for a flying career, until a tragedy struck the family.

      His father had a stroke right on his birthday on December 2, 1996, from which he did not recover despite efforts from medical experts in Cebu. Atty. AL Damalerio was then in the midst of a speaking engagement among Couples for Christ in Butuan, when the tragedy occurred. The family reserves were drained. With three boys in college, two in high school, and the high flying costs, his dream of becoming a full-pledged pilot perished.

      He lost his father when he was 25 years old, ten years ago. After the catastrophe he was hired in the office of the then Vice Governor Edgar Chatto , who inspired him for public service. Earlier, when he was in high school at Divine Word College (1980), he was a Leadership Medal Awardee. Very much earlier at the Holy Spirit School (1985) he not only received a Loyalty Award, but also the much coveted Scout Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

      Ae Damalerio was elected Sangguniang Kabataan Councilor in Cogon (1992-97); was Provincial Coordinator of the Visayas Network for Environmental Sustainability (1993-95), and Presidential Council for Youth Affairs Coordinator (1994-96). He was appointed Legislative Staff Assistant III of the SP (1993-96), and Executive Staff Assistant on Youth and Sports Affairs (1999). In 2000 he became Legislative Staff Assistant III for Barangay Affairs. From 2001 to the present he has been designated Government Affairs Consultant of UBEC Philippines Development Corporation, and Political Affairs Officer III of the First District of Bohol.

      His professional advancement has been greatly enhanced by seminars, workshops, and trainings not only in Bohol, but also scores of then held in Bacolod, General Santos, Iloilo, Pampanga, Cebu, Manila, Aklan, Biliran, Ormoc, Tacloban and several other places. From sports to environmental sustainability, Mr. Damalerio has imbibed truckloads of wisdom enough to augment his capabilities as a Legislator.

      Even his affiliation with various socio-civic organizations leaves nothing to be desired. He is an active member of the Bohol Licensed Firearms Association, Order of the Knights of Rizal, RECOM-BARGE, KBP, Bohol Tri-Media Association, Bohol Island Lions Club, and many others. He belongs to the Bohol Ready Reserved Battalion, and this year’s President of the Bohol Sandugo Jaycees.

      In September 1996 he joined a select group on an observation tour in Heidelberg (Germany), Weinsterswick (Netherlands), and Strasbourg (France). The following month (October) he observed the social and economic programs of Bangkok, Thailand. In 1997 he joined the investment and tourism promotion in California. From September to October 2005 he was a delegation member of the TBTK campaign for the 2006 global homecoming of Boholanos, which brought him to Houston (Texas), Stockton (California), and San Francisco.

      Ae Damelerio enjoys wedded bliss with the former Severina Bual, a BSC graduate now working at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. They have 3 children: Syra Monica, 11 years old, and a grade four pupil; Kristine Alvina, 7 years old, and a first grade pupil; and Alfonso Annevero III, 6 years old, and a kindergarten II pupil. All three study at the HNU Elementary Department.

      Even before his decision to take the cudgels as a lawmaker of the Bohol Sangguniang Panlalawigan, representing the First District, Alfonso Rafols Damalerio II already had his goals in view, patterned after the mission-vision for sustainability in eco-tourism and agriculture. He has special concerns for investment promotion, youth and sports, health, and the anti-poverty program.

      He is not a young man in a hurry. He has proven himself in campus Leadership and Organizational Management. Life’s ups and downs have made him what he is now, and he is willing to face this latest challenge without blinking an eye.

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